Tejas has a tail-less compound delta-wing configuration with a single vertical stabilizer. This provides better high-alpha performance characteristics than conventional wing designs. Its wing root leading edge has a sweep of 50 degrees, the outer wing leading edge has a sweep of 62.5 degrees, and the trailing edge has a forward sweep of four degrees. It integrates technologies such as relaxed static stability, fly-by-wire flight control system, multi-mode radar, integrated digital avionics system, and composite material structures. It is the smallest and lightest in its class of contemporary supersonic combat aircraft.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) formally inducted into service the first Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-1 in Final Operational Clearance (FOC) standard in May 2020, and operationalized its second LCA squadron No. 18 ‘Flying Bullets’. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal (ACM) R.K.S. Bhadauria had received the first FOC standard LCA from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in a function held at Air Force Station, Sulur near Coimbatore, in Tamil Nadu. IAF has so far placed orders for 20 IOC standard aircraft and 20 FOC standard aircraft including eight twin-seater trainers.
The maximum payload capability of Tejas is 5,300 kg (11,684 lb). All weapons are carried on one or more of seven hardpoints with a total capacity of greater than 5,000 kg: three stations under each wing and one on the under-fuselage centreline. An eighth offset station beneath the port-side intake trunk can carry a variety of pods like FLIR, IRST, laser rangefinder/designator, as can the center line under-fuselage station and inboard pairs of wing stations. Auxiliary fuel tanks of 725, 800, and 1,200 liters can be carried on three wet hardpoints under the fuselage and wing to extend the range. An aerial refueling probe on the starboard side of the forward fuselage can extend range and endurance. RAFAEL's I-Derby ER fire-and-forget missile serves as the Tejas' initial beyond visual range air-to-air missile, while efforts are underway to integrate Astra beyond visual range air-to-air missile on Tejas. The BrahMos-NG supersonic cruise missile is being developed for the Tejas.
Stealth features have been designed into Tejas. Being small provides an inherent degree of visual stealth, a Y-duct inlet that shields the engine compressor blades from probing radar waves reduces the frontal radar cross-section (RCS), the airframe's high usage of composites and the application of radar-absorbent material (RAM) coatings are intended to minimize its susceptibility to detection and tracking.
Tejas MK-1a
The multirole 4.5 generation aircraft is designed with many advanced features over the existing Light Combative Aircraft FOC variant. This includes improvement in operational roles, mid-air refueling along with improvement in maintainability, the incorporation of BVR (Beyond Visual Range) missile capabilities, updated RWR (Radar Warning Receiver), AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) Radar and EW (Electronic Warfare).
Even though MK 1A is a lightweight short-range aircraft, it can easily carry weapons that bigger warplanes carry such as long-range BVR missiles, standoff, and precision-guided weaponry – enabling to take an enemy’s plane from a safer distance. The light combat aircraft can carry a payload of 3,500 kg and travel at a supersonic speed at all altitudes with a service ceiling of 15km – making it suitable for offensive air support and air combat.
Key Features
Air-to-air Refueling Probe
This novel feature of mid-air refueling introduced to FOC variants will enhance the range without additional touchdowns or pit-stops to refuel. This is the first desi fighter to have this feature.
Fuel System Enhancement
Over and above 2350 kg fuel carrying capability of the IOC variant with its external drop tanks of 1200 and 800 liters capacity, Tejas FOC has an additional 725 liters centerline drop tank with pressure refueling.
Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Missiles
The reliable Derby missile has expanded the firing envelope making it more lethal. This feature was tested and cleared for the entire FOC envelope via an exhaustive study of missile separation characteristics.
GSH 23 mm Bwin Barrelled Gun
General Characteristics of Tejas MK1
Crew: 1 or 2
Length: 13.2 m (43 ft 4 in)
Wingspan: 8.2 m (26 ft 11 in)
Height: 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 38.4 m2 (413 sq ft)
Empty weight: 6,560 kg (14,462 lb)
Gross weight: 9,800 kg (21,605 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 13,500 kg (29,762 lb)
Fuel capacity: 2,458 kg (5,419 lb) internal; 2 × 1,200 l (260 imp gal; 320 US gal), 800 l (180 imp gal; 210 US gal) drop tank inboard, 725 l (159 imp gal; 192 US gal) drop tank under fuselage
Payload: 5,300 kg (11,700 lb) external stores
Powerplant: 1 × GE 404F2/J-IN20[253] afterburning turbofan with FADEC, 53.9 kN (12,100 lbf) thrust dry, 90 kN (20,200 lbf) with afterburner
Performance
Maximum speed: 2,220 km/h (1,380 mph, 1,200 kn)
Maximum speed: Mach 1.6[144]
Range: 1,850 km (1,150 mi, 459 nmi)
Combat range: 500 km (310 mi, 270 nmi) with internal tanks[256][257]
Ferry range: 3,200 km (1,986 mi, 1,726 nmi) with 2x external drop tanks[256]
Endurance: 4 hours
Service ceiling: 16,500 m (50,000 ft)
g limits: +9/−3.5[93]
Wing loading: 255.2 kg/m2 (52.3 lb/sq ft)
Thrust/weight: 0.94[258]
Armament
Guns: 1x 23 mm twin-barrel GSh-23 cannon
Hardpoints: 8 (1 × beneath the port-side intake trunk for targeting pods, 6 × under-wing, and 1 × under-fuselage) with a capacity of 5,300 kg, with provisions to carry combinations of:
Rockets: S-8 rocket pods (expected)
Missiles:
Air-to-air Missiles
R-73
Derby
I-Derby ER
Python-5
ASRAAM[262] (planned)
Astra Mark 1 (planned)
Astra Mark 2 (planned)
Astra Mark 3 (planned)
Astra IR (planned)
R-77 (planned)
Air-to-surface Missiles
Kh-59ME, Kh-59L, Kh-59T
BrahMos-NG ALCM
Anti-radiation Missile
Rudram-1 (Planned)
Anti-ship Missiles
Kh-35
Kh-59MK
Bombs:
Precision-guided Munitions
Spice
HSLD-100/250/450/500
DRDO Glide Bombs
DRDO SAAW
Laser-guided Bombs
KAB-1500L
GBU-16 Paveway II
Sudarshan
Griffin LGB
Cluster Munitions
RBK-500
Unguided Bombs
ODAB-500PM
ZAB-250/350
BetAB-500Shp
FAB-500T
FAB-250
OFAB-250-270
OFAB-100-120
Avionics
Hybrid Elta EL/M-2032 multi-mode all-weather fire control radar with day and night capability.
DARE Unified Electronic Warfare Suite (UEWS) for Tejas Mk1A.(planned)
Elta EL/M 2052 AESA Radar for the first batch of 20 Tejas Mark 1A.(planned)
LRDE Uttam AESA Radar will be integrated from 21st Tejas Mark 1A.(planned)
Air-to-air Refueling Probe
This novel feature of mid-air refueling introduced to FOC variants will enhance the range without additional touchdowns or pit-stops to refuel. This is the first desi fighter to have this feature.
Fuel System Enhancement
Over and above 2350 kg fuel carrying capability of the IOC variant with its external drop tanks of 1200 and 800 liters capacity, Tejas FOC has an additional 725 liters centerline drop tank with pressure refueling.
Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Missiles
The reliable Derby missile has expanded the firing envelope making it more lethal. This feature was tested and cleared for the entire FOC envelope via an exhaustive study of missile separation characteristics.
GSH 23 mm Bwin Barrelled Gun
This Russian gun underwent extensive butt firing at Nasik before getting on board SP-21. The integral gun would give an edge to the pilot in case of a close-combat scenario.
General Characteristics of Tejas MK1
Crew: 1 or 2
Length: 13.2 m (43 ft 4 in)
Wingspan: 8.2 m (26 ft 11 in)
Height: 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 38.4 m2 (413 sq ft)
Empty weight: 6,560 kg (14,462 lb)
Gross weight: 9,800 kg (21,605 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 13,500 kg (29,762 lb)
Fuel capacity: 2,458 kg (5,419 lb) internal; 2 × 1,200 l (260 imp gal; 320 US gal), 800 l (180 imp gal; 210 US gal) drop tank inboard, 725 l (159 imp gal; 192 US gal) drop tank under fuselage
Payload: 5,300 kg (11,700 lb) external stores
Powerplant: 1 × GE 404F2/J-IN20[253] afterburning turbofan with FADEC, 53.9 kN (12,100 lbf) thrust dry, 90 kN (20,200 lbf) with afterburner
Performance
Maximum speed: 2,220 km/h (1,380 mph, 1,200 kn)
Maximum speed: Mach 1.6[144]
Range: 1,850 km (1,150 mi, 459 nmi)
Combat range: 500 km (310 mi, 270 nmi) with internal tanks[256][257]
Ferry range: 3,200 km (1,986 mi, 1,726 nmi) with 2x external drop tanks[256]
Endurance: 4 hours
Service ceiling: 16,500 m (50,000 ft)
g limits: +9/−3.5[93]
Wing loading: 255.2 kg/m2 (52.3 lb/sq ft)
Thrust/weight: 0.94[258]
Armament
Guns: 1x 23 mm twin-barrel GSh-23 cannon
Hardpoints: 8 (1 × beneath the port-side intake trunk for targeting pods, 6 × under-wing, and 1 × under-fuselage) with a capacity of 5,300 kg, with provisions to carry combinations of:
Rockets: S-8 rocket pods (expected)
Missiles:
Air-to-air Missiles
R-73
Derby
I-Derby ER
Python-5
ASRAAM[262] (planned)
Astra Mark 1 (planned)
Astra Mark 2 (planned)
Astra Mark 3 (planned)
Astra IR (planned)
R-77 (planned)
Air-to-surface Missiles
Kh-59ME, Kh-59L, Kh-59T
BrahMos-NG ALCM
Anti-radiation Missile
Rudram-1 (Planned)
Anti-ship Missiles
Kh-35
Kh-59MK
Bombs:
Precision-guided Munitions
Spice
HSLD-100/250/450/500
DRDO Glide Bombs
DRDO SAAW
Laser-guided Bombs
KAB-1500L
GBU-16 Paveway II
Sudarshan
Griffin LGB
Cluster Munitions
RBK-500
Unguided Bombs
ODAB-500PM
ZAB-250/350
BetAB-500Shp
FAB-500T
FAB-250
OFAB-250-270
OFAB-100-120
Avionics
Hybrid Elta EL/M-2032 multi-mode all-weather fire control radar with day and night capability.
DARE Unified Electronic Warfare Suite (UEWS) for Tejas Mk1A.(planned)
Elta EL/M 2052 AESA Radar for the first batch of 20 Tejas Mark 1A.(planned)
LRDE Uttam AESA Radar will be integrated from 21st Tejas Mark 1A.(planned)
