Air Force Tejas Mk1A: News & Discussions: 02 January 2022

[basant]

Tejas Mk1A flew! Piloted by Chief Test Pilot KK VenuGopal.
Source: Anathakrishna via Twitter

Check here for a Twitter video.

[ashishvikas]

The first Aircraft LA5033 of the Tejas Mk1A Aircraft series took to the skies from HAL facility in Bengaluru today. It was a successful sortie with a flying time of 18 minutes.

HAL achieved this significant production milestone with concurrent design & development amid major supply chain challenges in the global geo-political environment subsequent to the contract signature in February 2021.
The flight was piloted by CTP, Gp Capt K K Venugopal (Retd).

https://twitter.com/HALHQBLR/status/177 ... lK-DA&s=19

[Cyrano]

Congrats IAF, HAL, ADA, NAL, private sector participants and everyone involved.
Touching the sky with glory all !

[Dilbu]

Congratulations to the team.

[srai]

Quite a few minor changes on Mk1A. Now we need people to point out all the differences!

https://twitter.com/Defencematrix1/stat ... 5306786928 --->

[Kartik]

So it's finally happened! A huge day, given how the Tejas Mk1A is going to be the workhorse of the IAF combat fleet for the next 40 years.

A huge congratulations to all those who were/are involved with the Tejas Mk1A program!

[Rakesh]

Congratulations to all involved. Page one has been updated!

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/writetake/status/1773029191254180091?s=20 ---> Good news folks! Finally, Tejas Mk1A production aircraft underwent LSTT (Low Speed Taxi Trials) followed by HSTT (High Speed Taxi Trials) today. If everything goes fine tomorrow and the certifying agencies are confident, LA-5033 *SHOULD* undertake the first flight *TOMORROW*. Today's flight was piloted by the ever-inspiring HAL Chief Test Pilot (FW) Group Captain KK Venugopal (retd). Wishing the very best to Team Tejas.

https://x.com/zone5aviation/status/1773 ... 74176?s=20 ---> Nice to see Rafael BNET datalink will be standard from day one. The only other significant OML change is the relocation of the forward RWRs from the tail fin to the wingtips, a la Mirage 2000 and MiG-29UPG.

https://x.com/writetake/status/1773029191254180091?s=20 ---> Good news folks! Finally, Tejas Mk1A production aircraft underwent LSTT (Low Speed Taxi Trials) followed by HSTT (High Speed Taxi Trials) today. If everything goes fine tomorrow and the certifying agencies are confident, LA-5033 *SHOULD* undertake the first flight *TOMORROW*. Today's flight was piloted by the ever-inspiring HAL Chief Test Pilot (FW) Group Captain KK Venugopal (retd). Wishing the very best to Team Tejas.

https://x.com/writetake/status/1773222238738907633?s=20 ---> Namaste

Inputs flying in from Bengaluru from trustworthy sources confirm that preparations are in full swing for the maiden flight of the Tejas Mk1A at HAL Airport. As I shape this tweet, the advanced LCA fighter (LA-5033) is undergoing last-minute checks for its planned first flight scheduled between 11:00 - 11:30 a.m. today. The aircraft will taxi out from the hangars of HAL's Aircraft Division, one of the oldest and most historic plane homes in the world.

Here's wishing the entire Tejas teams from ADA, HAL, NAL, DRDO, CEMILAC, etc for an inspiring first flight. Let's hope & pray for a very safe and smooth outing for #HamaraTejas. I will be undergoing an advanced Ayurveda session at a hospital in Kochi during this time & in case I miss the next update, don't hang me. After all, Tejas flies in my heart! Jai Hind!

https://x.com/writetake/status/1773236974486237245?s=20 ---> This is perhaps the first ever military update being typed by an Ayurveda therapist. And, he is on Cloud Nine, when I explained to him about the purpose of this tweet. So folks, the first flight has been delayed and now rescheduled between 12:30 to 12:45 p.m.

^^^ Vintage Anantha! Got his Ayurveda therapist to type the Tejas tweet!

https://x.com/writetake/status/1773253714419040264?s=20 ---> #TejasMk1A. On the Tarmak007! Ready for take off.

- Therapist Ajin

[Rakesh]

Admiral, I do not have details and have to dig again, but I remember that there were 3 a/c, one FOC and two LSPs. I will try to find sources again.

I found the details. Page 1 has been updated. Please check Saar and let me know if anything seems amiss.

[Nikhil_Naya]

Sitting in a Starbucks when this news pops up - I LEGIT start clapping and punch the air saying YES. The staff knows me and one of the guys comes and says congratulations, aap khush lag rahe (I had tears in my eyes for some reason, this starbucks has hay inside maybe)...he said aap bahut khush hai sir, I said yes...how to explain this.

God Speed Tejas!

and GOD BLESS Anantha garu...

Wheels up on the first flight - shows the confidence the team has!

[Rakesh]

and GOD BLESS Anantha garu...

+108!

https://x.com/writetake/status/1773284186939375981?s=20 ---> Here it is. Tejas Mk1A on its maiden flight. 17:54 minutes of flight to be precise, claims a source who witnessed the historic event.

https://x.com/writetake/status/1773261870943842698?s=20 ---> Successfully took off around 1310 hours and gracefully landed just now. Congrats to all. Cheers to Tejas fans across the globe. Time to celebrate. Jai Hind!

Wheels up on the first flight - shows the confidence the team has!

If there is no picture, some will not believe it There will be critics even for this picture.

https://x.com/livefist/status/1773273046419181988?s=20 --->

[ashishvikas]

https://x.com/hvtiaf_bharat/status/1773 ... 68978?s=20 ---> Keeping the Flying High. Tejas Mk-1A - Indian Multirole Fighter.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/hvtiaf_bharat/status/1773 ... 68978?s=20 ---> Keeping the Flying High. Tejas Mk-1A - Indian Multirole Fighter.

That is a desktop wallpaper shot!

India's very own AESA equipped single seat fighter. A wonderful day for the country!

@Ashish Saar: I edited your post above to include the larger sized picture and the link.

[Rakesh]

Improved Tejas Mk1A Is Finally In The Air
https://www.livefistdefence.com/improve ... n-the-air/
24 March 2024

[Rakesh]

Video of LA-5033 coming into land, after her 18 minute sortie...

VIDEO: https://x.com/ReviewVayu/status/1773288 ... 29722?s=20

[Rakesh]

^^ is it just me or do we see a bulge in the canopy. there was paper linked abt it on the forum but not sure if it made it to mk1A

https://x.com/_devildog_rv_/status/1773 ... 08568?s=20 --->
New photo by @Praneethfrank gives us a clear look at distinctive features of LCA Tejas Mk1A:

(Comparison with LCA Mk1 attached)

[Rakesh]

Posted by Saurav Jha, after the first flight of LA-5033.

If you don't know the answer to the numbers below, a google search will help

https://x.com/SJha1618/status/1773283439996797189?s=20 ---> 220 + 201 + 272 + 189 = 882

https://x.com/sriramthg/status/1773287374002221480?s=20 ---> An almost all-Indian fleet. Now divide the total by 20

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/AdithyaKM_/status/1773344 ... 64030?s=20 ----> Delivery of the first Tejas Mk1A has been delayed:

- Overall schedule will also be impacted due to “unavoidable reasons”
- At least four month delay (?)
- Small, critical part from a European firm delayed due to the war

No alternative to Aatmanirbharta...

Tejas Mk1A carries out maiden flight but delivery to IAF delayed. Here’s why
https://theprint.in/defence/tejas-mk-1a ... y/2018740/
28 March 2024

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/DefenceDecode/status/1773 ... 79185?s=20 ---> Tejas Mk1A

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/vishwak/status/1773323721542885385?s=20 ---> Today was the glorious for day #avgeeks to see the Tejas Mk1A conduct its maiden flight.

[bala]

https://x.com/hvtiaf_bharat/status/1773 ... 68978?s=20 ---> Keeping the Flying High. Tejas Mk-1A - Indian Multirole Fighter.

That is an awesome picture of the Tejas - Clean, good looks, well painted, good fit and finish. Ready for export to many nations that need a good, light, capable, state of the art fighter. Bharat has come a long way.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/Duorope/status/1773350993503142326?s=20 ---> Another shot of Mk1A by @vishwak

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/writetake/status/1773371787432141180?s=20 ---> Tejas Mk1A through the eyes of super-talented shutterbug Hari.

[Cybaru]

Posted by Saurav Jha, after the first flight of LA-5033.

If you don't know the answer to the numbers below, a google search will help

https://x.com/SJha1618/status/1773283439996797189?s=20 ---> 220 + 201 + 272 + 189 = 882

https://x.com/sriramthg/status/1773287374002221480?s=20 ---> An almost all-Indian fleet. Now divide the total by 20

201 is Mk2
and 189 is AMCA right?

[Cybaru]

https://x.com/DefenceDecode/status/1773 ... 79185?s=20 ---> Tejas Mk1A

Wow, that's a lot of new stuff or changed stuff!
Looking forward to reading more about these changes in the coming weeks. Hopefully HVT/TarmaK/Sjha can shed more light.

[srai]

Triple AAI doors on the air ingest, does it mean higher AoA capability?

[srai]

Those 3 slats on the air intake are also on the Tejas Navy

[konaseema]

Are there any enhancements and / or indigenization of foreign LRU's, that can be done to the Tejas Mk1A in the next 3 years and can be included as part of the next set of 97 aircrafts and be called as Mk1B? What can be the new features as part of the Tejas Product backlog?

[basant]

If there is a Mk1B, let it be with Uttam only. Changing specs for every other squadron hurts manufacturing pace and destabilizes supply chain.

[Rakesh]

Those 3 slats on the air intake are also on the Tejas Navy

Saar, where is the link for the picture???

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/GODOFPARADOXES/status/177 ... 63103?s=20 ---> One of the requirements of LCA-Mk1A was ease of maintenance. Note the new quick access panels dotted throughout the bottom section of the fuselage.

https://x.com/NoVoteToTMC/status/177331 ... 77636?s=20 ---> New fast clips for easy access for maintenance.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/_devildog_rv_/status/1773 ... 09685?s=20 --->

LCA Mk1 Photo by @jai_jaggi
LCA Mk1A Photo by @hari_hawker

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/hvtiaf_bharat/status/1773 ... 58307?s=20 ---> Generic terminology of the program, i.e. Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) was used during the Full-Scale Engineering Development stages (FSED). The Indian Multirole Fighter is simply called by its given name, i.e. TEJAS MARK-1A in official reportage.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/vishwak/status/1773323721542885385?s=20 ---> Today was the glorious for day #avgeeks to see the HAL Tejas Mk1A conduct its maiden flight.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/ShivAroor/status/1773376973793816763?s=20 ---> Here’s my full show today in the first flight of the Tejas Mk1A — and why, even with challenges, this opens up new vistas in self-reliance. @zone5aviation and a Tejas Test Pilot, Group Captain Narayanan Deepak joined me live:

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/DefenceDecode/status/1773 ... 44204?s=20 ---> EW Suite for LCA Mk1A (Swayam Raksha Kavach). The EW suite consists of state of the art RWR and Advanced Self-Protection Jammer (ASPJ). The RWR contains 4 channel wide band receivers and provides improved probability of detection and direction finding accuracy both for airbome and ground based radars. Limited ground and airborne emitters sorties for RWR +ASPJ configuration on LCA-LSP platform is under progress.

[srai]

^^^
Which of the two (left or right diagram) in that poster is on Tejas Mk1A?

Or is it partial of the left?

[Rakesh]

^^^
Which of the two (left or right diagram) in that poster is on Tejas Mk1A?

Or is it partial of the left?

viewtopic.php?p=2616207#p2616207

[ashishvikas]

Great picture by @Praneethfrank.

Cleanest view of LCA MK1A underbelly!

https://twitter.com/Rethik_D/status/177 ... HjxeQ&s=19

[VishnuS]

Any update on the weight reduction of MK1A!? There were also few LRUs that were getting worn out frequently in MK1, any update on them!?

PS. It would be great if Indranil ji writes another article about the Tejas MK1A or revision his old article (only if there are any changes)