India’s indigenously developed ‘Tejas’ (Radiance in Sanskrit) Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is participating in the aerial displays at Langkawi, marking the regional show debut for the supersonic fighter jet.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is making its maiden appearance at the show, with two Tejas aircraft (LA 5009 & LA 5010) belonging to No.45 Squadron ‘Flying Daggers’ which is the first operational IAF Tejas fighter squadron.
The IAF presence at the ongoing airshow is an opportunity for Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) to assess the capabilities of LCA and will also serve as a foundation for any future interaction between the two air arms. The IAF team departed from Air Force Station Kalaikunda before arriving at Langkawi via Myanmar. The IAF contingent comprises of two Tejas fighters, one C-130J and one IL-76 MD, in addition to 27 officers, 42 airmen and 11 personnel from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
“We are happy with the Tejas LCA and is already displaying high serviceability rates and precision attack capability in the IAF,” said Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa.
The Tejas made its international show debut at the 2016 Bahrain International Air Show, where two aircraft made the first over-water journey of the Indian light fighter. The Tejas fighter aircraft at LIMA are Series Production (SP) aircraft and are of the Mk1 Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) variant. These aircraft are fitted with a mechanically scanned Elbit Multi-Mode Radar (MMR) and DASH-IV Helmet Mounted Display and Sight (HMDS).
“We are happy with the aircraft and it is already displaying high serviceability rates and precision attack capability in the IAF,” said Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa at the recently concluded Aero India. Indian pilots have acknowledged the flying qualities and handling characteristics of Tejas to be very good and superior to the Mirage 2000, which is also operated by the service.
However, the Tejas Mk1 will not be avail-able for export as only approximately two dozen aircraft are left to be produced in the IOC and Final Operational Clearance (FOC) variants. The version of the light fighter that will be offered for export will be the Tejas Mk1A, for which the IAF will soon place orders for 83 aircraft (73 single seat & 20 twin seat). The Tejas Mk1A will be equipped with an Elta EL/M-2052 AESA radar, as compared to the mechanically scanned Elta EL/M-2032 radar on in-service Tejas Mk1s. Also planned on the Tejas Mk1A are MBDA ASRAAM missiles, indigenously developed ASTRA BVRAAMs, BrahMos-NG supersonic cruise missiles (two per aircraft), a pod mounted Self Protection Jammer (SPJ) and In-Flight Refuelling and the ability to undertake ‘Hot Refuelling’, where the aircraft can be refuelled with the engines running. This allows the sortie generation rate to be dramatically enhanced.
The Indian light fighter also features a very high percentage of Carbon Fibre Composite (CFC) materials, which make up approximately 45 per cent of its air-frame, including in the fuselage (doors and skins), wings (skin, spars and ribs), elevons, tailfin, rudder, air brakes and landing gear doors. Tejas Mk 1 and Mk1A fighter jets will be powered by GE F404-IN20 engines.
Ecojet, the world's first electric, commercial airline, has signed an agreement to purchase 22 ZA2000 hydrogen-electric engines from ZeroAvia, with…
Vertical Aerospace has seen its latest VX4 prototype perform its first tethered piloted flight as it begins the “wheels up”…
As many as 260 firm commercial aircraft orders and £81.5bn worth of deals were struck on the first four days…
The first mission-ready F-16 pilots to graduate from the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) in Romania were honoured today. This…
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has awarded Airbus Helicopters a contract to lead a concept study as part…
Turkish Technic, a global maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) company, has recently signed a Component Support Agreement with Citilink, a…
Following its firm order of 20 A330neo aircraft at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow, Vietjet has entered into significant agreements…
NASA Langley Research Center has awarded a contract to Terma to improve the data management and operational efficiency of its…
With the advanced air mobility (AAM) industry on the verge of take-off, there has been a concerted effort by companies…
Magellan Aerospace Corporation (Magellan) has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Farnborough Airshow with the Indian firm, Aequs…
ZeroAvia and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will work towards a demonstration flight using ZeroAvia’s ZA2000 zero-emission, hydrogen-electric engines for large…
Pratt & Whitney has received more than 950 GTF engine orders and commitments since the beginning of the year. Airlines…
Triumph's Thermal Systems Division has been awarded a long-term-program contract to design, manufacture and support the precooler system for the…
Pratt & Whitney and OGMA Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal , an Embraer company, have announced the induction of the first…
Abra Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for five A350-900 aircraft, aiming to expand its international long-haul operations…
Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier flynas has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for 75 A320neo family aircraft and…
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) has signed a six-year agreement with GE Aerospace to extend their TrueChoice Service…
AirAsia Aviation Group and AirAsia X, two of Asia’s largest low-cost carrier groups, have strengthened partnerships with SITA, adopting SITA…
AAR, a provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs, and OEMs, has entered into several long-term distribution…
J&C Aero, an EASA-certified international cabin interior hub, has successfully completed a full cabin modernisation of a Boeing 757-200, equipping…
Hours after it signed a contract with Australian company Wilbur Air, Spanish electric aircraft manufacturer Crisalion Mobility announced that it…
In a significant milestone for the D328eco programme, German OEM Deutsche Aircraft has commenced the construction of the first test…
British cargo airline, One Air, has marked its first year of operations by connecting 28 global airports and transporting over…
Liebherr-Aerospace and AAR have announced the signing of a General Terms Agreement (GTA). Under this agreement, Liebherr will grant licence…
EirTrade Aviation, the global aviation asset management and trading company, has begun disassembling its first B777-300ER in Knock, Ireland. The…
JEKTA Switzerland, the developer of the zero-emissions PHA-ZE 100 amphibious aircraft, has signed an agreement with Seaplane Asia to add…
Embraer announced a significant development for Brazilian air traffic during the Farnborough International Airshow. Atech, an Embraer Group company specialising…
Boeing and Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline group, are set to enhance the efficiency of Ryanair’s primarily 737 fleet by incorporating…
Specialist regional aircraft lessor TrueNoord has secured a new five-year term loan with BayernLB. This agreement strengthens TrueNoord’s relationship with…
LanzaJet, a sustainable fuels technology company, has received a strategic investment from Airbus to help expand LanzaJet’s ethanol-to-sustainable aviation fuel…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2024 GBP all rights reserved.