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HAL Tejas Mk2

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Tejas Mark 2/Medium Weight Fighter
A model of Tejas Mark 2 displayed at the Aero India 2021
Role Multirole fighter
National origin India
Manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Design group Aeronautical Development Agency
Aircraft Research and Design Centre (HAL)[1]
Defence Research and Development Organisation
First flight 2023 (planned)[2]
Introduction 2026 (planned)[2]
Status Prototype under construction
Primary user Indian Air Force (intended)
Developed from HAL Tejas

The HAL Tejas Mark 2, or Medium Weight Fighter (MWF),[3] is an Indian single-engined, canard delta wing, multirole combat aircraft designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC)[4] 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 Tejas Mark 2 is being designed and developed to replace multiple strike fighters of IAF viz, the SEPECAT Jaguar, Dassault Mirage 2000, and Mikoyan MiG-29.[5][6][7] The first flight of Tejas Mark 2 is expected to be in 2023, with series production to begin by 2026.[8]

Development

MWF Programme

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.[N 1][9] The FSED phase 3 consisted of design, development and manufacturing of two prototypes.[10] 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.[10]

The preliminary design studies for the Tejas Mark 2 was completed in 2014 and was in the detailed design phase as of 2015.[10] 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.[11] Metal-cutting for the Tejas Mark 2 started in February 2021. The "roll out" of the first prototype is scheduled for December 2022, with its first flight expected to be in 2023. In total, four prototypes are being planned initially.[2]

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]

Design

Apart from design commonalities and 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.[13] 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.[14][15][16]

It will have an infra-red search and track (IRST) system and a missile approach warning system.[17] An increase in payload capacity to 6,500 kg (14,300 lb) and internal fuel capacity to over 3,400 kg (7,500 lb), will allow it to carry more weapons with a longer range.[18]

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.[19][20]

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.[21] 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.[22]

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.[23] 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.[24][25][26]

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.[27] The aircraft is designed keeping in mind that GE's F414 will be replaced once an Indian powerplant is available.[28][29][30] Therefore, the future engine replacement should make minimal changes in the configuration.

Specifications

Data from Jane's Defence Weekly,[11] OnManorama,[19] Defexpo 2020 and Aero India 2021

General characteristics

  • Crew: One or two
  • Length: 14.60 m (47 ft 11 in)
  • Wingspan: 8.50 m (27 ft 11 in)
  • Height: 4.86 m (15 ft 11 in)
  • Wing area: 44 m2 (470 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 7,850 kg (17,306 lb) (expected)
  • Gross weight: 11,300 kg (24,912 lb) (expected)
  • Max takeoff weight: 17,500 kg (38,581 lb) (expected)[31][32]
  • Fuel capacity: 3,400 kg (7,500 lb) internal; 3,500 kg (7,700 lb) with drop tank[33]
  • Payload: 6,500 kg (14,300 lb) external stores[34]
  • Powerplant: 1 × General Electric F414-INS6 afterburning turbofan with FADEC, 98 kN (22,000 lbf) with afterburner[35] (Indigenous 110KN Engine to be used in future)[36][29][28]

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 2,385.36 km/h (1,482.19 mph, 1,287.99 kn)
  • Maximum speed: Mach 1.8
  • Range: 2,500 km (1,600 mi, 1,300 nmi)
  • Combat range: 1,500 km (930 mi, 810 nmi)
  • Ferry range: 3,500 km (2,200 mi, 1,900 nmi) with 3 external fuel tanks
  • Service ceiling: 17,300 m (56,758 ft)
  • g limits: +9/−3.5
  • Thrust/weight: 0.89 (with 7000 lb of fuel, 2 SRAAMs and F414-GE-INS6), 1.00 (planned) with Indigenous Engine of 110 KN thrust[citation needed]

Armament

Avionics

See also

Related development

Related lists

Notes

  1. ^ The FSED process of the LCA programme was begun in 1993 with first two phases completed so far, which resulted in the development of Tejas Mark 1, Mark 1A, LCA trainer, LCA Navy Mark 1 and LCA Navy trainer variants

References

  1. ^ M, Anantha Krishnan (6 August 2020). "Upgraded Tejas fighter, touted as 'real desi game-changer', to fly in 2022-23". The Week. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "India's Medium Weight Fighter set to fly into detail design phase". Manoramaonline. 3 February 2020. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  3. ^ "India's Medium Weight Fighter set to fly into detail design phase". OnManorama. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  4. ^ "With expected 83 Tejas MK1A orders, ARDC shapes India's upgraded fighter". OnManorama. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  5. ^ Krishnan, Raghu (18 May 2018). "Post upgradation Tejas' Mark-2 to become a medium weight fighter". The Economic Times.
  6. ^ "HAL Ramps Up LCA Production and Looks to the Mk2". Aviation International News. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  7. ^ "Metal-cutting for single-engined Tejas fighter planes to begin in February". Hindustan Times. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Tejas Mark II to roll out next year; high-speed trials in 2023: HAL Chief Madhavan". The Hindu. 31 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Long-awaited indigenous light combat aircraft Tejas Mk II targeted by 2022". Hindustan Times. 23 August 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  10. ^ a b c ADA annual report 2015-16 (PDF) (Report).
  11. ^ a b Tauro, Caron Natasha (20 February 2019). "Aero India 2019: ADA unveils Tejas AF Mk 2 Medium Weight Fighter". Janes. Retrieved 12 September 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ Kadidal, Akhil (22 November 2021). "Boon for Indian industries waiting in wings of LCA Mark II". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 22 November 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ "MWF Tejas Mk-2 will feature " Semi Stealth " Air frame".
  14. ^ "Tejas Mk-II: India may avail consultancy from European manufacturers who bid for MMRCA deal". The Economic Times. Press Trust of India. 11 July 2018.
  15. ^ "LCA Tejas to level up with on-board oxygen system by early 2020, says DRDO". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  16. ^ "DIAT system soon to monitor in-flight health of Tejas Mk-II - Indian Express". archive.indianexpress.com. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  17. ^ Tauro, Caron Natasha (20 February 2019). "Aero India 2019: ADA unveils Tejas AF Mk 2 Medium Weight Fighter". Jane's Defence Weekly. Bangalore. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019.
  18. ^ "The Tejas Mark 2 fighter has been bulked up into medium fighter category".
  19. ^ a b Krishnan M, Anantha (3 February 2020). "India's Medium Weight Fighter set to fly into detail design phase". OnManorama. Retrieved 3 February 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ "'Make in India' Software Defined Radio: 'Mother' of all solutions for tactical communications of armed forces".
  21. ^ ADA Annual report 2015-16 (PDF) (Report).
  22. ^ "MWF-MK2 will feature Next Generation Wide Area Display (WAD)".
  23. ^ Sharma, Ravi. "Kaveri engine programme delinked from the Tejas." The Hindu, (Chennai, India), 27 September 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  24. ^ "GE F414 Engines Selected to Power India Light Combat Aircraft Program | GE News". www.ge.com.
  25. ^ Shukla, Ajai. "American engine to power LCA." Bharat-Rakshak.com, 1 October 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2012. Archived 11 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  26. ^ "India picks GE's F414 for Tejas MkII fighter." Flight International, 1 October 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2012. Archived 9 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ "F414 turbofan engines specification" (PDF).
  28. ^ a b Jha, Manish Kumar (11 March 2021). "DRDO's Light Tank Will Be Power Pack As "The Highest Altitude Operable Tank In The Globe": G. Satheesh Reddy, Chairman DRDO". BW BusinessWorld. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  29. ^ a b "Tejas done, focus on three other fighter jets: two for IAF, one Navy". The Indian EXPRESS. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  30. ^ "India's Medium Weight Fighter Set To Fly Into Detail Design Phase".
  31. ^ Sagar, Pradip R (5 January 2021). "20 years since LCA Tejas's first flight: What's next for India's indigenous fighter programme?". The Week. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  32. ^ "Tejas Mk2Light Combat Aircraft". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  33. ^ Shukla, Ajai (30 December 2021). "Here's how Tejas Mark 2 is evolving into a bigger, powerful fighter". Business Standard India. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  34. ^ Peri, Dinakar (12 September 2021). "LCA-Mk2 to roll out next year, first flight in 2023, says scientist". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  35. ^ "F414turbofan engines" (PDF). GE Aviation. General Electric. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  36. ^ "DRDO-Rolls Royce engine deal in next two years, talks on feasibility studies". INDIAN DEFENCE RESEARCH WING. 3 March 2021.
  37. ^ "LCA-AF Mk2 might ditch internal Gun for a Podded Gun". INDIAN DEFENCE RESEARCH WING. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  38. ^ "Tracking The Tejas: How The Tejas Mk2 Design Became The Medium Weight Fighter". Delhi Defence Review. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  39. ^ https://defenceupdate.in/mwf-tejas-tejas-mk2-mwf-will-important/
  40. ^ "HAL Plans to Certify Astra Mk1 and ASRAAM Air to Air Missile". Eletimes. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  41. ^ M, Tushar (19 August 2021). "Bharat Dynamics, MBDA missiles deal to help indigenous programs in India". Global Data. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  42. ^ "BrahMos to make a generational leap, become lighter, faster and more lethal supersonic cruise missile". ZEENEWS. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  43. ^ Krishnan M, Anantha. "Inspiring ADA; LCAAFMk2 will roll out by August 2022: Dr Madhusudana Rao". YouTube. Tarmak. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  44. ^ Krishnan M, Anantha. "Inspiring ADA; LCAAFMk2 will roll out by August 2022: Dr Madhusudana Rao". YouTube. Tarmak. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  45. ^ a b "Tejas Mark II to have ability to conduct Balakot-like operations". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  46. ^ "New Improved Uttam AESA Mk2". Alpha Defence. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  47. ^ "What we Know of Growing Uttam AESA Radar family". INDIAN DEFENCE RESEARCH WING. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  48. ^ Chopra (Retd), AM Anil. "Electronic Warfare -Trends – Time For India to Become Atamnirbhar". Air Power Asia. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  49. ^ "Dual Colour Missile Approach Warning System for Fighter Aircraft". DRDO. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  50. ^ "Tejas fighter to get indigenous Laser Designator Pod to target the enemy". Zee News. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  51. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: How A Secretive DRDO Lab Is Saving The IAF Su-30MKI". Livefist. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2021.

Bibliography

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