Should Tejas Mk2 Have Been an AMCA-Inspired Single Engine Stealth Jet? Netizens Question 4.5 Gen Design Choice

The Indian Air Force's (IAF) pursuit of a modern fighter jet fleet has sparked lively debate, particularly surrounding the Tejas Mk2. While officially classified as a 4.5 generation fighter, a vocal segment of the defence community on X (formerly Twitter) argues that the Tejas Mk2 should have been developed as a single-engined, fifth-generation stealth fighter, drawing inspiration from the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program.

Proponents of this idea highlight several potential benefits:

• Reduced Costs: A single-engine design would be significantly cheaper than the twin-engine configuration of the AMCA, making the aircraft more affordable for the IAF and potentially boosting its export prospects.
• Shared Development: Leveraging the AMCA's stealth technology, design elements, and avionics could lead to shared development efforts, reducing R&D expenses and ensuring a similar operational philosophy for both aircraft.
• Dual-Purpose Solution: A stealth-capable Tejas Mk2 could fulfill both the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) requirements and act as a stopgap fifth-generation fighter until the AMCA becomes fully operational.

However, the Tejas Mk2 is currently progressing as a 4.5 generation fighter, focusing on enhancing the capabilities of the existing Tejas platform with improved avionics, more powerful engines, and increased payload capacity. Meanwhile, the AMCA continues its development as India's primary fifth-generation fighter project, aiming for stealth, supercruise, and advanced combat systems.

This online discourse reflects a broader debate within India's defence community about the optimal path for national fighter jet development. While a single-engined, fifth-generation Tejas Mk2 holds appeal for its potential to address multiple operational needs efficiently, the realities of aerospace development, with its technical complexities, budgetary constraints, and strategic considerations, suggest that a more cautious, incremental approach may be more prudent.

Ultimately, the decision to pursue a 4.5 generation design for the Tejas Mk2 likely reflects a balance between ambition and pragmatism. It allows the IAF to acquire a capable and affordable fighter jet in the near term while continuing to pursue the more ambitious goal of developing a fully indigenous fifth-generation fighter with the AMCA program.

 

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[Ajay Singh]

Tejas Mk 2 is essentially a project to overcome the shortcomings of the Mk 1. The Mk 1 fell short in terms of power and range, so a more powerful engine and a larger fuselage to accommodate more fuel was required. The mistakes with the Mk 1 design (engine selection, fuel capacity, lack of aerial refuelling capability and excessive overall aircraft weight) may perhaps be understandable on account of beginners’ inexperience; but the real mistakes were that the IAF took the opportunity to try and trash the Tejas project itself and it was only thanks to the former defence minister Parrikar that the project was saved, moving to the Mk 2 development, with the Mk 1A as a stopgap solution. Far too much time was lost in working out this roadmap. Tejas Mk 2 will be the actual realization of a capable 4th gen single engine fighter comparable to the best in class such as the F16, Gripen etc. Now thinking of incorporating stealth etc. is futile. Best to complete the development as quickly as possible, in parallel to the AMCA. Conventional 4th generation fighters will still be needed in good numbers, even the US will keep the F16 in service for a good 20-30 years to come. Once Tejas Mk2 is in service, further development should continue to incorporate new technologies including stealth, more powerful engine for supercruise, AI etc. Many other aircraft have evolved in this way, beginning with the initial version and then evolving into new versions over decades in a way that they transcend generations.

 

[Bhartiya Sainik]

> We Indians don't understand a simple thing that Leaders lead means others lag. So West is leading, 3rd world countries like us are lagging, creating market for leaders & fund their R&D.
> "Oh! That nation is also lagging, so we can relax"... this cannot be excuse. We've already suffered 1000+ years of invasion & slavery & it can repeat in this millennium also if being ignorant & arrogant.
> So we loved importing, R&D wen't for a toss, now we're in quicksand, can't spit, can't swallow.
> Hence we have to suffer consequences if a war occurs within 10yrs.
> Comparing with West using MLUed 4gen hets is not logical bcoz their geography, geopolitics, globala genda & requirement is different than ours. They have big global market, they have NATO, they have global bases, while we have none of the 3. Moreover their 4gen will be replaced in 2-3 decades, while our brand new 4gen jets will retire after 5-6 decades from now, like MiG-21.
> There is always a natural overlap b/w latest gen & previous gen, but West phases out older gen in time but we don't.
> Engine tech is core & critical to any type of aircraft & toughest to make. And we're facing arm-twisting by West which will continue. If JV (Joint Venture) succeeds then good but our GTRE & perhaps private firms have to ultimately develop domestic engine.
> Stealth is future, a natural tech evolution. In just 1-2 decades, all non-stealthy jets globally, even of West will become just target practice objects, same status as 3rd gen jets today. So it is important that we start working on geometric shaping of our current projects of MWF & TEDBF. We already developed RAM.

 

[sanket]

First for single engine Steath Fighter one must think about availibility of Higher Thrust Jet Engine, second Even most of 4.5 Gen Fighter jet too are Designed for Twin Engine if One fails the other engine make safe Landing, second present GE-414 has Thrust of 98 kN for Stealth Single Engine Figter it will require 5th Gen Engine with 130 kN to 150 kN

 

[PKPRS]

We still need Tejas MK2, HAL needs to make that first, no skipping that, may be later on we can make a single engine stealth jet just altering the design of AMCA for single engine application, clean sheet design will take a very long time, to speed things, we can also make a stealth jet based on SU-75 and call it Tejas MK3.

 

[Steel Mathi]

Even if Tejas Mk2 is designed like this, it would be special... I don't know how it can be done in the current situation... We need an engine with at least 130 KN...

 

[Preet]

To make a single-engine stealth, you need a very high-thrust engine. Then you need a big enough IWB, and when you seek a big IWB, you have to get into at least the 25-tonne weight category. Then you would need an even bigger engine (150-190KN). Now, we cannot even make a 90kN engine, how will we make a 190kN one? And nobody will export this engine to us either.

What India can do is, Tejas Mk1a already has a very small RCS; also, Mk2 is ought to have a smaller RCS of 0.5. And an RCS of 0.5 means a fight has to go WVR if the plane is in clean configuration (no outside weapons). So we can aim for conformal fuel tanks and stealth external weapons pods (like in FA-18). Go ahead and do it. But are our DRDO and HAL fast enough to design and make changes? I don't think so.

 

[Ray]

Development of a single engine stealth aircraft will be welcome.
But it's too late to for Tejas mk2. Tejas mk2 is about to realise and there's no room for any such kind of paradigm shift in design.
But MoD should initiate the program to design a single engine stealth aircraft. Because of MoD will start it now then we can expect anything concrete after 3 decades or more, exactly at the time of retirement of Tejas.

 

[obiwankenubi jedi]

Yes the we could have plan A as a single engine stealth jet

and plan B can for F75 from Russia in the interim

we could consider Al-31F for prototype and AL-41/51 for production variant if we need higher power as backup for the 110kn engine proposed or as tranche/mk1 one engine

 

[Anant]

Yes the we could have plan A as a single engine stealth jet

and plan B can for F75 from Russia in the interim

we could consider Al-31F for prototype and AL-41/51 for production variant if we need higher power as backup for the 110kn engine proposed or as tranche/mk1 one engine

Yeah... no. The question is if we should have skipped the Tejas Mk 2 and gone for a single-engined fifth generation fighter instead. The question is not if we should go for one on top of our existing programs.

As for the Su-75, it is just another Russian dream project that they want to swindle someone for. It is very much possible the Su-75 will never exist beyond a few mockups, some design drawings, and peoples' hopes and dreams.

As for the AL-31F, why on Earth would you want an overpriced engine with a short life?

 

[P.K Senapati]

Single engined stealth 5th generation Su75 make in India is right choice.
Twin engined AMCA is an indigenious project and it should continue.

 

[Vadivelu Veerabadiran]

When the entire purpose of 5th Generation fighter aircrafts is stealth and super cruise ability to evade enemy radars and anti arcrafts weapon platforms to engage strategic targets followed by destroying of enemy radars and AD weapons. Once this is done you make things easy for your 4.5 Generation fighter aircrafts to conduct large scale air strikes on the enemy. Therefore you will have about 8 to 10 squadrons of 5th generation aircrafts and balance 40 to 42 squadrons will be 4.5 generation fighter aircrafts . 5th generation aircrafts are expensive to build and maintain in comparison to 4.5 generation fighter aircrafts.

 

[SK]

What??? INDIA lacks Jet engine technology to go for a single engine 5th Gen Jet.

Tejas-Mk1 program is not only about developing a 4+ Gen Jet it's about developing an entire Aerospace ecosystem through which Next Gen Combat & Civil Aerospace technologies can be developed.

 

[Amit Solanki]

Our first priority should be a better indigenous engine with better thirst of nearby 120 to 150kn. This is the only major hurdle for in-house production of advanced 5.5 or 6th gen fighters. Other issues like radar and avionics or stealth coating are secondary.

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

What??? INDIA lacks Jet engine technology to go for a single engine 5th Gen Jet.

Tejas-Mk1 program is not only about developing a 4+ Gen Jet it's about developing an entire Aerospace ecosystem through which Next Gen Combat & Civil Aerospace technologies can be developed.

There has to be competition among multiple aircraft ecosystems. We have seen such ecosystems in Germany during WW2 USAF and England. Some aircrafts won't survive competition, others would become legends of their age, some would remain as test planes, some companies would go bankrupt due to faulty management and lack of vision.

 

[SK]

There has to be competition among multiple aircraft ecosystems. We have seen such ecosystems in Germany during WW2 USAF and England. Some aircrafts won't survive competition, others would become legends of their age, some would remain as test planes, some companies would go bankrupt due to faulty management and lack of vision.

For that you need an Aerospace Eco-system but preservation of Indigenous Aerospace industry is also necessary or else Nations become dependent upon collaborations with each other greatly reducing their strategic autonomy.

India lacks Military-allies whom can be trusted for such partnerships.

 

[beencensured]

First for single engine Steath Fighter one must think about availibility of Higher Thrust Jet Engine, second Even most of 4.5 Gen Fighter jet too are Designed for Twin Engine if One fails the other engine make safe Landing, second present GE-414 has Thrust of 98 kN for Stealth Single Engine Figter it will require 5th Gen Engine with 130 kN to 150 kN

For maintaining stealth operation dry thrust is a must, but wet thrust has large signature so need of greater power so to super-cruise without afterburner. Stealth bombers do not need higher thrust unless operating in supersonic range.

Engine failure is not the only issue also reliability. Even the Tejas with GE engine failure landed on its wheels with its slow flying ability pilot safely ejected as not every aircraft is mig-21. In fact, single engine Tejas is safer then mig-29.

 

[R. Singh]

ADA+HAL should replicate Geometric stealth airframe for Tejas-AF-II and MWF should be like F-36 !