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(BDL) for final assembly, integration and test (FAIT) of ASRAAM
and Mistral missiles in India. The Tejas Mk1 and Mk1A are powered
by General Electric’s F404-GE-IN20 engine which is an enhanced
production version of the F404 and the highest thrust variant of
the F404 family. [ AIR SYSTEMS ]

The Tejas is also unique amongst fighter aircraft designed and
developed in Asia, to feature a high amount of composite structures.
The usage of composites has led to an overall weight reduction of
about 20 percent in the air-frame and assistance of CSIR-National delivered by March 2022 due to the supply
chain issues that will result due to the COVID-19
pandemic. Company sources tell Asian Defence
Technology, that the remaining 18 trainers to be
built (4 Mk1 IOC, 4 Mk1 FOC, 10 Mk1A) will all be
built to the Mk1 FOC standard. All 18 trainers
will feature in-flight refuelling probes and be
combat capable. The first of 18 trainers is slated
for delivery towards the end of 2021.
Difficult Gestation
The Tejas light fighter programme is one of the
longest running aviation programmes in Asia
and has faced numerous hurdles as a result of
ambitious specifications, a hard-nosed air force
customer and technology challenges. India last
purchased an indigenous fighter aircraft in the
mid-sixties when the HAL HF-24 Marut was
inducted into service. The trials and tribulations
in developing a modern fighter aircraft are evi-
dent, when one considers that January 2021,
Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) with use of its co-curing tech- will mark two decades since the maiden flight
nology in Tejas has resulted in a 40 percent reduction in the part of the Indian Light Combat Aircraft Technology
count, 50 percent reduction in the number of fasteners, and 30 Demonstrator 1 (TD-1). The LCA received the
percent reduction in the assembly time when compared to a con- name ‘Tejas’ in May 2003, from then Prime
ventional metallic air-frame. This homegrown technology developed Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
by CSIR-NAL was used in realizing primary air-frame components
of LCA like Fin, Rudder, Wing Spars and Fairings, Centre Fuselage Despite all the difficulties associated with the
and Main Landing Gear components. CSIR-NAL has identified a Tejas light fighter, the design and develop-
private industry, M/s Tata Advanced Materials Limited (TAML), ment programme has resulted in a credible
Bengaluru, as a production partner. indigenous aerospace industry, which is now
producing significant quantities of aerostruc-
Earlier Orders tures, components and avionics for the aircraft.
The Indian MoD had placed two earlier orders with HAL for 20 Tejas The developmental costs of the Tejas pro-
Mk1 aircraft in Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and another 20 gramme and the stillborn Kaveri aeroengine
in Final Operational Clearance (FOC) version in March 2006 and as per Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) fig-
December 2010 respectively. Each order comprised of 16 fighters ures amounts to approximately USD1.5 billion.
& 4 trainers. HAL completed production of 16 Tejas Mk1 aircraft in The developmental cost for the Tejas has been
IOC standard in March, 2019. pegged by the MoD at USD1.3 billion, while
the cost of the Kaveri engine programme has
The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) which handles design been stated at approximately USD290 million.
of the Tejas handed over the Drawing Applicability List (DAL) and “The time taken for these developments is due
equipment Standard of Preparation (SOP) documents towards FOC to complex technological challenges and due
configuration, to HAL in December, 2018. The FOC standard was to the gradual development of the necessary
cleared by India’s military certification agency, Centre of Military eco-system. The technical challenges were
Airworthiness & Certification (CEMILAC) in February, 2019, follow- faced in areas such as advanced avionics,
ing which HAL commenced production of the first FOC standard digital fly-by-wire, composites, weapon sim-
aircraft. The first FOC standard production Tejas Mk1 (SP-21) made ulation, testing and integration facilities and
its maiden flight in March. non-availability of raw materials,” the MoD
The remaining 15 fighters in FOC standard will realistically be recently stated in parliament.

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