Page 19 - ADT JANUARY 2021 Online Magazine

of course provides a quantum leap in capability Greater Participation
over these aircraft, being not only more combat HAL is the principal partner for design and production of LCA,
effective but significantly easier to operate, and has played a lead role in the initial finalization of its systems
maintain and repair. like Airframe, Electrical, Mechanical, Flight Control, Environmental
Control, Fuel &Power Plant, Hydraulic, and Landing Gear. The Tejas
Upgraded Performer also features a high amount of composite structures in its construc-
The single-seat Tejas Mk 1As will be fitted with tion, the usage of which has led to an overall weight reduction of [ AIR SYSTEMS ]
an Israeli Elta ELM-2052 Active Electronically about 20 percent in the air-frame. In order to speed up the produc-
Scanned Array (AESA) radar along with a tion of LCA, an investment of Rs 13.8 billion has been sanctioned by
new Unified Electronic Warfare suite. 63 IAF the Government for the establishment of facilities for ramping up
Sepecat Jaguar DARIN III strike fighters, which the production rate from eight to 16 aircraft per year. Additionally,
are being upgraded by HAL will also be fitted a parallel production line has also established at Aircraft Division
with ELM-2052 radars, albeit a less sophisti- Bengaluru to support an increased rate of production. In addition,
cated version than that to be fitted on Tejas major assembly modules have been outsourced to private part-
Mk-1As. Israel had earlier banned export of ners like DTL, Bengaluru (Front fuselage), Alpha Tocol, Bengaluru
the ELM-2052 AESA radar in 2011 on account (Rear Fuselage), VEM Technologies, Hyderabad (Center Fuselage)
of U.S. pressure according to an article the and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Coimbatore (Wings) to enhance the
same year in Flight International magazine. production rate.
Older Tejas Mk-1 variants are fitted with a
mechanically scanned EL/M-2032 radar. A The Indian MoD had placed two earlier orders with HAL for 20
new weapon that will be integrated on Tejas Tejas Mk1 aircraft in Initial Operation Clearance (IOC) and another
Mk-1A aircraft will be MBDA’s ASRAAM which 20 in Final Operation Clearance (FOC) version in March 2006 and
has been chosen as the IAF’s ‘New Generation December 2010 respectively. “The time taken for these develop-
Close Combat Missile’ (NGCCM). ASRAAM are ments is due to complex technological challenges and due to the
also being fitted on upgraded Jaguar DARIN gradual development of the necessary eco-system. The technical
III fighters. The Tejas Mk-1, Mk-1A are powered challenges were faced in areas such as advanced avionics, digital
by General Electric’s F404-GE-IN20 engine fly-by-wire, composites, weapon simulation, testing and integration
which is an enhanced production version of facilities and non-availability of raw materials,” the MoD stated in a
the F404 and the highest thrust variant of the 2019 reply to parliament. The initial orders comprised of 16 fighters
F404 family. & 4 trainers. HAL completed production of 16 Tejas Mk1 aircraft in
IOC standard in March, 2019. The FOC standard was cleared by
The Indian Government approved the purchase India’s military certification agency, Centre of Military Airworthiness
at a cost of Rs457 billion, with an additional & Certification (CEMILAC) in February, 2019, following which HAL
budget amount of Rs10.2 billion for creation of commenced production of the first FOC standard aircraft. The first
maintenance infrastructure at Indian Air Force FOC standard production Tejas Mk1 (SP-21) made its maiden flight
(IAF) bases. in March 2020. Company sources tell Asian Defence Technology,
that the remaining 18 trainers to be built (4 Mk-1 IOC, 4 Mk-1 FOC,
“THE CABINET HAS ALSO 10 Mk-1A) will all be built to the Mk1 FOC standard. All 18 trainers
APPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE will feature in-flight refuelling probes and be combat capable. The
DEVELOPMENT BY IAF UNDER first of 18 trainers is slated for delivery towards the end of 2021.
THE PROJECT TO ENABLE THEM
HANDLE REPAIRS OR SERVICING
AT THEIR BASE DEPOT SO THAT
THE TURNAROUND TIME WOULD
GET REDUCED FOR MISSION
CRITICAL SYSTEMS AND WOULD
LEAD TO INCREASED AVAILABILITY
OF AIRCRAFT FOR OPERATIONAL
EXPLOITATION. THIS WOULD
ENABLE IAF TO SUSTAIN THE
FLEET MORE EFFICIENTLY AND
EFFECTIVELY DUE TO AVAILABILITY
OF REPAIR INFRASTRUCTURE AT
RESPECTIVE BASES,” the Ministry of
Defence (MoD) said in a release.

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