The HAL Tejas (Sanskrit: तेजस् : "Radiant") is a 4.5 generation lightweight multirole fighter aircraft being developed by India. It is a tailless, compound delta wing design powered by a single engine. Originally known as the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) – a designation which continues in popular usage – the aircraft was officially named "Tejas". by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on 4 May 2003.
Limited series production of the Tejas commenced in 2007; it is currently projected to achieve limited initial operational clearance (IOC) with the Indian Air Force (IAF) by 2008, followed by full operational clearance (FOC) by the end of 2010. A two-seat trainer variant is also in development, as is a naval variant capable of operating from the Indian Navy's aircraft carriers. The IAF is reported to have a requirement for 200 single-seat and 20 two-seat conversion trainers, while the Indian Navy may order up to 40 single-seaters to replace its Sea Harrier FRS.51 and Harrier T.60.
Through the use of modern design techniques, lightweight materials and composites, it is expected to become the lightest modern jet fighter in production.Tejas | |
|---|---|
 Pair of Tejas flying in formation | |
| Type | Multirole Air Superiority |
| Manufacturer | Aeronautical Development Agency Hindustan Aeronautics Limited |
| Maiden flight | 4 January 2001 |
| Introduction | Planned by 2010/11 |
| Status | Flight Testing |
| Primary users | Indian Air Force Indian Navy |
| Number built | 2 Technology demonstrators + 3 Prototypes + 2 Production aircraft |
| Unit cost | US$25 million (estimated) |
Specifications (Tejas)
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Length: 13.20 m (43 ft 4 in)
- Wingspan: 8.20 m (26 ft 11 in)
- Height: 4.40 m (14 ft 9 in)
- Wing area: 38.4 m² (413 ft²)
- Empty weight: 5,000 kg (11,200 lb)
- Loaded weight: 12,500 kg (29,700 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: >15,500 kg (>32,558 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× General Electric F404-GE-F2J3 or -IN-20 turbofan, 80.5 kN (18,100 lbf) / 85 kN In case of IN-20 (>19,000 lbf) ()
- Internal fuel capacity: 3000 liters
- External fuel capacity: 5×800 liter tanks or 3×1,200 liter tanks, totaling 4,000/3,600 liters
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.8
- Range: 2,000 km/2.30 hr (with internal fuel) (1,242 mi)
- Service ceiling 15,950 m (50,000 ft)
- Wing loading: 221.4 kg/m² (45.35 lb/ft²)
- Thrust/weight: 1.07
Armament
- 1 × 23 mm GSh-23 cannon internally mounted twin-barrel cannon with 220 rounds of ammunition.
- Eight external stations: three hardpoints under each wing, one fuselage centreline hardpoint, and one station beneath the port-side intake trunk for a pod (FLIR, IRST, laser designator, or reconnaissance).
- Maximum external payload: >4000 kg.
- Air-to-air missiles include Astra BVRAAM, Vympel R-77 (NATO reporting name: AA-12 Adder), and Vympel R-73 (NATO reporting name: AA-11 Archer).
- Air-to-surface munitions include anti-ship missiles, laser-guided bombs, unguided bombs, cluster bombs, and unguided air-to-surface rockets.
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