Better Late Than Never?
Tejas continues to fall behind revised schedules, causing inconvenience to the IAF and the Navy
By Atul Chandra
FORCE May 2013
The long delayed Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) achieved a milestone in March, when the last Limited Series Production aircraft (LSP-8) took to the air. The maiden flight of LSP-8 was of particular significance as it is supposed to be in almost the exact configuration as that of Series Production (SP) Tejas fighters. LSP-8 aircraft along with LSP-7 will now be used by the Indian Air Force for User Evaluation Trials (UET).
Surprisingly, LSP aircraft will remain as only a test aircraft with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the SP aircraft (now just a year away) still seeing changes. LSP-8 is the 13 Tejas aircraft to take to the air in 12 years! On another note, the Mig-21 which the Tejas was designed to replace celebrated 50 years of service in the IAF last month!
Defence minister A.K. Antony has already expressed his displeasure with delays in the Tejas programme and stating that the date for Final Operational Clearance (FOC) must not be extended beyond 2014. Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne has already said that with the maximum drawdown of IAF combat squadrons taking place in the 12th plan (2012-2017), it was of critical importance that two squadrons of Tejas be inducted (to maintain force levels at 34 squadrons). At present six squadrons of the LCA are scheduled to be inducted by the end of the 13th plan. The first four aircraft for the IAF were to have been ready by end 2011 and will now happen only by next year.
Orders for 20 Tejas fighters in Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) configuration and another of 20 in FOC configuration have been placed by the IAF. IOC-2 would be attained by next month (according to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited chief R.K. Tyagi). It is also looking to ramp up production capabilities from eight to 16 aircraft per year. IOC-1 was granted in January 2011, with a reluctant IAF agreeing to a number of concessions at the time. Wake Penetration Tests (verification of the robustness of Air Data System, Air Data Transducers and FCS against wake of another aircraft), all weather clearance which required lightening tests all had to be completed among many other parameters.
IOC configured LCA's will have capability to carry the R-73 Close Combat Missile (CCM) integrated with Elbit Systems DASH-3 Helmet Mounted Display Sight (HMDS). It will also be able to carry a LITENING target designator pod enabling Precision Guided Munitions (PGM) to be dropped. In FOC configuration, Tejas will have the Israeli, Rafael Derby Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile (BVRAAM) and the Rafael Python 5 Infra Red (IR) Close Combat Missile (CCM) as its primary air-to-air armament. Both missiles will also be carried on the Tejas Navy (Indian Navy already uses the Derby on Sea Harrier LUSH fighters). Tejas will also be fitted with the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) developed Astra BVRAAM. DRDO has declared 2013 as 'Astra Year' and will move on to the all important flight trials. Reports suggest that at least eight flight tests will be conducted this year and IAF user trials are slated for next year. The Astra will offer Off-Bore-Sight launch capability of up to 45 degrees.
The maximum delay will be faced by the Indian Navy (IN), adding insult to its injury. It was the IN which committed funds (approximately Rs 400 crore for the development phase) in 2003 for the navy variant at a time when the IAF had not invested even a single rupee on the programme for its Mig-21 replacement! The IN wanted the LCA Navy to obtain IOC by 2014, this is nowhere in sight and NP-2 is still to fly. Once orders are placed for the Navy LSP aircraft it will take HAL a lead time of three years to begin production. From the Mk-1 version to the MK-2 for the LCA Navy it is expected to take a decade. Developmental testing for the Mk-1 variant alone is expected to take at least till 2018 (for FOC). Another concern is the small number of aircraft available for test flying, while the IAF has 13 (including LSP versions), the Navy will have only two prototypes available. The IN has a stated goal of being a 'Builders Navy' and remains the most committed among the three Services to indigenisation, reflected in their backing and commitment to the LCA Navy (in spite of slippages). However, the solution for the IN if insurmountable delays crop up would be to go in for an imported and very expensive option, the Rafale!
Maintaining timelines has not been a strong point of the LCA programme
Status
Scheduled
Realistic
Induction of Tejas Series Production Aircraft
July 2011
2014
Completion of Full Scale Engineering
Development (FSED) Phase-II of LCA
December 2008
2015
FOC for Tejas Mk-1 Variant
2012
2015
FOC for Tejas trainer variant
2011
2016
Delivery of all 40 Tejas Mk-1 aircraft to IAF
2015
2020
Tejas Mk-2 first flight
December 2014
2017
Tejas Mk-2 Series Production
June 2016
2021-2022
LCA Mk-1 Navy IOC
2014
2016
LCA Mk-2 Navy IOC
NA
2021