Tejas, which will replace Indian Air Force's(IAF) ageing MiG-21s, is India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), and it's special not just for this reason! Tejas boasts of several special features and is perhaps the world’s smallest lightweight, multi-role single engine tactical fighter aircraft. The aircraft has been designed and developed by three main government agencies; DRDO, HAL and ADA. As IAF inducts its first squadron (Flying Daggers 45) of LCA Tejas aircraft, we look at facts that would make us proud. -
The combat aircraft uses fourth generation technologies and has intentionally been made longitudinally unstable to enhance manoeuvrability. "It is an aerodynamically unstable tailless compound delta-wing configuration, optimised primarily for manoeuvrability and agility," claim its makers. (ADA Photo)
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The multi-role radar on Tejas – which was developed as Indian–Israeli venture – is meant to facilitate all weather use of a variety of air-to-air and air-to-surface weaponry. It is the primary targeting sensor on the LCA. (DRDO Photo)
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Tejas boasts of a quadruplex digital fly-by-wire flight control system meant to ease handling by the pilot. The digital flight control computer receives signals from a variety of sensors and pilot control stick inputs. (DRDO Photo)
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The Tejas has a 'glass cockpit' which displays 'real-time' information to the pilot. "This simplifies aircraft operation and navigation and allows pilots to focus only on the most pertinent information," says ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency). (ADA Photo)
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The autopilot feature helps the pilot to do more mission critical activities, without being concerned about Tejas departing from its flight path. (ADA Photo)
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Tejas uses composite materials for up to 45% of its airframe and this helps make the light combat aircraft lighter and stronger. Composite materials have been used for the fuselage (doors and skins), wings (skin, spars and ribs), elevons, tailfin, rudder, air brakes and landing gear doors. According to ADA, LCA's percentage use of composites is one of the highest among contemporary aircraft of its class. (DRDO Photo)
Tejas has been developed in multiple variants – single-seat fighter and twin seat trainer variants – for IAF and Indian Navy. Tejas is being inducted into the IAF after being years decades into making. IAF plans to start using it in combat roles by 2017. Meanwhile, Swedish defence major Saab is in talks with HAL for helping India make the next generation version of the LCA Tejas. (DRDO Photo) -
Incidentally, Tejas has also caught the attention of foreign buyers with Sri Lanka and Egypt evincing interest in the indigenously built fighter jet. The two countries are interested in the current version of the Tejas and not the upgraded one. (DRDO Photo)
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Comparisons have often been made between Tejas and JF 17, an aircraft that has been jointly been developed by Pakistan and China. IAF itself believes that Tejas is better and its sources have been quoted as saying so in the past. (ADA Photo)
