Tejas Mk-1: A Milestone Achieved, Potential Mk-1B Upgrades on the Horizon

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) marked a significant achievement with the successful test flight of the first production series Tejas Mk-1A Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).

This milestone underscores the progress of India's ambitious program to develop and manufacture indigenous fighter jets. However, the Indian Air Force (IAF) continues to desire more advanced capabilities, fueling a potential evolution of the Tejas platform.

The Tejas Mk-1A and Beyond​

The IAF plans to formally order 97 additional Tejas Mk-1A jets later this year. This variant offers improvements over the initial Tejas Mk-1, including an upgraded sensor suite and avionics.

These 97 jets are expected to be inducted into active service within the next 3-4 years, a timeframe that strategically aligns with the beginning of trials for the even more capable Tejas Mk-II.

The Mk-II design boasts a more powerful engine, increased internal fuel capacity, an AESA radar, and other enhancements.

Potential Emergence of the Tejas Mk-1B​

Ongoing discussions between HAL and the IAF are focused on the final specifications for the second batch of Tejas jets.

The IAF's drive for cutting-edge capabilities is motivating potential changes and upgrades, laying the groundwork for a possible new variant designated as the Tejas Mk-1B.

Specific areas of consideration include enhanced avionics and other modifications to ensure the fighter remains relevant to the IAF's long-term strategic needs.

Tejas: A Symbol of India's Defence Ambitions​

The Tejas program embodies India's growing aspiration for self-reliance in defense technology.

The success of the Tejas Mk-IA, along with the ongoing development of the Mk-II variant, demonstrates India's capability to design and produce advanced fighter aircraft.

The continued evolution of the Tejas platform through potential variants like the Mk-1B signals India's commitment to a robust, indigenously developed air combat capability.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Bruh....
Delivery of first jet has not happened and IAF already talking about upgrades.

I think MoD should act as middleman between customer(IAF, Army) and Supplier(HAL, Other DPSU, Private players) so that both are grounded in reality and behave properly.

 

[sanket]

HAL has done Great job , i yesterday said IAF will not complain about delays of Induction for Tejas MK1A . on IAF demand improvement have done . But Once production settle down delivery will b on Tract once all new changes are certified and tested.

Tejas Mk1B should have GaN based AESA Radar.

 

[Pramkumar]

Mk1b must be fitted with Kaveri engine and indigenous Radome not with some fancy items

 

[Ajath]

What is the status of current batch delivery?

 

[Benith Israel]

Mk1b must be fitted with Kaveri engine and indigenous Radome not with some fancy items

You need engine to be ready for production when order is placed which is unlikely.

 

[Rick Golder]

The advantage of having a indigenous fighter. You can keep on upgrading it to your own needs.

 

[Rick Golder]

You need engine to be ready for production when order is placed which is unlikely.

The mk1b varient will not come before 2028-29, so by that time, there's high probability that we will be able to develop a sufficient engine with enough thrust.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Bruh....
Delivery of first jet has not happened and IAF already talking about upgrades.

I think MoD should act as middleman between customer(IAF, Army) and Supplier(HAL, Other DPSU, Private players) so that both are grounded in reality and behave properly.

MoD is a bunch of babus who don't have much knowlegde of defence matters. They do recourse to consultations with the Military where acquisition of hardware is concerned. But that is not something of a given.

The fact that military purchases are often susceptible to charges of corruption and bribery, our babus find it safer to deal with DPSUs than with private contractors and this is how they tend to avoid the most vulnerable scope of a potential blot on their career.

Can't really blame the babus much, can we?

These DPSUs take full advantage if the arrangement and once a contract is won, have a merry time as like in any PSU jobs are guaranteed and effort is pretty much voluntary.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

What is the status of current batch delivery?

What current batch?
They demonstrated a sample Tejas Mk1A right?
You saw it fly.

Now stay happy with plasant memories of the first Flying Tejas MK-1A.

Don't ask too many questions. Covid-19 has delayed everything for the next 20-30 years to come.

 

[NSR]

No more tinkering until India gets its Uttam AESA radars and puts in en masse all the improvements and does a comprehensive flight test to validate the performances, and re-qualifications.

Too dangerous to introduce improvements in yet to be formally manufactured and flown regularly on real sorties.

Hold on all improvements until Indian AESA radar is ready to go in.

Crazy IAF and HAL to say the minimum.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

MoD is a bunch of babus who don't have much knowlegde of defence matters. They do recourse to consultations with the Military where acquisition of hardware is concerned. But that is not something of a given.

The fact that military purchases are often susceptible to charges of corruption and bribery, our babus find it safer to deal with DPSUs than with private contractors and this is how they tend to avoid the most vulnerable scope of a potential blot on their career.

Can't really blame the babus much, can we?

These DPSUs take full advantage if the arrangement and once a contract is won, have a merry time as like in any PSU jobs are guaranteed and effort is pretty much voluntary.

What is your point? We should not have MoD as middlemen? Armed forces should have complete say over procurement?

You do realise that MoD represents the govt. If govt wants atmanirbharta, who do you think implements that? Armed forces dont care where they get equipment from. They can just keep giving tenders for anything they want and happily buy from foreign companies.

There is a reason why in every country there is a bureaucracy in defence sector. It faces the most criticism but it plays a very important role.

The govt exercises control over the military through MoD. In countries like Egypt, pakis etc it is the other way around.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

What is your point? We should not have MoD as middlemen? Armed forces should have complete say over procurement?

You do realise that MoD represents the govt. If govt wants atmanirbharta, who do you think implements that? Armed forces dont care where they get equipment from. They can just keep giving tenders for anything they want and happily buy from foreign companies.

There is a reason why in every country there is a bureaucracy in defence sector. It faces the most criticism but it plays a very important role.

The govt exercises control over the military through MoD. In countries like Egypt, pakis etc it is the other way around.

My point is, there is fundamental changes required at both Bureaucratic as well as at the Regulations layer withing the defence acquisition policy in India. Or else in the name.of Aatmanirbharta we will be getting various iterations of LCA Tejas, Arjun and INSAS. With a few examples of Zorawar and WHAPS spkrinkled in between.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

My point is, there is fundamental changes required at both Bureaucratic as well as at the Regulations layer withing the defence acquisition policy in India. Or else in the name.of Aatmanirbharta we will be getting various iterations of LCA Tejas, Arjun and INSAS. With a few examples of Zorawar and WHAPS spkrinkled in between.

A lot of reforms have already happened in last 5 years.

I have listened to talks from retd officers and bureaucrats and defence journos.

The period of 2000s and 2010s was characterised by 'policy paralysis' because of huge number of corruption scandals that had taken place in defence acquisition. A lot of tenders got cancelled because of that. Companies gor blacklisted. There was huge mess in defence procurement. That is when our armed forces started blindly buying russian equipment.

Because domestic industry was non existant and buying from others was risky due to corruption.

Stuff like IDEX, simplified DAC approval, IDDDM categories etc has come up in last 5-6 years. Entire defence procurement policy has been rewritten.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Entire defence procurement policy has been rewritten.

And yet, entities like HAL continue reap new contracts inspite of missing deadlines, quality concerns and major shortcomingd in their supply-chains.

Any other private company doing the same would have been taken to the cleaners by the government.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

And yet, entities like HAL continue reap new contracts inspite of missing deadlines, quality concerns and major shortcomingd in their supply-chains.

Any other private company doing the same would have been taken to the cleaners by the government.

The criticism of HAL in recent times seems to come entirely from people like you and me who are armchair experts.

IAF has not criticised, nor has MoD, or any other body or person that has inside knowldege of things. I believe this is because there is understanding of the reason for shortcomings and that blame does not lie solely with HAL. delays are happening because of multiple factors.

We as audience only get ridbits of info

 

[Akshat]

Bruh....
Delivery of first jet has not happened and IAF already talking about upgrades.

I think MoD should act as middleman between customer(IAF, Army) and Supplier(HAL, Other DPSU, Private players) so that both are grounded in reality and behave properly.

Just another proof of how HAL spreads lies to hide it’s a$$. IAF chief had stated officially last year that IAF intends to make no major changes to the plane in its next order. What government needs to do is to dismantle all these DPSUs and sell them in parts to private players ASAP.

 

[Akshat]

The criticism of HAL in recent times seems to come entirely from people like you and me who are armchair experts.

IAF has not criticised, nor has MoD, or any other body or person that has inside knowldege of things. I believe this is because there is understanding of the reason for shortcomings and that blame does not lie solely with HAL. delays are happening because of multiple factors.

We as audience only get ridbits of info

CAG officially gave in writing that DRDO submitted fake success reports to MoD. Did any criticism came for that? No. GoI will never criticize these entities. Fact is, GoI is bringing in private players and giving them a lot of contracts and even DRDO’s budget. ACM Bhadoria himself blamed ADA and HAL for trying to keep the private sector out and said that bringing them in is a must. Look at the actions, not just words. GoI is fed up of these entities and want to eliminate them now.

 

[Akshat]

The mk1b varient will not come before 2028-29, so by that time, there's high probability that we will be able to develop a sufficient engine with enough thrust.

Not with DRDO. They had 30+ years with unlimited budget and we have nothing. 3-4 years won’t change anything. They are not even working on it as of now.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Just another proof of how HAL spreads lies to hide it’s a$$. IAF chief had stated officially last year that IAF intends to make no major changes to the plane in its next order. What government needs to do is to dismantle all these DPSUs and sell them in parts to private players ASAP.

Give me source, i cant find the statement you are referring to.