The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in India has recently cleared a deal worth Rs. 48,000 crore for the acquisition of 83 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft for the Indian Air Force. This move comes as part of a continuous effort to bolster national security and defense preparedness.
The Breakdown of the Acquisition
The aircraft purchased under this contract are broken down into two categories. The deal includes 73 LCA Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircraft and 10 LCA Tejas Mk-1 trainer aircraft. The Mk-1A variant is an advanced version of the Mk-1 and comes equipped with an electronic warfare system, advanced electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, beyond visual range (BVR) missiles and a network warfare system that includes software defined radio (SDR).
About the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)
The CCS is chaired by the Prime Minister of India. It handles major decisions related to appointments of significance, national security issues, and defense expenditure in India.
The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Programme
The Government of India initiated the LCA programme in 1984, leading to the establishment of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) to manage it. The intention behind the LCA programme was to replace the ageing Mig 21 fighter planes.
Design and Manufacturing of the Tejas Aircraft
The ADA, under the Department of Defence Research and Development, is responsible for designing the Tejas Aircraft. The state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) oversees its manufacturing process.
Unique Features of the Tejas Aircraft
Tejas Aircraft stands out as the lightest, smallest and tailless multi-role supersonic fighter aircraft in its class. It is designed to carry a variety of air-to-air, air-to-surface, and precision-guided weapons. It also has an air-to-air refuelling capability and a maximum payload capacity of 4000 kg. The aircraft can reach a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 and has a range of 3,000km.
Variants of the Tejas Aircraft
The Tejas Aircraft comes in different variants to suit various needs. The Tejas Trainer is a 2-seater operational conversion trainer used for training Air Force pilots. The LCA Navy is a twin- and single-seat carrier-capable variant for the Indian Navy. The LCA Tejas Navy MK2 is phase 2 of the LCA Navy variant. The LCA Tejas Mk-1A is an advancement over the LCA Tejas MK1, boasting a higher thrust engine.
