Each squadron of the Tejas Mark-1A will have about 16 to 18 aircraft.
New Delhi: At least seven squadrons of the indigenously-made Tejas Mark-1A will be inducted in the Indian Air Force to make up for the lack of fighters, despite its flaws. The aircraft continues to grapple with thrust issues, which restricts its weapon-carrying capabilities.
Top Defence Ministry sources have told NDTV that "The IAF needs to have a minimum number of aircraft at all times. Till the time indigenously-built Tejas Mark-2 is ready this is best option available." The IAF, it is learnt, has accepted the ministry's decision. Each squadron of the Tejas Mark-1A will have about 16 to 18 aircraft.
The Indian Air Force or IAF will be losing four squadrons of fighters - three MiG 21 squadrons and a MiG 27 squadron - this year and will be losing rest of the 10-odd squadrons of the vintage Russian-made MiGs in phases by 2022.
India is buying 32 Medium Multi Role fighters from France to make up for the lack of the fighters, but needs over 120 lightweight fighters to be used for air defence and intercept oncoming enemy aircraft.
Production of the Tejas Mark-1A can start immediately from the existing manufacturing facilities of the Defence public sector unit Hindustan Aeronautics Limited or HAL.
The Tejas Mark-2 or the improved version will not be ready for induction or series production before 2024-2025. Powered by the General Electric F404-GE-IN20 engine, the Tejas Mark-1A, is slightly more proficient than the current aircraft that is under series production, but continues to be marred with thrust issues. The Light Combat Aircraft MK-1 failed to meet the requirements of the IAF. Nonetheless, to keep the aircraft building programme alive, the IAF has agreed to buy 40 Tejas Mark-1.
Earlier, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India or CAG had pointed that Tejas Mark-1 had severe flaws and didn't meet many critical requirements of the IAF - these included limited "operational capabilities" besides being "overweight." The CAG report placed before houses of Parliament said "the LCA Mark-1 currently under development has shortfalls in meeting the engine thrust and other parameters such as weight of the aircraft, fuel capacity, pilot protection from front against 7.62 mm bullets."
The Defence Research and Development Organisation or DRDO and the HAL have promised to carry out changes that will make the Mark-1A more agile and more capable.
Sources told NDTV that changes will be made in the ballast and the landing gear making the Tejas Mark-1A about 1000 kilograms lighter from the current 6500 kilograms. Besides, Tejas Mark-1A would also be armed by Israeli made radars instead of the heavier but indigenously-made EL/M-2032 lightweight multi-mode radar.
Despite Flaws, India to Induct Tejas Mark-1A Fighter - NDTV
here come more capable fighter than future planned JF17 MK3
BTW 2024 time frame for mark2 seems to late.
