Sansad TV Perspective: LCA Tejas Mark II

In the series Sansad TV Perspective, we bring you an analysis of the discussion featured on the insightful programme ‘Perspective’ on Sansad TV, on various important topics affecting India and also the world. This analysis will help you immensely for the IAS exam, especially the mains exam, where a well-rounded understanding of topics is a prerequisite for writing answers that fetch good marks.

In this article, we feature the discussion on the topic: LCA Tejas Mark II

Anchor: Vishal Dahiya

Guests:

1. T. Suvarna Raju, Former Chairman & Managing Director, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
2. Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Manmohan Bahadur, Strategic Analyst
3. Mayank Singh,  Defence Correspondent, The New Indian Express

Context: Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Security sanctioned the development of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk2.

Highlights of the discussion:

• Journey of LCA Tejas over the years.
• Significance of Tejas Mark II 
• Engine development and Metallurgy
• Gaps in fighter jet capacity 
• Self Reliance in Defence Manufacturing

LCA Tejas

• The HAL Tejas is an Indian, single engine, delta wing, light multirole fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency in collaboration with Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.It came from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme,.

Journey of LCA Tejas over the years:

• The evolution of Tejas fighter aircraft is a success story for India’s defence indigenisation. 
• It was conceived as an LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) with DRDO obtaining permission to initiate a programme to design and develop a LCA to replace India’s ageing MiG-21 fighters but later became part of a general fleet modernisation programme.
• The Union Government set up Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in 1984 as the nodal agency for managing and developing the LCA.
• The Tejas achieved initial operational clearance in 2011 and final operational clearance in 2019.
• The Indian Air Force got its first indigenously built light combat aircraft Tejas in 2015.
• The first Tejas squadron became operational in 2016 as No. 45 Squadron IAF Flying Daggers were the first to have their MiG-21s replaced with the Tejas.
• The Tejas currently has three production models – Tejas Mark 1, Mark 1A and trainer variant. 
• First flight of the Tejas Mk1-A prototype was completed in 2022.
• The Tejas Mark II is currently being developed by HAL and is expected to be ready for series production by 2026.

Significance of Tejas Mark II:

• It is a 4.5 generation aircraft which will be used by the Indian Air Force.
• It is a replacement for the Mirage 2000 class of aircraft. Mark 2 has been termed as a significant systemic upgrade of the Mark 1 program.
• It has a bigger engine and can carry 6.5 tonnes of payload
• The Mk2 features enhanced range and endurance, including an onboard oxygen generation system for the first time.
• It also has the ability to carry heavy stand-off weapons of the class of Scalp, Crystal Maze and Spice-2000. 
• The Mk2 is 1,350 mm longer, featuring canards and can carry a payload of 6,500 kg compared with the 3,500 kg the LCA can carry
• It will have 70 per cent indigenisation (as opposed to the 62 per cent of the Mark IA), and  will incorporate more advanced technologies to be built in India.
• In February, 2021 the Defence Ministry had signed a ₹48,000 crore deal with HAL to supply 83 LCA Tejas MK-1A to the IAF.
•  The clearance for the Tejas Mark-2 comes as a huge boost for the Indian Air Force which currently has 30 fighter squadrons as against the sanctioned strength of 42.

Image Source: Airpowerasia

Issues with Engine Development and Metallurgy:

• The LCA Program missed several deadlines due to various factors.
• The failure to build an engine indigenously led to a domino effect of delays.
• Over a third of the components used in Tejas, including the current American-built engines, are imported. Sanctions imposed by the US after India conducted nuclear tests in May 1998 pushed the project development back by over two decades.
• The sanctions led to key design changes and a further delay in setting up production facilities.
• . There are very few major aircraft engine manufacturers who dominate the industry. With many single and twin-engine aircraft, the engine reliability has to be very high. 
• Fighter engines require high thrust-by-engine weight. There is a requirement for high-quality materials, and precision engineering.
• Several shortcomings related to maintainability are yet to be sorted out.
• With active participation of private companies, the plan is to build on the capabilities and expertise developed during the development of the light combat aircraft (LCA) and produce Tejas in a very cost effective and efficient manner.

Self Reliance in Defence Manufacturing:

• In order to promote self-reliance in defence production, the government has announced several measures under Atma Nirbhar Abhiyan. With every breakthrough, India is moving closer to indigenization. 
• Though these steps are in the right direction, there are long-overdue reforms to make India truly self-reliant in defence manufacturing.
• Poor design capability in critical technologies, inadequate investment in Research & Development  and inability to manufacture major subsystems and components hamper the indigenous manufacturing.
• The relationship between the R&D establishment, production agencies (public or private) and the end-user are extremely weak.Poor design capability in critical technologies, inadequate investment in R&D and inability to manufacture major subsystems and components hamper the indigenous manufacturing.
• India shall work towards establishing a complete ecosystem by setting up maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul facilities. This could add to the learning curve. All national resources and expertise, including the private sector, must be engaged. 
• A balanced approach is required in this regard.

Conclusion:

India is already consolidating its assets and showcasing the growing prowess of indigenous manufacturing. It is a major milestone in the path towards ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. But it should also be realised that India needs to expand its vision beyond and match competing countries like China, which is growing at a very fast pace.

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