- By Soumyaroop Mukherjee
- Fri, 26 Sep 2025 05:47 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Tejas MK1A Fighter Jet Features: With the decommissioning of the MiG-21, the Indian Air Force is all set to overhaul its ageing fleet with the indigenously manufactured Generation 4.5 Tejas LCA Mk1A. The Ministry of Defence on Thursday inked a new deal worth Rs 62,370 crore with the state-owned PSU, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), for the procurement of 97 additional Tejas LCA aircraft.
Under the new deal, 68 fighters and 29 twin-seaters will be procured by the Indian Air Force. The delivery of these aircraft would commence during 2027-28 and be completed over a period of six years. It is the second such contract awarded to the state-run aerospace behemoth. In February 2021, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas MK-1A jets for the IAF.
Who Developed the Tejas LCA Mk1A?
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) led the design and development of the aircraft under the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme.
- Industrial design of the same was led by the defence PSU, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
- However, the engine of the aircraft is made by the American company, GE Electronics. The Ministry is trying to indigenously manufacture the Tejas engine within the country.
When Will The First Squadron Be Inducted In The IAF?
- The first squadron has already been inducted into the Indian Air Force.
- The squadron is called Flaying Daggers, numbered 45.
What Are The Features Of LCA Tejas?
A Gen-4.5 aircraft, the Tejas comes equipped with the following features:
- Tejas is an omnirole lightweight aircraft with a cumulative weight of 6,560 kg, thereby making it adept to take off from shorter runways. There are two variants of the Tejas: the Twin-seater (trainer) and the single-seater (operations).
- The Tejas comes equipped with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar (Israeli Elta EL/M-2052 model), which helps it in superior target tracking and engagement capabilities. The new squadron of Tejas will come out with an indigenous design Uttam AESA radars.
- The Tejas is powered by the GE F404-GE-IN20 turbofan engine, which gives it a Mach 1.8 speed and a range of over 3,000 km. It can also perform high-g manoeuvres with vertical takeoffs and landings like a helicopter.
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- The fighter aircraft comes loaded with surface-to-air, air-to-air, precision-guided missiles, along with a 23 mm twin-barrel cannon.
- The Tejas comes with modern avionics like a digital cockpit, fly-by-wire controls, and an integrated system that gives pilots better awareness and helps them make quick decisions.
- With a composite structure, radar-absorbing materials and a reduced radar cross-section area, the Tejas comes loaded with several new stealth features that make it difficult to detect by radar.