Raksha Mantri must order 48 Naval – TEJAS Fighters Immediately for the navy
By
Colonel Awadhesh Kumar
The N-TEJAS successfully landed on the deck of INS Vikrant in Feb this year as part of the Carrier aviation trials. The time has now come for Shri Rajnath Singh, Raksha Mantri to initiate a move for immediate ordering of 48 Naval variant of Tejas MK1A. Indian Navy should order the Naval variant of TEJAS, the N-TEJAS fighter jet to provide a solid base for the formidable Twin Engine Deck based Fighter.
According to the report, the Navy is currently engaged in internal discussions regarding the potential purchase of 12-15 Naval-TEJAS (N-TEJAS) from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). This number should be increased to 48. India has to and must start dreaming and thinking big.
The Navy had earlier rightly rejected the N-LCA due to performance shortfalls. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) then concentrated on making it a more modern and capable fighter.
HAL has already manufactured 40 Tejas Mk1.Now with Tejas Mk1A production line going into action, the eco system for Tejas production has been streamlined and all vendors are on one grid. So it will not be difficult for HAL to start a new production line for 12 Naval Tejas aircrafts per year.
Alternatively this manufacturing line may be given to a private manufacturer. Later this line can be used for Naval TEDB fighters. Whatever may be the current thinking but ultimately the Navy has to be provided with six aircraft carriers of around 70000 tonnage. Therefore in the foreseeable future we are looking at around 16 Squadrons of TEDB fighters ( 12 Squadrons on 6xCarriers and 4xSquadrons land based @ one per Naval Command plus A& N Command ) and around 11 Squadrons of Naval Tejas Mk1A ( one squadron for training at INS Hansa, a Squadron each on the 6x Carriers and balance 4 Squadrons land based ).
With immediate go, the first of the Naval Tejas should start forming a Squadron by end 2026 or early 2027. This squadron can used for providing training to rookie Naval fighter pilots. INS HANSA has already developed a proper facility for this purpose.
The second Squadron can be split and serve on both INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. 8 of these on each Carrier will be able to provide a very protective air cover for the Air defence of the Carrier Combat Group itself, leaving the incoming medium Naval fighter / current serving MiG 29 M for interdiction and other missions. The next two Squadrons then can be based in Andamans and Kochi for carrying out Combat patrols over the Indian EEZ in the Indian Ocean.
Meanwhile, the Indian Navy will be getting 26 foreign fighters, which is most likely the French Dassault Rafale for use on its newly inducted aircraft carrier, the INS Vikrant and from INS Hansa.
The use of the N-TEJAS from the INS Vikrant’s deck will allow the aircraft to experience the full range of operational conditions, and will also facilitate the training of fighter pilots.
A major benefit of using the N-TEJAS will be the users’ critical feedback, for the development of the TEDBF. So that when INS VISHAL gets commissioned by 2033 time frame, a full two Squadron of TEDB and one Squadron of Naval Tejas Mk3 is already waiting to land on its deck and fill its hangars.
