Military Combat airCraft
12 ISSUE 4 • 2018 http://www.sps-aviation.comof the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and the Hindustan
Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to deliver on these two essentials is
therefore partly responsible for the current deficit of IAF combat
aircraft. The single-engine Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas for
which the IAF submitted Air Staff Requirements (ASR) in October
1985, first flew in 2001. Although it attained Initial Operational
Capability (IOC) in 2011 it is still not fully operational. It may attain
this crucial milestone this year.
The IAF’s rather visible lack of enthusiasm for the Tejas
Mk 1 stems from the fact that the jet is fitted with the General
Electric F404-GE-IN20 turbofan which leaves it significantly
underpowered. It also has far less endurance and weapon-car-
rying capacity compared to fighters such as the Gripen E and
the F-16 Block 70. Following considerable pressure from the
government, the IAF placed orders for two squadrons of Tejas
Mk 1 and is finalising a contract for four squadrons of Tejas Mk
1A, totalling 123 aircraft. The Mk 1A is a somewhat advanced
variant with 59 improvements including active electronically
scanned array (AESA) radar, inflight refuelling, beyond visual
range (BVR) missiles and advanced electronic warfare (EW)
capability. HAL currently builds just eight Tejas per year and
even taking into account its plans to set up a second production
line, the delivery of these 123 jets could
stretch beyond 2025.
The IAF is keener on the Tejas Mk
2 with its enhanced avionics and radar,
besides increased fuel and weapons
carrying capacity. However, the more
powerful F414-GE-400 engine planned
for it may entail considerable redesign
of the airframe and a long develop-
ment and testing period. A final design
is expected only by end-2018 and the
Tejas Mk 2 may enter production in
2027 or later. The IAF has tentatively
agreed to induct 201 of these fighters,
if they meet its expectations. If so, the
total Tejas fleet would amount to 18
squadrons. However, this would still
leave a gap of eight to ten squadrons.twiStS and turnS
If only the LCA Tejas had been produced according to its prom-
ised schedule and capability, a large portion of the IAF combat
fleet would by now, have been indigenous and there would have
been no shortfall. The government is trying to double Tejas pro-
duction by involving the private sector, but it is slow going. It
is heartening that both the MoD and the IAF have expressed
full backing for the Tejas programme; but words now need to
be translated into firm action, in particular as regards speed-
ily making the Tejas Mk 1A operational and expediting its pro-
duction. Tejas Mk 2 development too needs to be strictly time
bound, lest it meander endlessly as has been the case with the
Tejas Mk 1. Meanwhile, about 11 squadrons of older Jaguar,
Mirage 2000 and MiG-29 aircraft are either undergoing or are
planned for upgrade programmes. These revamped jets should
remain operational till around 2030.
Years of dithering over new combat aircraft is fast leading to
an impossible situation where the IAF may be hard-pressed even
to fight with a single adversary, leave alone two. The large short-
fall in budget allocations for capital acquisition by the military,
with the IAF getting less than half of its projected demands for
FY 2018-19, is not reassuring. The IAF must get the aircraft best
suited to its operational imperatives and
that is unlikely to be the cheapest option.
However, a decision on new jets can now
be expected only after the installation of a
new government following general elec-
tions due next year.
The IAF’s operational capability
must not be allowed to deteriorate any
further. One step that should be taken
immediately is to double the existing
order of 36 Rafale jets because till HAL
delivers, there’s no escaping the need
for inducting foreign manufactured air-
craft. In the interim, the IAF can expect
more twists and turns before it comes
within sniffing distance of the couple of
hundred or so combat aircraft it so des-
perately needs. SPYears of dithering
over new combat
aircraft is leading
to an impossible
situation where the
IAF may be hard-
pressed even to
fight with a single
adversary, leave
alone twostrong contender:
LoCkheed martin’s f-PhotograPh: L
oCkheed martin