News Analysis India

Tag: LCA Tejas

  • India To Develop 5th-Gen Stealth Fighter Jet Capable Of Supersonic Cruise Speed |

    India has now decided to end its reliance on foreign fighter jets with the  Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) clearing a long-pending proposal to indigenously design and develop a fifth-generation deep penetration Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) in line with the futuristic requirement of the Indian Air Force. According to reports, the swing-role AMCA will be capable of achieving supersonic cruise speed. The initial cost of the project will be Rs 15,000 crore. This would be India’s another ambitious project after developing Light Combat Aircraf Tejas. This comes as a boost for Make In India in Defence.

    India’s Fighter Aircraft Project

    India has so far not built Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft and for its security needs, it often relies on France and Russia. India has 36 Rafale aircraft and it has expressed interest in buying 26 more aircraft from France.  The Indian Air Force (IAF) manages a diverse range of aircraft fleets, comprising over 1,700 aircraft, which includes more than 900 combat aircraft. Most of these aircraft are of foreign origin.

    LCA Tejas Project

    The Light Combat Aircraft trainer is a lightweight, all-weather, multirole aircraft. Tejas aircraft is a potent platform for air combat and offensive air support missions while reconnaissance and anti-ship operations are its secondary roles. This is the first time ever that an indigenous twin-seat fighter has been designed, developed and manufactured in India. The first version of the aircraft was inducted into the IAF in 2016. Currently, two squadrons of IAF, 45 Squadron and 18 Squadron, are fully operational with LCA Tejas. An order worth Rs 36,468 Crore for delivery of 83 LCA Mk 1A aircraft has been placed with HAL and delivery is scheduled to begin by March end this year. HAL has the current capacity to build 8 LCA aircraft per year. This is being increased to 16 aircraft every year by 2025 and further to 24 aircraft every year in the next 3 years.

    Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft Project

    While India has developed LCA Tejas, it has been working to develop and build an ambitious AMCA jet. Indian firms are working to develop a medium-weight deep penetration fighter jet with advanced stealth features to bolster its Air Force’s power capability. At present, only selected countries like the US, Russia and China have fifth-generation stealth fighter jets. Under the project, five prototypes of the AMCA will jointly be built by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with support from private industries.

    Other Projects In Pipeline

    The CCS also accorded in-principle approval to procure 34 Dhruv advanced light helicopters for the Coast Guard and the Indian Army. On the other hand, the Indian Air Force is also in the process of procuring 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA). The IAF will acquire 114 jets at a cost of around $18 billion.

  • LCA Tejas aircraft emerges as top choice for Malaysia’s fighter jet programme

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India’s Tejas light combat aircraft has emerged as the top choice for Malaysia as the Southeast Asian nation looks at replacing its ageing fleet of fighter jets and the two sides are holding negotiations to take forward the procurement process.

    Malaysia has narrowed down on the Indian aircraft notwithstanding stiff competition from China’s JF-17 jet, South Korea’s FA-50 and Russia’s Mig-35 as well as the Yak-130 plane, Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), R Madhavan, told PTI in an interview.

    As part of the package, India has offered to set up an MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) facility in Malaysia for its Russian-origin Su-30 fighter fleet as it is facing difficulties in procuring spares for the aircraft from Russia in view of Western sanctions against Moscow.

    “I am very confident about it,” Madhavan said when asked whether the mega-deal would be closed soon.

    The top executive of the state-run aerospace behemoth said if the deal is sealed, then it will give a “very good signal” to other prospective buyers of the aircraft and boost its overall export potential.

    “It (negotiation) is almost in the final stages. We are the only country which is offering them the support for their Su-30 aircraft as well as other than Russia, we are the only one who can support them to the extent that they require for that fleet,” Madhavan said.

    It is learnt that the Chinese JF-17 was cheaper but it could not match the technical parameters of the Tejas Mk-IA variant and the offer of maintenance of the Su-30 fleet as proposed by India.

    A team of high-ranking officials and experts is expected to visit India soon to take forward the procurement process.

    Madhavan said Tejas is a much superior aircraft compared to JF-17 and FA-50 and that the selection of the Indian aircraft would provide Malaysia with the option to go in for future upgrades of the fleet.

    Tejas, manufactured by HAL, is a single-engine and highly agile multi-role supersonic fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments.

    In February last year, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

    India has started work on the MK 2 version of the Tejas as well as on an ambitious USD 5 billion project to develop a fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

    “We actually are the only one who covered everything that they require and we met their budget requirements as well,” Madhavan said.

    “Nobody will offer them upgrades so fast as we would offer. They will have an alternative available in Tejas Mark 2 and they can even think of AMCA,” the HAL chief added.

    The number of aircraft that Malaysia is looking at procuring is not immediately clear.

    He said the HAL is going to maintain the same level of services to Malaysia as it has been giving to the Indian Air Force.

    Asked whether the supply of Tejas jets to the IAF will be impacted, if the HAL wins the Malaysian contract, Madhavan said production of the aircraft would be ramped up depending on the requirement.

    According to the plan, the HAL would start delivering the jets (Mk-IA variant) to the IAF in 2025 and all 83 jets will have to be handed over by 2030.

    Madhavan said, if the deal with Malaysia is sealed, then it will signal the acceptability of the aircraft which would result in the opening up of many other options.

    “We now have a very good platform. It is the best in this category,” he said.

  • IAF boosts LCA Tejas capabilities with French HAMMER missiles under emergency powers

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: In a step towards further strengthening the capabilities of the indigenous LCA Tejas fighter aircraft, the Indian Air Force has placed orders for HAMMER missiles from France which would allow it to take out any hardened bunkers or ground targets at stand-off ranges of more than 70 kilometres.

    The capability enhancement of the LCA Tejas fighter aircraft is being done in the middle of a military stand-off with China using the emergency procurement power granted by the Narendra Modi government to the defence forces.

    “The HAMMER missiles are in the process of being integrated with the LCA Tejas and it will significantly enhance its capability to take out hardened targets from stand-off distances,” government sources told ANI.

    The Indian Air Force had acquired the first lot of these HAMMERs for the Rafale fighters at the time when the aircraft had started coming to the IAF from France for further enhancing the air to ground targeting capabilities of its most advanced plane.

    Due to the urgency at that time in view of the Chinese aggression, the French authorities had agreed to supply them at a short notice for our Rafale combat aircraft.HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) is a medium-range air-to-ground weapon designed and manufactured for the French Air Force and Navy initially.

    The HAMMERs would give India the capability to take out any bunkers or hardened shelters in any type of terrain including mountainous locations such as Eastern Ladakh, the sources said.

    Indian armed forces have extensively utilised the emergency procurement powers granted to them in different phases by the government to equip themselves with necessary weaponry to handle any conflict or aggression by enemies on both sides.

    The Indian Air Force is strongly supporting the indigenous LCA Tejas fighter aircraft programme by adding more and more capabilities of the aircraft.

    The IAF has already operationalised two of its squadrons in the initial operational clearance and final operational clearance versions while a contract has been signed for the 83 Mark1As set to be delivered a couple of years from now.

    The IAF has also its eyes set on the LCA Mark 2 and the AMCA being developed by the DRDO for it.

    The Indian plane is already considered to be far more capable than the Pakistani and Chinese joint venture JF-17 fighter jet and with additions like the HAMMER, the Indian plane would be in a much higher category than them, an Indian fighter pilot said.

  • Deal done: Government formally seals Rs 48,000 crore pact to procure 83 Tejas LCA from HAL

    By PTI
    BENGALURU: The government on Wednesday formally sealed the Rs 48,000 crore deal to procure 83 Tejas LCA from state-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, a deal described by the government as the ‘biggest’ Make in India defence contract.

    The contract was handed over by Director General (Acquisition), Ministry of Defence, V L Kantha Rao to Chairman and Managing Director of HAL, R Madhavan, at the inaugural ceremony of Aero India-2021, the country’s premier Defence and Aerospace show, here, in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

    “I am very happy that HAL has got the orders for development of 83 new indigenous LCA (light combat aircraft) Tejas MK1A from Indian Air Force valued at more than Rs 48,000 crore.”

    “It is probably the biggest Make in India Defence contract till date,” Singh said.

    Tejas, manufactured by the HAL, is a single engine and highly agile multi-role supersonic fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments.

    The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month approved the procurement of 73 Tejas Mk-IA variant and 10 LCA Tejas Mk-I trainer aircraft from the HAL to boost IAF’s combat prowess.

    Singh had on Tuesday inaugurated HAL’s second LCA-Tejas production plant here, and said Tejas is not only indigenous, but it is also better than its foreign equivalents on several parameters, besides being comparatively cheaper.

    According to Madhavan, the delivery of the Tejas LCA to the IAF under the Rs 48,000-crore deal will begin from March 2024 and around 16 aircraft will be rolled out annually till the completion of the total supply of 83 jets.

    He has also said that a number of countries have shown keen interest in procurement of Tejas and that the first export order is likely to come by in the next couple of years.

    Madhavan had on Tuesday said the phase-1 of the facility getting ready on 35 acres of land here will enable HAL to enhance its production capacity to 16 from the current eight aircraft every year.

    HAL said the 83 LCA Mk1A aircraft will be produced in two production lines here with over 500 plus production partners across India.

  • Aero India takes off on February 3 amid buzz around ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ as Tejas variants to take centerstage

    By PTI
    BENGALURU: The country’s premier aerospace and defence exhibition, Aero India 2021 takes off here on Wednesday amidst the COVID-19 pandemic with buzz around “AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan” and “Make in India” push.

    With a combination of both physical and virtual exhibition, the 13th edition of the biennial international event at Air Force Station Yelahanka will be the world’s first hybrid aerospace show, officials said.

    A negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test report (dated January 31, 9 am or later) is a must to attend the three-day event, where each day only 3,000 visitors will be allowed at the flight display venue in view of the pandemic.

    As many as 601 exhibitors — 523 Indian and 78 foreign — and 14 countries have confirmed participation, they said.

    Companies are showcasing their capabilities, latest technologies, solutions, products and services at the show.

    Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will exhibit its latest defence technologies and demonstrate many systems.

    “We will continue to support ‘Make-in-India’ policy and ‘Aatma-Nirbhar Bharat Mission’ of the Indian government, to promote indigenous production, knowledge transfer and global industrial cooperation, to facilitate Indian export of high- end defence technology,” said Eli Hefets, Corporate Regional Director, India, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd,.

    Director & Industry lead for Aerospace & Defense in India, Dassault Systemes, Ravikiran Pothukuchi said the aerospace & defence sector in India is at an inflection point, given the large scale modernisation and indigenisation programmes being undertaken by the government.

    Alex Zino, Executive Vice President Business Development & Future Programmes (Defence), Rolls-Royce said:”We recognise that Indias defence requirements are evolving, making indigenous development of modern defence hardware and technology a top priority for the Indian government”.

    “Aligned with the Indian governments Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan and the Make in India initiative, we look forward to participating in Aero India 2021 and reinforcing our commitment to supporting the growth of an indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem while continuing to deliver our best capabilities to support the Indian MoD and Services, saidWilliam (Bill) Blair, vice president and chief executive, Lockheed Martin India.

    Among the key attractions will be flight display by ‘Surya Kiran’ aircraft and ‘Sarang’ helicopters.

    Don Heflin, U.S. Charg dAffaires, will lead a high- level delegation of U.S. Government officials and defence industry representatives to Aero India 2021.

    One of the highlights of the show, a B-1B Lancer heavy bomber, of the 28thBomb Wing based out of Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, will perform a “fly-by.” Bengaluru-headquartered Hindustan Aeronautics Limited would showcase Aatmanirbhar Formation Flight .

    The ‘Aatmanirbhar Formation Flight’ consisting HAL products such as LCA trainer (LIFT Trainer), HTT-40, IJT, Advanced Hawk Mk 132 and Civil Do-228 will fly in a special formation showcasing the spectrum of trainers and signifying self-sufficiency in the trainer segment, it said.

    According to officials, besides global leaders and investors in aerospace industry, the show will also see participation by think-tanks from different parts of the world.

    “Aero India will provide a unique opportunity for exchange of information, ideas and new developments in the aviation industry. In addition to giving a fillip to the domestic aviation industry it would further the cause of ‘Make in India’”, they said.

    Aero India is a platform for aerospace enthusiasts, prospective defence industries, aspirant start-ups and all other stakeholders to participate and witness the advances in global defence and aerospace fields and interact with many national and international delegations and industries, officials said.

  • Rajnath Singh to inaugurate HAL’s second LCA production line on Tuesday

    By PTI
    BENGALURU: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft’s second production line here on Tuesday, according to HAL officials.

    The event comes a day before the opening of the Aero India 2021, the country’s premier aerospace and Defence exhibition, commencing at Air Force Station Yelahanka here on Wednesday.

    The delivery of the Tejas LCA to the Indian Air Force under a Rs 48,000-crore deal will begin from March 2024 and around 16 aircraft will be rolled out annually till the completion of the total supply of 83 jets, Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited R Madhavan said recently.

    Madhavan had also said that a number of countries have shown keen interest in procurement of the Tejas aircraft and that the first export order is likely to come by in the next couple of years.

    The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 13approved the Rs 48,000-crore deal to procure 73 Tejas Mk-1A variantsand 10 LCA Tejas Mk-1 trainer aircraft from the HAL to boost the Indian Air Force’s combat prowess.

  • Document Speaks! Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Issues Complete Account Of Rs 1 Lakh Crore Orders to HAL

    The Rafale debate is at peak this time. Congress President is continuously getting slammed back to back on his lies by PM Narendra Modi and his team. After hitting the Congress President two days before on his lies today again Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman naked him by presenting the documents regarding the contracts given to HAL in front of him.

    This all was in wake of Congress President Rahul Gandhi attack on defence minister.On Sunday he tweeted a report questioning the contracts worth Rs 1 lakh given to HAL and demanded the resignation of Nirmala Sitharaman, which was immediately countered by the Defence Minister.

    “When you tell one lie, you need to keep spinning out more lies, to cover up the first one. In her eagerness to defend the PM’s Rafale lie, the RM lied to Parliament. Tomorrow, RM must place before Parliament documents showing 1 Lakh crore of Govt orders to HAL. Or resign,” his Twitter message read.

    Defence Minister today slapped him back by showing all the documents of contract worth Rs 1 Lakh
    “In 2019, regarding procurement order regarding HAL, I had mentioned that there are 83 LCA Tejas fighters order worth Rs 50,000 crores, 15 combat helicopters order worth Rs 3,000 crores, 200 orders worth Rs 20,000 crore and 19 Dronier transport aircraft worth Rs 3,400 crores, helicopters worth Rs 15,000 crore and aero-engines worth Rs 8,400 crores. The total comes to Rs 1 lakh crore.”

    “I would like to lay doubts to rest by adding that I have received confirmation that during 2014-2018 contracts amounting to Rs 26800 Rs were signed with HAL and orders worth Rs 73,000 crore approximately are in the pipeline.

    Even after being slammed so many times, Congress President is not stopping his lies on Rafale. He is continually risking the security of the nation.

    People should be vigilant enough to slam such a person who doesn’t know an inch of anything and is just repeating same lies again and again to divert the people. For fulfilling his political motives he is continually putting the national security at risk.