TEJAS MK2 Neighbours Envy Owners Pride
India, Indian Air Force and Indian Aviation will have arrived on the international Stage once the Final Operational Clearance is given to TEJAS MK2 Fighter Aircraft. TEJAS Mk II project was sanctioned in 2009 and since then has continued to move notch by notch with design parameters getting upgraded with each major appraisal carried out in 2014, 2017 and 2018, respectively.
Like the MK1A this jet will also be initially powered by the 100 kN-class GE414 turbojet. However later in all likely hood we should be fitting our own Kaveri engine. The Mk II jet is going to be slightly longer in length and slightly wider also.
It will have an All up weight of 17500kg and thus no longer a light fighter but a medium one like the Mirage 2000. The internal fuel capacity will be of 3,300 kg and the payload will be 6,500 kg with a total of 11 hard points.
This Indian designed fighter will be fitted with with world class avionics and sensors and also armed with deadly unbeatable weapons. These include latest cockpit, AESA radar, IRST, OBOGS, UEWS, MAWS and weapons like SCALP, Crystal Maze, Spice 2000 and of course beyond visual range air to air missiles.
So while the Mark 1 and Mark 1A will be replacing the ageing MiG-21s and already phased out MiG-27s, the IAF will now also have a generation ahead futuristic TEJAS MK 2. This highly advanced fighter jet will be a true next generation replacement of the much revered upgraded Mirage 2000 -5 in the IAF inventory.
But more than anything else – as already noticeable in the mock up displayed by HAL AeroIndia – Tejas Mk II would also be sporting ‘Canards’. These Canards will result in all round improvement in aircraft’s performance and agility and easily place it in Gen 4++ multi-role fighters likes the Rafale, Eurofighter and Su-30/35, etc – a real game-changer for India.
In fact canards were considered for the initial LCA design, but given up due to sanctions imposed post nuclear tests in 1998. However, with the indigenously designed and perfected FBW (Fly-by-wire) system, ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency) now has the capability to integrate own designed canards into the control system of the Mk II. It is due to this that the jet has become a Medium Weight category fighter with increased take off capability and more hard points to carry sophisticated weapons.
IAF thus not only accepted HAL’s MK 1A offer which has many improvements over the Mk 1 version but has also supported the Mk 2 program which was essentially meant for the Navy but rejected by it citing its unsuitability for meaningful carrier operations. Interestingly the Navy too is looking ahead on having Naval TEJAS MK2 Versions.
The MK2 prototype should be flying by 2024 -25 with single- minded determination and dedication of HAL and backing of IAF. The fully developed and operationally produced Mk 2 version of the Tejas should become available to the IAF before the end if 2030…that us our quest.
