Meteor Missile Integration on Tejas Mk1A Hinges on Indigenous AESA Radar

The Indian Air Force's (IAF) aspiration to equip its Tejas Mk1A fighter jets with the advanced European Meteor air-to-air missile has encountered a crucial turning point. The integration of the Meteor, renowned for its extended range and "no-escape zone," was initially hindered due to compatibility concerns with the Tejas' existing Russian and Israeli components.

However, a potential solution has emerged from ongoing negotiations between the IAF and MBDA, the European manufacturer of the Meteor. MBDA has indicated a willingness to reconsider integration if the Tejas Mk1A is equipped with the Uttam Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, an indigenously developed system by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

This development underscores the critical role of the Uttam AESA radar in facilitating the integration of advanced weaponry onto the Tejas platform. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has confirmed that the Uttam radar will be integrated into the Tejas Mk1A from the 41st aircraft onwards, opening the door for the potential inclusion of the Meteor missile in the future.

While India is also developing its own long-range air-to-air missile, the Astra MkIII, the Meteor integration represents a significant step towards enhancing the Tejas Mk1A's combat capabilities in the interim. The Meteor's advanced features would provide the Tejas with a substantial advantage in aerial engagements, bolstering its overall effectiveness.

 

[GMR]

Talking abt 41st unit onwards, but where is the first MK1A???? Postponed to 2025??

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Astra MK2 and MK3 development needs to be expedited.

 

[bonito]

Doesn't indigenous radar also bring indigenous Astra mkII along with it to integrate ? Why beg Meteor integration?

 

[Akshat]

Astra MK2 and MK3 development needs to be expedited.

What blasphemy???? You can’t talk about DRDO expediting anything. EVER!!! You should be tried directly by Supreme Court for this!

 

[Akshat]

Doesn't indigenous radar also bring indigenous Astra mkII along with it to integrate ? Why beg Meteor integration?

Because mk2 is nowhere to be seen.

 

[Sudha]

HAL itself is a disappointment, next comes DRDO in the heirarchy of disappointments except in missile & radar products. Have been hearing for last 3 years that uttam is nearly ready, ready, still some tests pending & what nots. Expect UTTAM's timeline to be postponed to the second contract of 90+ mk1a.

 

[bonito]

Because mk2 is nowhere to be seen.

Well Uttam Integration also takes time, by the time MkII should be ready.

 

[bonito]

Talking abt 41st unit onwards, but where is the first MK1A???? Postponed to 2025??

First they told integration from 22nd Mk1A. Now they are saying 41st jet.

 

[Akshat]

Well Uttam Integration also takes time, by the time MkII should be ready.

Mk2 ain’t coming till at least 2040 based on trends. Mk2 is set to exceed Tejas’ time for first flight. So there is no reason whatsoever to believe that induction will be any quicker. 2040, at the very least.

 

[Kira]

Another big reason why MBDA was holding back from offering Meteor BVRM for other Indian jets was due to clash of interest related with the sale of additional Rafales to India,the missile was MBDSs secret sauce which provided it advantage.

 

[Tanishq Bafila]

First they told integration from 22nd Mk1A. Now they are saying 41st jet.

Because the TR modules have increased by almost 200 units

 

[Boomeranger]

Mk2 ain’t coming till at least 2040 based on trends. Mk2 is set to exceed Tejas’ time for first flight. So there is no reason whatsoever to believe that induction will be any quicker. 2040, at the very least.

AND FOC of AMCA only in 2060 that too for 4.5+++ gen MK1 one...

 

[Santanu Banerjee]

Both HAL and DRDO are not technically and organizationally competent for current hi tech defence tech. Don't get heart broken or shameful. Their main problem is arrogance and humblemess to accept their limitation.
Japan ,China, S Korea all have this problem earlier. No nation will give you critical tech. All you have to do is copy.Japan,China,S korea and the Russians also copied from other technically advanced nation. Simultaneously they developed a system of own research and development.
Our government mainly past and to some extent present is focused in developing environment for intensive research.Lure foreign brains with benefits and ultramodern research centers. Provide incentives to industry and tie them up with Research centers. Only then in reasonable time India will surely become technologically super power.

 

[Sandeep]

By the time our 41st Tejas MK1A jet is manufactured it will still take around 3 years or more to build 40 jets and replace any critical technology that we use from Israel or Russia that MBDA wanted changing before they sell and install the Meteor missile. By that time we would be close to developing our own indigenous Astra IR, MK2 and MK3 missiles and begin installing it on all of our other jets.

India should only buy a small number of these Meteor missiles if we are running low on long range missiles then we should only buy a small number until we develop our own long range BVRAAM like the Astra MK2 and MK3 missiles. The main focus should be on quickly developing those so that we don't have to keep buying or importing foreign expensive missiles costing crores. India needs to focus on manufacturing the Tejas MK1A, MK2 and AMCA jets as they are crucial indigenous jets and projects that we need to develop along with the crucial technology like the Uttam radar, engines, key sensors, missiles, laser guided bombs, glide bombs etc.