Published November 11, 2016
SOURCE: IDRW NEWS NETWORK
Reacting to reports that Indian government has cleared orders for 83 upgraded LCA-Tejas MK1A aircraft for Indian Air force , Global Chinese media outlet ” Chinatopix” in their latest report has claimed that orders for 83 Tejas MK1A will help boost India’s local fighter jet industry, but it will also help in rebuilding of Indian air force .
The media outlet also made an interesting observation that ” Stealth features have been designed into Tejas. Its small size provides an inherent degree of visual stealth.Tejas is the smallest and lightest in its class of contemporary supersonic combat aircraft. “
It further added that ” As for physical stealth affecting its radar cross section, the Tejas’ airframe’s high usage of composites (which do not reflect radar waves) adds to its stealthiness. Other stealth inducing features are the plane’s Y-duct inlet that shields the engine compressor face from radar waves, and the application of radar-absorbent material coatings to minimise its susceptibility to radar detection and tracking.”
Defence Analyst Ranesh Rajan speaking to idrw.org confirmed that due to its sheer small size, LCA-Tejas is very difficult to spot visually in close combat and use of specially developed Radiation-absorbent material coating and use of carbon composites will give it Smaller Radar cross sections (RCS) compared to larger aircraft .
India’s indigenously developed Radiation-absorbent paint first applied on Soviet-era supplied Mig-21s had proven the reduction of its signatures considerably on Ground radars and LCA-Tejas no doubt will have smaller radar cross-section among non-stealth fighter jets but it doesn’t mean there are in the same category has 5th Generation Stealth fighters concluded Rajan.