Light Combat Aircraft
| HAL Tejas
|
|
|
| Description
|
| Role | Prototype multi-role tactical fighter
|
| Crew | one, pilot
|
| First Flight | January 4, 2001
|
| Manufacturer | Hindustan Aeronautics Limited ( HAL )
|
| Dimensions
|
| Length | 13.20 m | 14 ft 4 in
|
| Wingspan | 8.20 m | 26 ft 11 in
|
| Height | 4.40 m | 14 ft 5 in
|
| Wing area | 38.40 m² | 413 ft²
|
| Weights
|
| Empty | 5,500 kg | 12,125 lb
|
| Loaded | 8,500 kg | 18,739 lb
|
| Maximum takeoff | kg | lb
|
| Powerplant
|
| Engines | 1x General Electric F404-F2J3 turbofan
|
| Thrust | 80.50 kN | 18,100 lb
|
| Performance
|
| Maximum speed | 1,920 km/h | 1,195 mph
|
| Range | 850 km | 531 miles
|
| Service ceiling | 15,250 m | 50,000 ft
|
| Rate of climb | m/min | ft/min
|
| Wing loading | 221.4 kg/m² | 45.35 lb/ft²
|
| Thrust/Weight | 1.04
|
| Avionics
|
| Avionics |
|
| Armament
|
| Guns | 1x 23 mm GSh-23 cannon
|
| Other | seven external stations
|
The H.A.L. Tejas (Sanskrit: "Radiance") is a fighter aircraft currently under development for the Indian Air Force.
In 1983, India commenced a programme to develop an aircraft to replace its aging Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s as the Air Force's primary multi-role tactical fighter. Initially simply dubbed the Light Combat Aircraft, the design was finalised in 1990 as a small, delta-winged machine. The sophisticated avionics specified caused some concern almost immediately, as a government commission expressed doubt that India possessed sufficient technological infrastructure to support such an ambitious project. Two technology demonstrators were ordered as proof of concept before full support was given to the design.
These two aircraft were completed by 1995, but were kept grounded due to structural concerns, and trouble with the development of the flight control system. Eventually, US firm Lockheed Martin was brought in to consult on the latter of these difficulties, but their involvement was terminated in 1998 as part of a US response to India's continued nuclear testing programme. The same US ban led General Electric to suspend delivery of the F404 engines that were to power the aircraft.
Eventually, the flight control issues were resolved, and a programme was launched to develop an indigenous powerplant (the GTRE GTX-35VS) to replace the F404 once the aircraft entered mass production. The first technology demonstrator flew with its American engine on January 4 2001. The aircraft was first publicly displayed on June 24 2004, at which time Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee bestowed the aircraft's name.
The aircraft is expected to enter full production by 2006 and service in 2010. India hopes to develop an export market for the fighter.
History
Time Line
Variants
- TD-1 (Technology Demonstrator-1)
- TD-2 (Technology Demonstrator-2)
- PV-1 (Prototype Vehicle-1)
- PV-2 (Prototype Vehicle-2)
- Naval Tejas
