Tejas Mk2 to Feature Advanced Information Fusion for Enhanced Situational Awareness and Combat Efficiency

The Tejas Mk2, the next generation of India's indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), is poised to significantly enhance situational awareness and combat efficiency through advanced information fusion capabilities.

Designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the Tejas Mk2 will integrate a suite of sensors and sophisticated algorithms to create a comprehensive and dynamic tactical picture for its pilots.

The Tejas Mk2 will be equipped with a diverse array of sensors, providing a multi-faceted view of the battlespace:

• Radar: An upgraded Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar will offer superior target detection, tracking, and engagement capabilities.
• IRST (Infrared Search and Track): This passive system will detect and track targets based on their heat signatures, adding a layer of stealth to the aircraft's detection methods.
• RWR (Radar Warning Receiver): Crucial for electronic warfare, the RWR will alert pilots to hostile radar emissions, enhancing survivability.
• IFF (Identification Friend or Foe): This system will distinguish between friendly and enemy aircraft, reducing the risk of friendly fire incidents.
• MAWS (Missile Approach Warning System): This system will provide critical early warning of incoming missiles, allowing for evasive maneuvers or countermeasure deployment.
• EOT (Electro-Optical Targeting) Datalinks: These datalinks will enable the exchange of tactical information with other platforms, facilitating network-centric warfare.

At the heart of the Tejas Mk2's enhanced combat effectiveness lie its information fusion algorithms. These algorithms will:

• Unify data: By merging data from various sensors, the system will create cohesive tracks of targets, providing a clearer and more accurate picture of the operational environment.
• Enhance situational awareness: Pilots will have a much-improved tactical overview, with the system capable of discerning between different types of threats and prioritizing them based on real-time data.
• Improve decision-making: This fusion of information will allow for faster, more informed decision-making in dynamic aerial combat scenarios.

This level of sensor integration not only amplifies the aircraft's combat effectiveness but also reduces the cognitive load on pilots, allowing them to focus more on strategy and less on data interpretation.

The Tejas Mk2's ability to generate a comprehensive tactical picture from diverse sensor inputs positions it as a formidable asset in both air-to-air and air-to-ground operations.

 

[bonito]

When we are struggling to get even one Mk1A, I sincerely doubt the capability of HAL to produce the Mk2, a project proposed in 2009.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Will it also have helmet mounted display?

 

[Somebody]

All 4.5 gen jets have all these; they are kind of standard for 4.5 gen. One day MK2 will come out.

 

[Scooter2000]

When we are struggling to get even one Mk1A, I sincerely doubt the capability of HAL to produce the Mk2, a project proposed in 2009.

Sounds like the LCA MK II will be merged with the TEBDF. Honestly, not sure the AMCA is worth it at this point let alone the latter two. That said, the IAF could acquire some LCA MK1A as twin-seat advanced trainers.

 

[Sandeep]

India needs to start manufacturing the prototypes first and quickly. The technology and capabilities are important and work together very well on paper but they need to demonstrate that it works in real life fighting conditions.

Also they need to start producing the AMCA prototype jet which is the most crucial and advanced jet that will be the main fighter for the next 50 years or more. Luckily this will be manufactured by the private sector only which should produce the jets on time and to the high standard that the air force expect.

 

[Rajsn]

40 fighters not delivered from the 2010 order, and these people are boasting about things they can't even do. No engineers, no fighters. They had plenty of time to order engines since 2010 for 40 Tejas. HAL made no effort as they did not care to fulfill the order. HAL management and all Ministers of Defence who were responsible should be charged with treason!

 

[obiwankenubi jedi]

The first step would be to perform a rollout, ground trials, and fly the prototype.

We can always talk about information fusion and AI, but when it comes to "putting the money where the mouth is," we fall short.

We lack design, architecture, engineering (metallurgy, mechanical, electronics, electrical) skills and manufacturing capability and capacity, and definitely management skills.

Just CGI and content creation over the last 4 decades, with hi-fi acronyms and mythological names, do not build a defence industry.

It's now a global joke, this Tejas project, the MMRCA, and nobody takes the MRFA, TEDBF, and AMCA seriously anymore, unfortunately.

We are a research-on-presentations kind of country now.

 

[Akshat]

40 fighters not delivered from the 2010 order, and these people are boasting about things they can't even do. No engineers, no fighters. They had plenty of time to order engines since 2010 for 40 Tejas. HAL made no effort as they did not care to fulfill the order. HAL management and all Ministers of Defence who were responsible should be charged with treason!

75 engines for the first 40 jets, including the spares, were already delivered by 2020. HAL has simply failed to make the jets and deliver them buddy.

 

[Sridhar]

Sounds like the LCA MK II will be merged with the TEBDF. Honestly, not sure the AMCA is worth it at this point let alone the latter two. That said, the IAF could acquire some LCA MK1A as twin-seat advanced trainers.

TEBDF is a proposed twin engined jet. . TEJAS MK2 is planned with one engine with a higher thrust . F414 Engine. How will both the the project be merged?

 

[Arin Kumar]

Will it also have helmet mounted display?

They will definitely have. But these helmets they will wear while driving their motorbikes and scooters to reach HAL office.
Because engine delivery of Tejas Mk 2 is uncertain and mostly will not reach beyond 4 engines per year. So most of these Helmet Mounted Displays will be unused.

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

How will sensors and algorithms fuse information if the most critical component, AKA the engine, is missing? It will give a "critical engine missing" error, and the plane cannot take off.

 

[Basu]

LOL, even on paper we are not able to finalised configuration! 2022 was year of MK2 Protoype and we are entering in 2025 now without any protoype!
BTW its HAL AKA Halted And Lagging!!

 

[kumar]

75 engines for the first 40 jets, including the spares, were already delivered by 2020. HAL has simply failed to make the jets and deliver them buddy.

The first 40 involves 8 trainer. 32 jets of the first 40 has been delivered. Remaining 8 has been clubbed with 10 trainers from the 83 order lot. And for your information, trainers are two seater planes.

 

[Akshat]

The first 40 involves 8 trainer. 32 jets of the first 40 has been delivered. Remaining 8 has been clubbed with 10 trainers from the 83 order lot. And for your information, trainers are two seater planes.

Well for your information, the 8 trainers were to be delivered by 31 March 2024. And that was after the delayed timeline. That was the promise from the HAL management themselves. Engines for them were delivered well in advance. The clubbing was done only for the manufacturing purposes, where they wanted to manufacture all 18 in one go. IAF chief has recently said that those 40 planes have not yet been delivered.

 

[kumar]

Well for your information, the 8 trainers were to be delivered by 31 March 2024. And that was after the delayed timeline. That was the promise from the HAL management themselves. Engines for them were delivered well in advance. The clubbing was done only for the manufacturing purposes, where they wanted to manufacture all 18 in one go. IAF chief has recently said that those 40 planes have not yet been delivered.

The clubbing was done since the same trainers were supposed to be delivered for next 83 batch. And it is a 2 seat trainer, not your regular single seat one. On top of that, due to your esteemed GE missing deadlines and more pathetic than HAL for whatever reasons, HAL would have used those engines for Tejas MK1A.

 

[rama]

It's surprising to note that we are talking about Infrared Search and Track when Tejas MK2 is still a mystery in a scenario where even the engine has not been finalized and we are still on drawing board. Baba when is it going to be a reality only god knows.

 

[हरिः व्योम]

They can experiment with many TEDBF technologies as well: retractable fuel probe, towed decoys, stealth canopy, frontal RCS, DSI, side-lobe AESA mix, TVC, internal weapons, etc.