The TEJAS MK-2, also referred to as Medium Weight Fighter (MWF), is a 4.5 technology indigenous Indian multi-role fight plane developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Restricted (HAL) in collaboration with the Defence Analysis and Improvement Organisation (DRDO) and the Aeronautical Improvement Company (ADA).
Designed to switch a number of older strike fighters within the Indian Air Power (IAF) just like the SEPECAT Jaguar, Mirage 2000, and MiG-29, the TEJAS MK-2 incorporates a big quantity of indigenous expertise, with preliminary indigenous content material round 82% anticipated to extend past 90% after engine manufacturing licensing. The plane is deliberate to be rolled out by 2025 and enter mass manufacturing by 2029.
A key side of the TEJAS MK-2 is its configuration to hold a flexible and superior suite of indigenous weapons, boosting India’s self-reliance in defence capabilities. Distinguished on this arsenal are the DRDO-developed Astra household of beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missiles, together with variants like Astra MK-1 (with a spread over 100 km), Astra MK-2 (130-160 km vary), and the upcoming Astra MK-3 (Gandiva) with an prolonged vary round 340 km. These guarantee formidable stand-off aerial engagement capabilities which might be important for air superiority.
Six key Made-in-India applied sciences built-in into the TEJAS MK-2 embrace:
1. Uttam AESA Radar: Developed by DRDO’s Electronics and Radar Improvement Institution (LRDE), the Uttam Energetic Electronically Scanned Array radar gives superior multi-target monitoring, digital warfare integration, and beyond-visual-range engagement functionality. It reduces dependence on imported radar programs and is at present in flight trials as of 2025.
2. Indigenous Mission Pc: HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Restricted) and DRDO have collectively developed an open-architecture mission pc for the TEJAS MK-2. This technique integrates sensor fusion, weapon management, and navigation functionalities, enabling seamless upgrades with out international dependencies.
3. Digital Warfare Suite: Designed by DRDO’s Defence Avionics Analysis Institution, this digital warfare (EW) suite gives radar warning, menace jamming, and countermeasure deployment. It enhances survivability in hostile environments and is totally built-in with the plane’s sensors.
4. Fly-By-Wire Flight Management System: The MK-2 is supplied with an Indian-developed digital quadruplex fly-by-wire system. It gives enhanced dealing with at excessive angles of assault, higher stability throughout fight manoeuvres, and a number of redundancies for security, reflecting India’s superior avionics functionality.
5. Indigenous Cockpit Show Techniques: HAL and Bharat Electronics Restricted (BEL) have developed wide-area multifunction cockpit shows for a glass cockpit interface. These shows enhance situational consciousness and are appropriate with helmet-mounted shows, facilitating pilot entry to essential mission information.
6. Indian Sensible Weapons Integration: The TEJAS MK-2 is configured to hold indigenous armaments such because the Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, Sensible Anti-Airfield Weapons (SAAW), and laser-guided bombs developed by DRDO. This integration helps a completely Indian weapons bundle, lowering reliance on imported munitions.
Extra notable options and developments embrace the usage of the extra highly effective Normal Electrical F414-INS6 engine for the MK-2, and plans to switch it will definitely with the indigenous Kaveri jet engine variant, aiming for even higher self-reliance.
These applied sciences collectively improve the fight capabilities, survivability, and operational flexibility of the TEJAS MK-2, positioning it as a big development over the unique TEJAS, with about 82% indigenous content material at introduction, anticipated to rise above 90% in later manufacturing.
The TEJAS MK-2 is slated for prototype rollout by late 2025 and first flight in 2026, aiming for mass manufacturing and induction into the Indian Air Power by 2028-29.
The mixing of those six key Made-in-India programs underscores the strategic thrust on indigenisation in India’s aerospace and defence sectors by way of the TEJAS MK-2 program.
Primarily based On WION Report
