ADA Begins Development of 1700-Litre and 1300-Litre Drop Tanks for Tejas Mk2, Promising Longer-Range Missions and Increased Deployment

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has announced the commencement of a project to develop new external fuel tanks, commonly known as "drop tanks," for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk2. These tanks are crucial for increasing the aircraft's range, providing greater flexibility in mission planning and execution.

Drop tanks are supplementary fuel containers that can be externally mounted on an aircraft. This significantly boosts the aircraft's fuel capacity, allowing it to fly for longer distances.

An added advantage is the ability to detach ("jettison") these tanks mid-flight. This feature allows pilots to reduce the aircraft's weight, improving maneuverability, particularly in combat situations or emergencies.

The LCA Tejas Mk2 will utilize two distinct types of drop tanks. The first, a 1700-litre capacity tank (designated DT1700), is designed for attachment to the inner sections of the wings. When empty, this elliptically shaped tank weighs approximately 140 kilograms.

The second type, a 1300-litre tank (DT1300), is intended for placement beneath the fuselage. It has an empty weight of around 120 kilograms and features a conical nose and rear.

The standard configuration for the LCA Tejas Mk2 will involve a total of three drop tanks: two of the 1700-litre tanks on the wings and one 1300-litre tank under the fuselage.This increases total fuel capacity of Tejas MK2 by 4700 Litre.

The addition of these drop tanks represents a significant enhancement to the capabilities of the Tejas Mk2. By extending its operational range, the aircraft will be able to undertake longer missions and be deployed in a wider variety of scenarios, bolstering India's strategic defence capabilities.

The Tejas Mk2, developed by the ADA, is an improved version of the original Tejas LCA, featuring a more powerful engine, increased weapon payload capacity, and updated avionics.

 

[youarefake]

They haven't made one yet, for something that is supposed to be rolled out in 2025.

 

[beencensured]

Conformal, modular fuel tanks with low RCS are needed for the Tejas Mk2. Making fuel tanks is important, but they should help in giving an advantage to the Tejas in terms of survivability.

 

[Mango_Indian]

As is well documented, the Tejas' range is its Achilles heel. It has the lowest internal fuel capacity, which does not enable it to do anything more than a 45-minute sortie. Of course, that is not mentioned. No mention of the ballast, which is one of the major reasons the Tejas is overweight.

What's mentioned: we will add drop tanks and enable more range, which add weight and increase drag.

Cherry on the cake: the Tejas Mk2 is not yet unveiled and is 2+ years late, just at this stage.

 

[sumeet biswas]

They haven't made one yet, for something that is supposed to be rolled out in 2025.

Don't worry. Mk1 fuel tank can be used till then.

This is a specific fuel tank for mk2 they are talking about...

Less priority thing.

The most priority work is to develop the jet itself and start testing.

 

[Pankaj]

Where is the plane? Tejas MK2 is supposed to roll out in 2025, but the way HAL is working, it's quite difficult to remain on schedule. Here also, no excuse of engine supply will be entertained, as we already have the GE414 engine.

 

[Sandeep]

This is something that we can easily manufacture ourselves with government or private sector companies. A tender should be released so that the lowest bid wins the contract but no foreign company can bid for this contract.

 

[Dredd]

This is something that we can easily manufacture ourselves with government or private sector companies. A tender should be released so that the lowest bid wins the contract but no foreign company can bid for this contract.

Also instead of standard conical fuel tank we should invest in stealthy fuel tank that was showcased with raptor last year. This could also be used by TEDBF and AMCA.

 

[Sandeep]

Also instead of standard conical fuel tank we should invest in stealthy fuel tank that was showcased with raptor last year. This could also be used by TEDBF and AMCA.

It’s certainly possible but the Tejas jets are not stealth jets at all. We can make them semi stealth by painting them with RAM paint and increase the amount of composite we can develop and install.

 

[P2S2]

They haven't made one yet, for something that is supposed to be rolled out in 2025.

Better late than never. Better safe than a joke. Congratulations to HAL they have performed well in many different technologies, produced more than the private sector. They are an asset worth preserving. They should license joint ventures companies and list them on the market, that will allow them growth by themselves funded by themselves. We don't need Musks.

 

[Akshat]

As is well documented, the Tejas' range is its Achilles heel. It has the lowest internal fuel capacity, which does not enable it to do anything more than a 45-minute sortie. Of course, that is not mentioned. No mention of the ballast, which is one of the major reasons the Tejas is overweight.

What's mentioned: we will add drop tanks and enable more range, which add weight and increase drag.

Cherry on the cake: the Tejas Mk2 is not yet unveiled and is 2+ years late, just at this stage.

Well it's not even close to 2 years (you mentioned 2+, so technically even 100 years delay is covered but assumption is that you are talking about a number close to 2 years).

Tejas Mk2 was supposed to go into mass production in 2016. This was mentioned by HAL to their vendors when they asked them to start with the designing of parts. And this document is from 2014. So in 2014, HAL had given a written assurance that Tejas Mk2 will be put into production by 2016. So even assuming the best case scenario of production starting in 2030, which is what HAL is now promising, we are at least 14 years late. Before the roll out.

 

[Akshat]

Where is the plane? Tejas MK2 is supposed to roll out in 2025, but the way HAL is working, it's quite difficult to remain on schedule. Here also, no excuse of engine supply will be entertained, as we already have the GE414 engine.

Well technically Mk2 was supposed to start production in 2016 itself (and this was repeated in 2014, so even the excuse of government funds being delayed won't work). So...

 

[Dredd]

It’s certainly possible but the Tejas jets are not stealth jets at all. We can make them semi stealth by painting them with RAM paint and increase the amount of composite we can develop and install.

There is nothing in between. Here, we lack strategic thinking. When we are going to invest money and time in a fuel tank, then it is better to make something which can be used across platforms and could also be a candidate for export. These types of low-tech items can be manufactured easily by the private sector.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

Don't worry. Mk1 fuel tank can be used till then.

This is a specific fuel tank for mk2 they are talking about...

Less priority thing.

The most priority work is to develop the jet itself and start testing.

Absolutely. Even MiG-21 tanks can be used with little modification.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

Well technically Mk2 was supposed to start production in 2016 itself (and this was repeated in 2014, so even the excuse of government funds being delayed won't work). So...

FY1 MK2 got CCS approval on Sept 1st, 2022. So, don't talk about funds availability.

 

[Rinku Pandey]

Tejas Mk2 was supposed to go into mass production in 2016. This was mentioned by HAL to their vendors when they asked them to start with the designing of parts. And this document is from 2014. So in 2014, HAL had given a written assurance that Tejas Mk2 will be put into production by 2016. So even assuming the best case scenario of production starting in 2030, which is what HAL is now promising, we are at least 14 years late. Before the roll out.

Wrong. CCS approval for MK2 was in September 2022. How could HAL manufacture MK2 in 2014?

 

[Akshat]

FY1 MK2 got CCS approval on Sept 1st, 2022. So, don't talk about funds availability.

Then can you please explain why was HAL promising, in written documents published in 2014, that Mk2 will start production in 2016? If no funds were allocated, then how can they promise that? In fact, even later on HAL chief promised to roll it out in less than 3 years at numerous occasions (3 years being the time it will take to roll the plane out, at least, from the day funds are approved, as per HAL). So if no funds were allocated till 2022, how were they making all those promises?

Fact is, funds were released in 2012 (of which you can find media reports) but they wasted it all and went for a complete redesign in 2016 (when the original design failed) and the funds released in 2022 were for the new design.

 

[kumar]

As is well documented, the Tejas' range is its Achilles heel. It has the lowest internal fuel capacity, which does not enable it to do anything more than a 45-minute sortie. Of course, that is not mentioned. No mention of the ballast, which is one of the major reasons the Tejas is overweight.

45 mins is for Tejas Mk1, not Tejas Mk2. Drop tanks are for extending range further, like for any other aircraft of its class.

 

[P2S2]

Well technically Mk2 was supposed to start production in 2016 itself (and this was repeated in 2014, so even the excuse of government funds being delayed won't work). So...

There's a difference between owners and workers or sellers. An owner does things differently he upgrades them, finds better value add ons, judges the timing according to necessity. Workers just do what is asked for. Sellers make the product and collect the money. HAL has the luxury of judging the urgency of need, thinking of outdatedness of the product. Probably what the product was going to be in 2016 isn't going to be what will be delivered in 3014. Tejas have become our answer to what others have gone around the block creating, changing, upgrading throwing them out of the window. Becoming evolving tactics after the fact. We probably have been saved all those dramas. That's why we know about wingmen etc. Real war is going to be different and we can't even imagine what it will look like let alone write a book about. That's why SU57 Su75 etc have been waiting for idiots to finance. That's why F35 needs to be offloaded. Our Super Tejas will be what we believe that future war will be like.

 

[Akshat]

Wrong. CCS approval for MK2 was in September 2022. How could HAL manufacture MK2 in 2014?

You answer me that. It is HAL which gave that timeline in writing. And there are documents which show that 1000s of crores were released in 2012 for Mk2. Go and check first. The 2022 funds were additional funds.

 

[Bimla]

Sir yr article are good ...want more informative articles

 

[P2S2]

You answer me that. It is HAL which gave that timeline in writing. And there are documents which show that 1000s of crores were released in 2012 for Mk2. Go and check first. The 2022 funds were additional funds.

If the price of sand was different years ago the flyovers can't be completed. If you try forcing them to produce sand and build they will run away so we will remain without flyovers in Ludhiana.

 

[P2S2]

You answer me that. It is HAL which gave that timeline in writing. And there are documents which show that 1000s of crores were released in 2012 for Mk2. Go and check first. The 2022 funds were additional funds.

Should promote the brains that visualised our situation now, in 2012. Hopefully we could visualise the situation in 3012. At present Tejas are evolving into complex defence alternatives at affordable prices.

 

[P2S2]

This is something that we can easily manufacture ourselves with government or private sector companies. A tender should be released so that the lowest bid wins the contract but no foreign company can bid for this contract.

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