HAL Tejas Mk2

Tejas Mk2
Role	Multirole
National origin	India
Manufacturer	Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Design group	Aeronautical Development Agency
First flight	2023 (Planned)
Primary user	Indian Air Force
Developed from	HAL Tejas

The HAL Tejas Mark 2 (styled Mk2) is a planned Indian single-engine, delta wing, multirole medium-weight fighter (MWF) designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force. It is a further development of the HAL Tejas, or Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), programme which began in the 1980s to replace India's ageing MiG-21 fighters. Tejas Mk2 is being designed to replace SEPECAT Jaguars, Dassault Mirage 2000 and Mig-29UPG in the Indian Air Force.

Tejas Mk2 has a tail-less compound delta-wing configuration with a single vertical stabilizer with closed-coupled canards.

Development

MWF Programme

In 2009, the Tejas Mk2 was sanctioned as an improvement over Tejas Mk1. The current General Electric F404 engine employed by Tejas was to be replaced by a more powerful engine.

For the powerplant, the General Electric F414 and Eurojet EJ200 were evaluated. In October 2010, GE F414 was selected as engine for Tejas Mk2. The final deal for 99 aeroengines worth $822 million was signed by January 2013. As per the agreement, eight engines will be bought off-the-shelf, while other 91 will be built in India under ToT.

To meet the IAF's air staff qualitative requirements (ASQR), ADA had to make substantial changes to the basic Mk1/Mk1A airframe to improve payload and performance in the more advanced upgrade called Tejas Mark 2. Initially they planned to simply elongate the Mark1 with a 0.5 m fuselage plug to hold more fuel, while fitting a more powerful General Electric F414-GE-INS6 engine with 64–98 kN of thrust.

In 2018, IAF formally committed to inducting a total of 324 Tejas aircraft of all versions, if HAL and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) can deliver a quality Tejas Mark 2 in time. The design of the Tejas Mk2 was frozen in December 2018.

Mark 2 is also to feature an indigenous on-board oxygen generation system, and a built-in integrated electro-optic electronic warfare suite among other improvements to avionics. It will have an infra-red search and track (IRST) system and a missile approach warning system (MAWS). An increase in payload capacity to 6,500 kg (14,300 lb) and increased number of weapons stations from 7 to 11, will allow the MWF to carry more weapons.

The Tejas Mk2 medium-weight fighter was revealed to the public on 20 February 2019 at Aero India Show 2019 held at Bengaluru. The first metal cutting for the aircraft is expected to be conducted in February 2020, while first flight is expected in 2023.

Design

Propulsion

In 2008, it was announced that an in-production powerplant would have to be selected; this was required to be in the 95 to 100 kilonewton (kN) (21,000–23,000 lbf) range to execute combat manoeuvres with optimal weapons load. After evaluation and acceptance of technical offers for both the Eurojet EJ200 and the General Electric F414, the commercial quotes were compared in detail and GE's F414 was declared as the lowest bidder. The deal covered the purchase of 99 GE F414 engines, an initial batch will be supplied directly by GE and the remainder to be manufactured in India under a technology transfer arrangement. According to the IAF, adopting the new powerplant required a three-to-four years of redesign work.

In October 2010, General Electric F414 was selected as engine for Tejas Mk2. The final contract for 99 aeroengines worth $822 million was signed in late 2012 or early 2013 with an option for 49 more that could be exercised later. As per the agreement, eight engines will be bought off-the-shelf, while other 91 will be built in India under transfer of technology.

The F414-GE-INS6 has dry thrust of 13,000 lbf (57.8 kN) and 22,000 lbf (97.9 kN) of wet thrust. F414-GE-INS6 features a Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC) system.

Tejas Mk2 will have increased internal fuel capacity of 3.3 tonnes, while canards will be attached near nose to restore maneuverability of the aircraft.

Avionics

The aircraft is planned to be equipped with an artificial intelligence based “optimally manned” cockpit. The cockpit will be designed such that the ground control would be able to takeover the controls of the aircraft in case the pilot becomes unconscious, after being alerted by a sensor in the helmet of the pilot.

Variants

Planned production variants

• Tejas Mark 2 - The Tejas Mk 2, also called "Medium Weight Fighter", is to feature the more powerful General Electric F414-GE-INS6 engine with 98 kN of thrust. In November 2009, Ministry of Defence sanctioned ₹2,431.55 crore (equivalent to ₹61 billion or US$730 million in 2023) for development of Tejas Mk 2, which was expected to be completed by 2018. However, a delay in procurement of engines pushed back the initiation of development till 2013. As of 2018, the project is expected to be completed by 2022. Mk 2 will feature an AESA radar, an on-board oxygen generation system, and a built-in electronic warfare suite among other improvements to avionics. In January 2019, Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa said that the IAF has committed to procure twelve squadrons of Tejas Mk 2 aircraft. In Aero India 2019, a model of Tejas Mk 2 with close-coupled canards was displayed. Mk 2 will be slightly larger with a length of 14.6 m (48 ft) and a wingspan of 8.5 m (28 ft). An increase in payload capacity to 6,500 kg (14,300 lb) will allow it to carry more weapons. It will include an infra-red search and track system and a missile approach warning system.

Specifications (Tejas Mk2)

Data from Jane's Defence Weekly

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 14.6 m (47 ft 11 in)
• Wingspan: 8.5 m (27 ft 11 in)
• Max takeoff weight: 17,500 kg (38,581 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 3,300 kg (7,300 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × General Electric F414-GE-INS6 turbofan, 58 kN (13,000 lbf) thrust dry, 98 kN (22,000 lbf) with afterburner

Performance

See also

Related development

• HAL Tejas

Related lists

• List of fighter aircraft
• Fourth-generation jet fighter