Tejus Mk1 at Aero India 2015 The improved variant of India's Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), designated Tejus Mk-II, will only a...
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| Tejus Mk1 at Aero India 2015 |
The operational clearance will take another 3 years, and is expected by Decemeber 2022.
The project which was sanctioned in November 2009 at a cost of around $390 million was planned for completion by December 2018. However delay in finalization of engine contract, ensured the project could start only in December 2013.
Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which also developed the Mk-I, is the nodal agency for design and development. ADA is likely to avail consultancy from European aircraft manufacturers who had participated in the scrapped Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tenders for the development. Saab and Eurofighter are the likely choices.
The requirement for the Mk-II was felt following changing operational requirement insisted by Indian Air Force. As a result IAF ordered only 40 Tejus Mk-I fighters.
The Tejas Mk-II will feature an indigenous Active Electrically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar, Unified Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite, On Board Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS), Upgraded Avionics, and a more powerful GE F414 engine, replacing the present GE F404.
The technologies and engineering expertise developed for LCA Tejas Mk-II will also benefit the indigenous development of Fifth Generation Aircraft, which is slated for prototype stage in 2020.
The delta winged Tejus is a 4th generation fighter aircraft designed to replace Indian MIG-21 fighter fleet. Repeated failure to meet the developmental and operational deadline by Tejus, prompted India to acquire 36 Dassault Rafale fighters in a fly away condition to check dwindling squadron strength, in January.
