Tejas Achieves 10,000 Incident-Free Flying Sorties: Successes, Challenges, and Future Developments

Over 10,000 sorties without an incident have been flown by the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas of the Indian Air Force (IAF), marking a significant milestone. Despite obstacles encountered along the road, this achievement highlights the success of the domestic fighter jet programme.

Since its initial flight in 2001, the Tejas, created by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), has undergone a great deal of testing and improvement. Two squadrons of the single-seat version are already in service with the IAF, and two-seater trainers are being introduced as well. This accomplishment shows how the aircraft is becoming more operationally mature.

Though the Tejas journey hasn't been without its obstacles. During a Tejas test flight in 2020, Group Captain Varun Singh almost lost his life due to an onboard issue following significant system updates. During a system check flight, Group Captain Varun Singh discovered a rare and unprecedented catastrophic failure of the pressurisation and flight control systems.

Looking ahead, the Tejas programme will continue to evolve. Future variations, such as the Mk1A and naval variant, are being developed with the goal of improving capabilities and meeting a variety of operational requirements.

In summary, the Tejas' 10,000 safe sorties represent a noteworthy accomplishment for India's domestic defence programme. Recognising the 2020 disaster is important, but so is the continuous effort to learn from it, make improvements, and make sure the Tejas continues to be a valuable and reliable asset for the IAF.

 

[Pink Panther]

Great achievement 👏.

 

[Ajath]

It's a fantastic achievement. Talks volumes about the design and manufacturing capability. And not to forget maintenance.

 

[Superpower Bharat]

Congratulations DRDO and HAL

 

[Ashutosh]

And there is Akshat who says JF17 b2 is better than Tejas IOC 🤦🤦🤦🤦
Sir peetne ka man hota yeh sun kar.

 

[ryan]

And there is Akshat who says JF17 b2 is better than Tejas IOC 🤦🤦🤦🤦
Sir peetne ka man hota yeh sun kar.

really ? He's a piggistani then for sure

 

[Akshat]

really ? He's a piggistani then for sure

It’s a war machine. DRDO itself told MoD in writing that Tejas shall not be used for combat under any circumstances, till 2019. Are they all Pakistani as well?

 

[Ajath]

And there is Akshat who says JF17 b2 is better than Tejas IOC 🤦🤦🤦🤦
Sir peetne ka man hota yeh sun kar.

So according to you DRDO also is an idiot for telling MoD in writing that Tejas shall not be used for combat under any circumstances till 2019? And since this is supposed to be a war machine, not being able to fight automatically puts it at the bottom of the rung.

 

[NSR]

Congratulations to ADA, DRDO, and HAL for a stellar performance.
Way to go!!!

 

[prtskrg]

It’s a war machine. DRDO itself told MoD in writing that Tejas shall not be used for combat under any circumstances, till 2019. Are they all Pakistani as well?

Please provide link for such information.

 

[Ashutosh]

So according to you DRDO also is an idiot for telling MoD in writing that Tejas shall not be used for combat under any circumstances till 2019? And since this is supposed to be a war machine, not being able to fight automatically puts it at the bottom of the rung.

How many times I shall say that DRDO'S statement was for the immature platform!

Do u really think that as soon as Tejas got FOC it became so advanced that it can be taken to the war and do all the stuff!? Afterall achieving FOC took 4 years.

Tejas was good for combat since 2016..... DRDO didn't want to risk the fighter who was still going through crucial development phase....Tejas IOC is times better than JF17. JF 17 don't have the basics still is allowed for combat simply because China doesn't give a sh*t about its user as they are themselves not using it anyway.

 

[Akshat]

Do u really think that as soon as Tejas got FOC it became so advanced that it can be taken to the war and do all the stuff!? Afterall achieving FOC took 4 years.

Tejas was good for combat since 2016..... DRDO didn't want to risk the fighter who was still going through crucial development phase....Tejas IOC is times better than JF17.

Can you please define what is the meaning of FOC and IOC? Answer lies in the definition.

 

[Ashutosh]

Can you please define what is the meaning of FOC and IOC? Answer lies in the definition.

Final operational clearance - The plane is certified for all combat roles and effective deployment more or less the plane is completed developed with its subsystems.

Initial operational Clearance - The plane has the green light for combat and can be deployed if necessary, though the plane is still in crucial level of development with some immaturity in the platform which needs validation.

 

[NSR]

Guys, from 2001 to 2004 it is 23 very long years, almost a decade and half.
And India still not produced a full squadron of battle worthy Tejas IA yet.

India must surely better than this and it must.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Do u really think that as soon as Tejas got FOC it became so advanced that it can be taken to the war and do all the stuff!? Afterall achieving FOC took 4 years.

Tejas was good for combat since 2016..... DRDO didn't want to risk the fighter who was still going through crucial development phase....Tejas IOC is times better than JF17.

Thanks.
When did Tejas get IOC and FOC?

This might help readers understand where HAL stands w.r.t its commitment to LCA-Tejas.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

HAL-Tejas does have many a thing things going in its way, except perhaps the ill-fortune of having a unprofessional DPSU as its lead integrator.

HAL Tejas project in hands of a professional organization would have been just the thing IAF(Indian wala, not the import wala) needed in 2010.

By now, IAF should have been inducting Mk2 of Tejas.

That would have been something.

 

[Sandeep]

This is very good news because it reinforces the safety and reliability of the jet along with expanding, modernising and maturing our military industry along with designing and developing complex weapons and technology. Now India needs to focus on all of our other jets.

 

[ramdas]

It's about the engines which are far better than the Russians, can we say the same thing about RD 33 and AL31 used in MIG29 and SU30MKI, Buy weapon platforms rationally

 

[Anant]

Excellent news. Now, if only we could accelerate the production rate and future developments, we'd be in the clear.

Still, 10,000 accident-free sorties is nothing to sniff at.

 

[Ashutosh]

When did Tejas get IOC and FOC?

IOC-2011
FOC-2019