Now 24 TEJAS will be produced every year
Indian Air Force should ideally have 63 Combat Squadrons for not only stopping the combined assault of the PLAAF with PAF but also striking deep into Pakistan, Chinese Provinces of Yunan, Gungxi, Scichuan, Xinjiang and Chinese military assets in Chinese occupied Tibet.
Keeping in mind the various roles, these Combat Squadrons need to be a mix of Light Combat jets, Medium Combat Jets and Heavy Combats. So out of 63 Squadrons the Light segment required is around 27 Squadrons. The Tejas series will thus provide all round air defence of the Indian Air space in conjunctions with the ground based air defence systems.
The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has now inaugurated the third production line of TEJAS MK-1A, which is expected to increase its production capacity from the earlier 16 to 24, every year. The new facility was inaugurated by Defence secretary Giridhar Aramane, in presence of HAL CMD C B AnanthaKrishnan.
Two Squadrons of Tejas Mk1 are currently in Squadron service with the IAF. The first TEJASs were inducted into the IAF’s Number 45 Squadron ‘Flying Daggers’ in 2016. The second TEJAS squadron — Number 18 Squadron ‘Flying Bullets’, was operationalised in May 2020.
Later on these will be upgraded to MK1A standards and joined by four Squadrons of Mk1A already ordered by the Indian Air Force, in 2020 itself along with 10 trainers at a cost of more than INR 44000 Crores, with the delivery starting in 2024.
TEJAS MK-1A is going to be a more capable fighter than the original MK-1 variant. MK-1A variant of the TEJAS is having around 40 major and minor improvements over MK-1. These improvements include the introduction of an active electronically-scanned array radar for detection of enemy aircraft at greater ranges and resistance to jamming, and a faster turnaround of each aircraft, after each sortie.
There are reports that the IAF is preparing to buy another three Squadrons TEJAS Mk-1A after the completion of the current order of 83 jets. Thus by 2030 around 9 Squadrons of Tejas Mk1A should be Flying in various sectors, defending the Indian Air Space.
Plans are full swing to get the first prototype of Tejas Mk2 too Flying sometime in 2024 and production commencing in 2026. So by 2030 IAF should be having three Squadrons of Mk2 and another six Squadron by 2035 taking total Tejas variants to 18 Squadrons.
Then finally should commence production of another nine Squadron of Tejas Mk3 with full swadeshi engine and making it a 100% indigenous fighter.
The medium segment will be filled by Rafale and our own AMCA Mk1 and fully Swadeshi AMCA Mk2. Similarly to the Heavy segment of Sukhoi30 MKI will get added may be a few Squadrons of Sukhoi 57 MKI and then our swadeshi AHMCA Mk1.
