Tejas far behind competitors, not enough to protect Indian skies: IAF

[INDIAPOSITIVE]

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Tejas far behind competitors, not enough to protect Indian skies: IAF
3 minutes
SOURCE: INDIA TODAY

Tejas – the indigenously made Light-Combat single engine fighter – isn’t enough to protect Indian skies, the India Air Force (IAF) has told the government. The response came after the South Block asked the IAF to scrap its plans of acquiring single-engine fighters from global, top sources told India Today.

The IAF said the Tejas is far behind its competitors like the JAS 39 Gripen manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab and the US made F-16 manufactured by Lockheed Martin, sources said.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is understood to have raised the issue after the government asked the IAF to scrap its plans to acquire foreign made single engine fighters and go for the Indian made fighters only. Recently, the IAF made a presentation to the government to explain why Tejas alone can’t meet India’s requirements.

Documents accessed by India Today reveal that the IAF has told the government that the “endurance” of Tejas in combat is just about 59 minutes as against 3 hours of Gripen and nearly 4 fours for the F-16. Also, Tejas can carry a pay-load of about three tons against nearly six tons and seven tons by the Gripen and F-16 respectively.

“In other words, for target that needs about 36 bombs to be destroyed, one will have to deploy six Tejas as against just three Gripen or F-16,” the IAF has told the government.The IAF has also said Tejas needs 20 hours of serving for every hour of flying as against six hours for Gripen and 3.5 hours for F-16.

The cost of maintaining the Tejas is much higher than the other fighters. Also, both the F-16 and Gripen has a life-span of 40 years against just 20 of Tejas. And, in some areas the vintage Russian made Mig-21 is better than Tejas, the IAF is understood to have told the government.

India is desperate for single-engine fighters to replace aging MiG-21s. The country needs at least 42 fighter squadrons to fight a two front war, but currently has only 33 squadrons. And, at least another 11 fighter squadrons of the IAF will have to be retired in the next two years.

So far, the IAF has ordered 123 Tejas fighters but wants a better single-engine fighter to make up for the huge-shortfall in the fighter strength. Of the 123 Tejas fighters, only 40 will be Tejas Mark-1 and the rest 83 will be an upgraded version.



http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/...g-21-fighter-planes-ajit-doval/1/1086425.html

 

[Dungeness]

And, in some areas the vintage Russian made Mig-21 is better than Tejas, the IAF is understood to have told the government.

It is indeed a sad story. Anyway, HAL's tried.

 

[bananarepublic]

Wow look at the tejas performance.........

 

[MULUBJA]

While evaluating F16 and F15, they had said that those aircrafts had no future and rejected them in MMRCA in technical evaluation. Even Eurofighter or PAKFA is unable to impress them. So how can they accept Tejas? May be F22 can impress them and that itself is also doubtful.

 

[Figaro]

It is indeed a sad story. Anyway, HAL's tried.

I'm still surprised on how so many Indian fanboys insist that the Tejas will replace the Mig 29K as their carrier fighter ... judging by the status quo, the Tejas already looks nonviable even as a land fighter. The only hope for the IAF at this point is to partner up with a foreign nation ... their indigenous program at this point is too far gone. But given the IAF's experience with Russia on the FGFA, I see that prospect fast diminishing as well. In the future, expect more purchases of foreign aircraft outright than through foreign ventures for India ... as for their Tejas, it will still be existent due to patronage from Indian politicians ... just like how the Arjun tank is surprisingly still around.

 

[Han Patriot]

And, in some areas the vintage Russian made Mig-21 is better than Tejas, the IAF is understood to have told the government

No wonder the previous Air Marshall said Tejas is just a gen 3++++ plane.

I'm still surprised on how so many Indian fanboys insist that the Tejas will replace the Mig 29K as their carrier fighter ... judging by the status quo, the Tejas already looks nonviable even as a land fighter. The only hope for the IAF at this point is to partner up with a foreign nation ... their indigenous program at this point is too far gone. But given the IAF's experience with Russia on the FGFA, I see that prospect fast diminishing as well. In the future, expect more purchases of foreign aircraft outright than through foreign ventures for India ... as for their Tejas, it will still be existent due to patronage from Indian politicians ... just like how the Arjun tank is surprisingly still around.

They will maintain the program as a facade for indigenous technology.

 

[Figaro]

No wonder the previous Air Marshall said Tejas is just a gen 3++++ plane.

That's too generous ... more like a plain third generation plane if the Mig 21 is still better than the Tejas in some areas ...

 

[Max]

nothing unusual, they have said it many times, but bharati govt is not ready to accept failure, they will keep dragging indian failed project for the sake of ego and pride

 

[Han Patriot]

t

nothing unusual, they have said it many times, but bharati govt is not ready to accept failure, they will keep dragging indian failed project for the sake of ego and pride

They need to show bharatis that India has an 'indigenous' plane. It's a political tool, doesn't matter if the plane can't shoot BVR missiles or refuel mid air or no AESA radars.

 

[maravan91]

Still they pile up their inventory with Russian junks

 

[Gurjot.S]

While evaluating F16 and F15, they had said that those aircrafts had no future and rejected them in MMRCA in technical evaluation. Even Eurofighter or PAKFA is unable to impress them. So how can they accept Tejas? May be F22 can impress them and that itself is also doubtful.

MMRCA was about twin engine fighter jets. F-15's were not offered or you meant f-18 ?

None of f-16's or F-18's cud take over with full weapon load from the strips of Ladakh.

F-16 blk 70 or Gripen are 4.5th gen fighters and tejas is far away from them.

Import lobby at work or IAF dont know what they need.

 

[Arsalan 345]

I don't understand why they started this program.they are now making fun of their own fighter jet and it also ends any possible sale of Tejas to any other country.i think India is investing it's money on Hal and Hal might be corrupt institution.i think they should better close Hal and make another scientific institute for research of single engine fighter jet.they should better buy foreign planes.this is a very big difference between China and india.if India wants to survive,it should make all of its weapons by itself.look at china,from rifles to fighter jets to Sams,everything is either copy or new material.they learn from reverse engineering.india should also learn from reverse engineering.

 

[Max]

t

They need to show bharatis that India has an 'indigenous' plane. It's a political tool, doesn't matter if the plane can't shoot BVR missiles or refuel mid air or no AESA radars.

agree, Tejas probably use more foreign systems then Saab Gripen, yet its indigenous. Jet

 

[kinsr]

Didn't know India Today has started to publish crap. " IAF says" this "IAF says" that, not even a single IAF personell has been quoted.

Meanwhile, the author forgot LCA, means LIGHT Combat Aircraft. While all the rest of its competitors were tested in MEDIUM Class of fighters. They will obviously have an edge over a LIGHT Class of a fighter.

This article appears to be good case of yellow journalism, to further push the IAF SE Fighter contract.

 

[Gurjot.S]

t

They need to show bharatis that India has an 'indigenous' plane. It's a political tool, doesn't matter if the plane can't shoot BVR missiles or refuel mid air or no AESA radars.

Who told you Tejas cant fire BVR or refuel mid air ? Tejas mk2 will have an Aesa radar.