With Two New 'Supersonic' and 'Pinched Waist' External Drop Tanks, Tejas Mk2 to Triple Combat Sortie Duration with Enhanced Endurance

India's indigenous Tejas Mk2 fighter programme is set to achieve a major milestone with the development of new, advanced external fuel tanks that will significantly increase the aircraft's combat range and mission endurance.

The new design will allow the jet to carry nearly double the amount of external fuel compared to its predecessor, the Tejas Mk1, addressing previous limitations and positioning it as a highly capable platform for long-duration air defence operations.

A key aspect of this upgrade involves the development of two new types of external fuel tanks by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The first is a 1300-litre supersonic drop tank, designed for aerodynamic stability at high speeds, which will be carried on the aircraft's centreline fuselage station.

Additionally, two 1800-litre "pinched waist" drop tanks, engineered to minimise air resistance, can be fitted on the inner wing hardpoints.

These tanks will supplement the Tejas Mk2's substantial 3,300 kg internal fuel capacity, effectively tackling a notable limitation of the earlier Tejas Mk1, which had a smaller internal fuel load of around 2,458 kg.

Powering this enhanced performance is the highly efficient General Electric F-414 turbofan engine. The engine's superior fuel economy, when paired with the massive total fuel capacity of over 7,000 kg (internal and external combined), directly results in a longer operational reach.

This configuration gives the Tejas Mk2 an estimated combat radius of over 1,000 km and a ferry range that could extend up to 3,000 km, depending on flight conditions and payload.

This represents a dramatic improvement in the aircraft's ability to project power and operate far from its home base.

This enhanced endurance fundamentally transforms the Tejas Mk2's role in air defence, particularly for Combat Air Patrol (CAP) missions, which require aircraft to remain airborne over a specific area for extended periods.

With a full load of internal and external fuel, the Tejas Mk2 can conduct sorties lasting approximately 3.5 hours. This is a threefold increase over the Tejas Mk1, which is typically limited to sorties of about 45 minutes.

Importantly, this extended loiter time can be achieved while carrying a formidable weapons load, such as four beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAMs) like the indigenous Astra series.

Beyond the capability of its fuel tanks, the Tejas Mk2 is equipped for ultra-long-duration flights lasting up to 10 hours through its air-to-air refuelling system.

This feature is complemented by an On-Board Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS), indigenously developed by the Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL).

The OBOGS provides an unending supply of breathable air to the pilot, removing the constraints of finite compressed oxygen cylinders and enabling sustained strategic missions over India's extensive land and sea borders.

The Tejas Mk2 is a cornerstone of the Indian Air Force's modernisation efforts and aligns with the national goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) in defence manufacturing. As a 4.5-generation multirole fighter, it is slated to replace the IAF’s aging fleets of Jaguar, Mirage 2000, and MiG-29 aircraft.

With 11 hardpoints capable of carrying a 6,500 kg payload, an advanced AESA radar, and a suite of indigenous weapons, the Tejas Mk2 is being developed to be a versatile and powerful asset for a wide spectrum of future combat scenarios.

 

Opinion  How Op Sindoor Proves Battle-Testing Is the Ultimate Catalyst for Validating India's Self-Reliant Defence Systems and Export Potential

New AMCA Graphics Showcase Centrally Aligned Infrared Sensor, Enhancing Low-Observable Stealth Profile and Sensor Efficiency

[智子 伊瀬]

Why not cancel the TEDBF, Tejas Mk2 program and invest all the funds for develop the Tejas Mk1A, AMCA, HLFT-42?

 

[P2S2]

Why not cancel the TEDBF, Tejas Mk2 program and invest all the funds for develop the Tejas Mk1A, AMCA, HLFT-42?

No canceling anything instead employ young school leavers in droves to better present designs. Install sheets of plastic solar panel paintwork so the unlucky ones who run out of fuel can limp crawl back across the border.

 

[Mc Addy]

This is accessories needed , as this will be ship based , 1000 km combat radius is good . Once Su 30 MKI super tanker concept was there in 1990s , the Su 30 MKI with new Engines can lift close to 5000 kh load and over sea , this amount of fuel on a supersonic mach 2 tanker can be a force multipliers combo as ship launched combat jet, at mach speed can do refulling at sea and then go on for the mission even further than 3000km .

 

[P2S2]

This is accessories needed , as this will be ship based , 1000 km combat radius is good . Once Su 30 MKI super tanker concept was there in 1990s , the Su 30 MKI with new Engines can lift close to 5000 kh load and over sea , this amount of fuel on a supersonic mach 2 tanker can be a force multipliers combo as ship launched combat jet, at mach speed can do refulling at sea and then go on for the mission even further than 3000km .

Install solar panel paint and equip it with a life jacket while over the ocean. Our subs can recover the hardware and software from anywhere.

 

[R. Singh]

Under wing fuel tanks will give few options for weapon stations better reconfigure weapon pylon to have triple and double missile launch rails/pylon on Tejas-II

 

[P2S2]

Under wing fuel tanks will give few options for weapon stations better reconfigure weapon pylon to have triple and double missile launch rails/pylon on Tejas-II

Hopefully younger genius teams will install stronger lighter pylons for additional teeth and molars.

 

[智子 伊瀬]

No canceling anything instead employ young school leavers in droves to better present designs. Install sheets of plastic solar panel paintwork so the unlucky ones who run out of fuel can limp crawl back across the border.

I don't see the point in them, a waste of money and time. Why create the 4th generation in the early 30s? Tejas Mk1 still has the potential for modernization and it is enough to gain experience to apply it to the AMCA project. For HLFT-42, you can use dry Kaveri, it will be enough for such an engine. AMCA, CATS Warrior, Ghatak, kamikaze drones and satellites will be more useful.

 

[P2S2]

I don't see the point in them, a waste of money and time. Why create the 4th generation in the early 30s? Tejas Mk1 still has the potential for modernization and it is enough to gain experience to apply it to the AMCA project. For HLFT-42, you can use dry Kaveri, it will be enough for such an engine. AMCA, CATS Warrior, Ghatak, kamikaze drones and satellites will be more useful.

True but that shouldn't stop us from recovering back our brains. Saving peanuts when we have billions of dollars shouldn't be envisaged instead the money churners should be assisted in bringing in more cash from the excess dollars flooding the market caused by previous requirements for over printing of the US$. We have lots of space to park those dollars. We will be able to safely accommodate them without creating massive inflation thereby assist the rest of the world.
I'm sure we'll assist competently.

 

[aamirbhr]

Only talks, big claims, output NIL. All these technologies are age-old, but HAL and DRDO show this like it is cutting-edge technology they are creating. But if you dig further, you will find that China has already done that in reality. HAL only does things on paper; nothing becomes a reality for them. Again, after some time you will hear something else from them, so they keep wasting time. A basic fighter jet is taking them so much time.

Then they will start inducting missiles after some time. Then they will say, "We are changing the AESA radar." Then they will say, "We will induct some other missile." Then they will say, "We are adding a French missile or a Russian missile." What is a fighter without missile integration? Just for getting flying experience. Then it should be called only a jet, not a fighter jet. If missiles are an integral part of a fighter aircraft, why is DRDO wasting time? Instead, they should develop all missiles in parallel. Only making a fighter jet at the cost of ₹500 crore per jet and then saying that it doesn't have a long-range BVR missile, or an electronic warfare suite, or anything, then what will the Air Force do after purchasing these aircrafts? Just show them as inventory numbers.

I must say, it's so pathetic to see that Tejas is still not operational with any long-range BVR missile of at least 200km and an AESA radar and electronic warfare suite after its first flight in 2003.

While China just produced 300 J20 fifth-generation fighter jets in the same period. Just google it.

Such a shame! We have manufactured not even 40 Tejas in 22 years.

 

[智子 伊瀬]

Only talks, big claims, output NIL. All these technologies are age-old, but HAL and DRDO show this like it is cutting-edge technology they are creating. But if you dig further, you will find that China has already done that in reality. HAL only does things on paper; nothing becomes a reality for them. Again, after some time you will hear something else from them, so they keep wasting time. A basic fighter jet is taking them so much time.

Then they will start inducting missiles after some time. Then they will say, "We are changing the AESA radar." Then they will say, "We will induct some other missile." Then they will say, "We are adding a French missile or a Russian missile." What is a fighter without missile integration? Just for getting flying experience. Then it should be called only a jet, not a fighter jet. If missiles are an integral part of a fighter aircraft, why is DRDO wasting time? Instead, they should develop all missiles in parallel. Only making a fighter jet at the cost of ₹500 crore per jet and then saying that it doesn't have a long-range BVR missile, or an electronic warfare suite, or anything, then what will the Air Force do after purchasing these aircrafts? Just show them as inventory numbers.

I must say, it's so pathetic to see that Tejas is still not operational with any long-range BVR missile of at least 200km and an AESA radar and electronic warfare suite after its first flight in 2003.

While China just produced 300 J20 fifth-generation fighter jets in the same period. Just google it.

Such a shame! We have manufactured not even 40 Tejas in 22 years.

Well, no, it took only 6 years for the J-20 to become a serial 5th generation fighter after its first flight and 8 years to reach the number of 300 units produced. Since Tejas first flight, only about 45 aircraft have been produced, and these are the 4th generation.

 

[P2S2]

autos o Lget, no, it took only 6 years for the J-20 to become a serial 5th generation fighter after its first flight and 8 years to reach the number of 300 units produced. Since Tejas first flight, only about 45 aircraft have been produced, and these are the 4th generation.

And both HAL, DRDO have efficiently parked the excess $s that Obama was forced to print daily so we could get a chai for 5 Rupees. Same like excess autos or planes the logistical problem is parking them without effecting others