News Analysis India

Tag: Tejas Light Combat Aircraft

  • HAL signs contract worth Rs 5,375 crore for supply of engines for Tejas aircraft

    By PTI

    BENGALURU: State-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Limited on Tuesday said it has placed an order of Rs 5,375 crore for 99 F404-GE-IN20 engines and support services with GE Aviation, USA to power the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft.

    The contract was signed here today at HAL Corporate Office, the company said in a release.

    “This is the largest ever deal and the purchase order placed by HAL for LCA,” R Madhavan, CMD, HAL said.

    The Company is working closely with GE for its support to pursue the export potential of LCA and also to supply spares to the global supply chain of GE 404 engines, he said.

    The indigenously built Tejas aircraft is one of the best in its class globally, powered by F404-GE-IN20 engines and has been in service since 2004, HAL said.

    Ordering of the engines marks a major milestone in the execution of 83 LCA contract with IAF, the company said, adding that the co-operation will be further enhanced with the manufacturing of GE F414 engines in India for the upcoming LCA MkII program.

    Chris Cyr, Vice President, Business Development & Sales, GE Aviation who interacted virtually said his company is proud of 16-year-long partnership with HAL and is happy to extend the relationship with this new order.

    “The F404 family of engines has proven itself in operations all over the world and we have committed to deliver all 99 engines and support services by 2029,” he said.

    The highest thrust variant of the F404 family, the F404-GE-IN20 incorporates GE’s latest hot section materials and technologies as well as FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) for reliable power and outstanding operational characteristics.

    The F404 family engines have logged in more than 14 million engine flight hours, and have powered 15 different production and prototype aircraft, the release added.

  • Hindustan Aeronautics, Indian Air Force to sign Rs 48,000 crore Tejas aircraft deal on Wednesday

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The government is set to formally seal on February 3 the Rs 48,000 crore deal to procure 83 Tejas light combat aircraft from state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force, officials said on Wednesday.

    The mega contract will be signed at the Aero India air show in Bengaluru in presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, top brass of the IAF and senior officials of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), they said.

    Tejas is a single engine and highly agile multi-role supersonic fighter capable of operating in high-threat air environments. The aircraft, manufactured by the HAL, is a potent platform for air combat and offensive air support with reconnaissance and anti-ship operations as its secondary roles.

    The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 13 approved the deal for procurement of the 73 Tejas Mk-1A variant and 10 LCA Tejas Mk-1 trainer aircraft from the HAL to boost Indian Air Force’s combat prowess.

    The Tejas Mk-IA will be equipped with an active electronically scanned array radar, beyond visual range missile, electronic warfare suite and air-to-air refuelling system.

    Hindustan Aeronautics CMD R Madhavan told PTI last month that the delivery of the Tejas aircraft to the IAF will begin from March 2024 and around 16 aircraft will be rolled out annually till completion of the total supply of 83 jets.

    Madhavan said the basic price of the aircraft will be around Rs 25,000 crore while Rs 11,000 crore will be used for ground support equipment and other required infrastructure at the bases and around Rs 7,000 for basic customs duty and output GST.

    The HAL chairman and managing director said the cost for each fighter version of the four-and-half generation aircraft will be Rs 309 crore and Rs 280 crore for the trainer version.

    The total cost of Rs 48,000 crore includes design and development cost of Rs 2,500 crore to be given to Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and around Rs 2,250 crore set aside for variations in foreign currency exchange rate.

  • Several countries have shown interest in procuring Tejas aircraft: HAL chairman Madhavan

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The delivery of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (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 on Sunday.

    In an interview to PTI, Madhavan 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.

    Madhavan said that Tejas Mark 1A jet has superior performance levels compared to China’s JF-17 combat aircraft as it has better engine, radar system and electronic warfare suit, besides an edge in the overall technology.

    “The biggest difference, of course, is the air-to-air refuelling which is non-existent in the competitor’s plane,” he said.

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

    Giving a break-up of the cost components, Madhavan said the basic price of the aircraft will be around Rs 25,000 crore while Rs 11,000 crore will be used for ground support equipment and other required infrastructure at the bases and around Rs 7,000 for basic customs duty and output GST.

    The HAL chairman said the cost for each fighter version of the aircraft will be Rs 309 crore and Rs 280 crore for the trainer.

    “The price is tight but we are fine with it,” Madhavan said The total cost of Rs 48,000 crore includes design and development cost of Rs 2,500 crore to be given to Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and around Rs 2,250 crore set aside for variations in foreign currency exchange rate.

    The Tejas Mk-1A will be equipped with an active electronically scanned array radar, beyond visual range missile, electronic warfare suite and air-to-air refuelling system.

    A formal contract for the deal is expected to be signed between the HAL and the IAF on February 5 at the Aero India exhibition in the presence of President Ram Nath Kovind.

    “Three years is the strategic timeline for developing infrastructure as well as delivery of the aircraft. We will meet the timeline. The first aircraft is expected to be delivered by March 2024.

    “Initially we will supply around four aircraft and increase the number to 16 annually from 2025,” Madhavan said.

    Asked whether a possible export order will push the delivery deadline for supplies to the IAF, Madhavan said the HAL will strictly follow the timeline for domestic order and can always set up additional production lines when necessary.

    “We are planning for more than 16 aircraft annually so that in case of any other order coming in, we can take it up. We are already increasing production rates.

    “The second phase of the LCA plant has already come up, though we need it after 2024-25,” he said.

    The IAF has already inducted a batch of Tejas aircraft as part of its initial order of 40 jets.

    Madhavan said the Tejas programme will boost the overall aerospace sector in India, noting that it currently involves 563 domestic enterprises.

    “And it will go up to 600 to 650. This is important for the ecosystem.” He said Tejas will be able to operate as efficiently as any other aircraft in all regions including mountainous Ladakh.

    The government has been majorly focusing on boosting domestic defence production and set a target of Rs 1.75 lakh crore (USD 25 billion) turnover in defence manufacturing by 2025.

    According to estimates, the Indian armed forces are projected to spend around USD 130 billion in capital procurement in the next five years.

    In May last year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman rolled out several reform measures for the defence sector including making separate budgetary outlay to procure Indian-made military hardware, increasing FDI limit from 49 percent to 74 percent under the automatic route and generating a year-wise negative list of weapons which won’t be imported.