The HAL Tejas Mark 2, or Medium Weight Fighter (MWF),[1] is an Indian single-engine, canard delta wing, multirole combat aircraft designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC)[2] of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). It is a further development of the HAL Tejas, with an elongated airframe, close coupled canards, new sensors, and a more powerful engine.
The fighter is being designed and developed to replace multiple strike fighters of IAF viz, the SEPECAT Jaguar, Dassault Mirage 2000, and Mikoyan MiG-29.[3][4][5] The indigenous content of the fighter will be 82% initially and will cross 90% after the licensed production of its engine.[6]
Development
MWF Programme
Dr. V. Madhusudana Rao is the Project Director of Tejas Mark 2.[7] The development of Tejas Mark 2 or MWF was initiated to address all the shortcomings in Tejas Mark 1 and Mark 1A, and to meet the original air staff requirements set out for the LCA programme by the IAF. The development of Tejas Mark 2 was authorised in November 2009 as a continuation of LCA programme, under the phase 3 of full-scale engineering development (FSED) process.Template:Refn[8] The FSED phase 3 consisted of design, development and manufacturing of two prototypes.[9] Initially planned as an upsized Tejas, with a 0.5 m fuselage plug to accommodate more fuel and a more powerful engine, the Tejas Mark 2 design has evolved over years into a completely new medium-weight class fighter.[9]
The preliminary design studies for the Tejas Mark 2 was completed in 2014 and was in the detailed design phase as of 2015.[9] The redesigned fighter was first unveiled at the Aero India air show 2019, it was a 17.5-tonne-class fighter with close-coupled canards and integrated IRST system.[10] Metal-cutting for the Tejas Mark 2 started in February 2021. The "roll out" of the first prototype was scheduled for August 2022, but has been postponed to end of 2022. Its first flight is expected to be in late 2023. In total, four prototypes are being planned initially.[11]
The ADA completed its critical design review on 15 November 2021, with a total of 20 subsystems for the aircraft cleared by IAF for production. From 62% in Tejas Mark 1A, the plan is to touch the 70% mark in indigenization for Mark 2. More foreign components are replaced by locally developed ones that are sufficiently matured as ADA and DRDO will carry forward some of the critical technologies from the LCA programme. Private suppliers of line-replaceable units also increased from 344 during Tejas Mark 1A development to 410. HAL had already outsourced 25% of the work share to the private sector.[12]
On September 1, 2022, Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) cleared ₹10,000 crore for Tejas Mark 2 that includes prototype development and flight testing.[13] The cost of fighter jet development will take ₹6,500 crore in addition to ₹2,500 crore sanctioned previously through internal funding.[14] HAL planned high speed taxi trials from 2023 and limited series production from 2025.[15] The entire development process will be completed by 2027 with serial production from 2030.[16] Tejas Mark 2 will become operationally available from 2028. Apart from current commitment of 110-120 aircraft that will form six squadrons, expectations include an additional order of 210 aircraft.[13]
After an initial plan to involve private players failed due to no backers, HAL is planning to form its own consortium to fast track the manufacturing process.[17] Due to delay, the first prototype will roll out by December 2023 and first flight will happen by December 2024. Four prototypes will be made until 2027 for testing purpose.[18] Delegation from 16 countries were seeking details of Tejas Mark 2 at Defexpo 2022. Government is speeding up efforts to identify Indian private sector company to increase the production rate and decrease the cost for exports.[19]
Design
Apart from design commonalities and a few critical systems from its predecessor Tejas Mark 1A, most of the technologies are to be borrowed from whatever has been developed so far for Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programmme. Several radar cross-section-reducing measures will be incorporated in the airframe design so that a degree of frontal stealth can be achieved, including radar-absorbent material coating and composites making up its skin and twisted air-intake ducts. It has a tail-less compound delta-wing configuration with a single vertical stabilizer and close-coupled canards to provide static instability and high manoeuvrability, and is equipped with fly-by-wire systems to control instability.
This MWF is also to feature an indigenous integrated life-support system-onboard oxygen generation system (ILSS-OBOGS), from Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory, aircraft health and usage monitoring system to integrate various sensors onboard Tejas Mark 2 from Defence Institute of Advanced Technology and a built-in integrated electro-optic electronic warfare suite, among other improvements to avionics.[20][21][22] Utilizing extra fuselage space, ADA designed larger air-intake for GE's F414 INS6 engine.[23]
It will have an infra-red search and track (IRST) system and a missile approach warning system.[24] An increase in payload capacity to Template:Cvt and internal fuel capacity to over Template:Cvt, will allow it to carry more weapons with a longer range.[25]
Sensors and avionics
The avionics of Tejas Mark 2 will be centered on multisensor data fusion incorporating both active and passive sensors on board. The Tejas Mark 2 would be equipped with a variant of Uttam AESA Radar developed by Electronics and Radar Development Establishment, while the combat aircraft will also have an integrated IRST system for passive target acquisition. The Tejas Mark 2 will have indigenous software-defined radio-based tactical data link for secured communication and network-centric warfare capabilities supported by the IAF's AFNet digital information grid.[26][27]
Cockpit
The Tejas Mark 2 will have a night vision goggles-compatible glass cockpit dominated by a touch-sensitive wide area display placed in panoramic orientation and a wide-angle holographic head-up display system.[28] The Tejas Mark 2 will have hands-on throttle-and-stick arrangement with right-hand-on-stick and left-hand-on-throttle settings to ease the pilot workload.
Propulsion
In 2008, HAL issued a fresh request for proposal for the procurement of 95- to 100-kilonewton (kN) (21,000–23,000 lbf) thrust-class engine to power the Tejas Mark 2.[29] In 2010, after extensive evaluation of both the Eurojet EJ200 and the General Electric F414, GE's F414 INS6 afterburning turbofan engine was declared as the lowest bidder. The deal covered the purchase of 99 GE F414 engines, with the initial batch supplied directly by GE, while the remainder is to be manufactured in India by HAL under a transfer-of-technology agreement.[30][31][32]
The GE F414 INS6 engine has a maximum thrust output of 98 kN and also offers improved specific fuel consumption over the F404 IN20 engine selected to power both Mark 1 and Mark 1A variants of Tejas.[33] The aircraft is designed keeping in mind that GE's F414 will be replaced once an Indian powerplant is available.[34][35][36] Therefore, the future engine replacement should make minimal changes in the configuration.
Operators
Indian Air Force – 10 squadrons
Specifications (Projected)
See also
Notes
- ↑ India's Medium Weight Fighter set to fly into detail design phase. OnManorama. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
- ↑ With expected 83 Tejas MK1A orders, ARDC shapes India's upgraded fighter. OnManorama. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
- ↑ Post upgradation Tejas' Mark-2 to become a medium weight fighter. The Economic Times(18 May 2022).
- ↑ HAL Ramps Up LCA Production and Looks to the Mk2. Aviation International News(11 March 2019). Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ↑ Metal-cutting for single-engined Tejas fighter planes to begin in February. Hindustan Times(2019-12-08). Retrieved 2020-06-25.
- ↑ DefExpo 2022: IAF to phase out Mig-29, Mirage and Jaguar fighter jets by 2035; LCA Mk2 will replace them, Kumar, Anish. Asianet News(19 October 2022). Retrieved 2022-11-11.
- ↑ Fifth gen fighter AMCA can be rolled out in three years after project sanction: scientists. The Hindu(2022-10-28). Retrieved 2022-10-29.
- ↑ Long-awaited indigenous light combat aircraft Tejas Mk II targeted by 2022. Hindustan Times(2019-08-23). Retrieved 2021-06-16.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Template:Cite report
- ↑ Aero India 2019: ADA unveils Tejas AF Mk 2 Medium Weight Fighter, Tauro, Caron Natasha. Janes(20 February 2019). Retrieved 2019-09-12.
- ↑ India's Medium Weight Fighter set to fly into detail design phase. Manoramaonline(2020-02-03). Retrieved 2020-02-03.
- ↑ Boon for Indian industries waiting in wings of LCA Mark II, Kadidal, Akhil. Deccan Herald(2021-11-22). Retrieved 2021-11-22.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Govt clears LCA-Mk2 fighter's development, Singh, Rahul. Hindustan Times(2022-08-31). Retrieved 2022-09-01.
- ↑ Cabinet Committee on Security approves Tejas 2.0 mega project, Pandit, Rajat. The Times of India(1 September 2022). Retrieved 2022-09-01.
- ↑ Tejas Mark II to roll out next year; high-speed trials in 2023: HAL Chief Madhavan. The Hindu(2021-01-31). Retrieved 2022-09-01.
- ↑ Centre gives nod to Tejas Mark-2 development project - Details. TimesNow(1 September 2022). Retrieved 2022-09-01.
- ↑ LCA Mk2 maybe be delayed, HAL to form a consortium after the private sector backs off, Linganna, Girish. Frontier India(2022-10-16). Retrieved 2022-10-17.
- ↑ Atmanirbhar Bharat: LCA `Tejas’ Mk2 variant expected to roll out next December, Siddiqui, Huma. Financialexpress(2022-10-20). Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ↑ 16 Countries Interested in LCA Tejas Mk2, Efforts on to Identify Private Agencies to Speed Up Production, Dutta, Amrita Nayak. News18(2022-10-22). Retrieved 2022-10-23.
- ↑ Tejas Mk-II: India may avail consultancy from European manufacturers who bid for MMRCA deal. The Economic Times(11 July 2018).
- ↑ LCA Tejas to level up with on-board oxygen system by early 2020, says DRDO. The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
- ↑ DIAT system soon to monitor in-flight health of Tejas Mk-II - Indian Express. archive.indianexpress.com. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
- ↑ Cabinet likely to take up Tejas Mark 2 case soon to grant permission. Business Standard India(2022-08-30). Retrieved 2022-09-01.
- ↑ Aero India 2019: ADA unveils Tejas AF Mk 2 Medium Weight Fighter. Jane's Defence Weekly(20 February 2019).
- ↑ The Tejas Mark 2 fighter has been bulked up into medium fighter category. www.ajaishukla.com.
- ↑ India's Medium Weight Fighter set to fly into detail design phase, Krishnan M, Anantha. OnManorama(3 February 2020). Retrieved 2020-02-03.
- ↑ 'Make in India' Software Defined Radio: 'Mother' of all solutions for tactical communications of armed forces.
- ↑ Template:Cite report
- ↑ Sharma, Ravi. "Kaveri engine programme delinked from the Tejas." The Hindu, (Chennai, India), 27 September 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- ↑ GE F414 Engines Selected to Power India Light Combat Aircraft Program | GE News. www.ge.com.
- ↑ Shukla, Ajai. "American engine to power LCA." Bharat-Rakshak.com, 1 October 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2012. Template:Webarchive
- ↑ "India picks GE's F414 for Tejas MkII fighter." Flight International, 1 October 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2012. Template:Webarchive
- ↑ F414 turbofan engines specification.
- ↑ DRDO's Light Tank Will Be Power Pack As "The Highest Altitude Operable Tank In The Globe": G. Satheesh Reddy, Chairman DRDO(11 March 2021). Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ↑ Tejas done, focus on three other fighter jets: two for IAF, one Navy. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ↑ India's Medium Weight Fighter Set To Fly Into Detail Design Phase.
- ↑ IAF committed to induct 6 LCA Mark2 fighter squadrons: Air Chief VR Chaudhari(18 July 2022). Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ↑ 16 Countries Interested in LCA Tejas Mk2, Efforts on to Identify Private Agencies to Speed Up Production, Dutta, Amrita Nayak. News18(2022-10-22). Retrieved 2022-11-11.