Air Force Tejas Mk1: News & Discussions: 02 January 2022

[Tanaji]

Dubai Tejas crash revives focus on advanced, fully automated safety systems
https://theprint.in/defence/dubai-tejas ... s/2801756/
09 Dec 2025

Dubai airshow crash & pilot death have rekindled concerns over pilot safety, and need for smarter automated systems that can step in when G-forces, temporary loss of consciousness hit the pilot.

Do they not know that during airshows and acrobatics, these exact type of things are turned off? Stunt shows are precisely that because man and machine are taken beyond their limits and to do so these will get turned off….

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/BLACKTIGER1612/status/199 ... 94310?s=20 ----> So after so much waiting we're finally testing DRDO's indigenous Advanced Self Protection Jammer (ASPJ) pods on Limited series production (LSP) version of Tejas. Credit : @Praneethfrank

[Rakesh]

^^^ https://x.com/DefenceDecode/status/1999 ... 41240?s=20 ----> Recent of LCA Tejas LSP-3, with DRDO's Advanced Self Protection Jammer (ASPJ). Unlike frontline Mk-1 aircraft, LSP-3 is dedicated to flying experimental sensors, pushing new EW algorithms, and validating critical power, cooling, and EMI/EMC margins.

Tweets below are dated 06 Feb 2021....

https://x.com/DefenceDecode/status/1358 ... 21504?s=20 ---> Advanced Self Protection Jamming Pod (ASPJ ) by the DRDO's Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE).

It uses 16 element active array T/R unit
Air-cooled system
8 prototypes manufactured
Soon to begin testing with the IAF

AATRU can change the angular direction of its radiation pattern electronically by imposing a suitable phase shift among the radiating elements using phase shifter in each T/R Module.



https://x.com/DefenceDecode/status/1358 ... 94948?s=20 ---> And the second pod is a Dual-Colour Missile Approach Warning System for the SU-30MKI. Its a modified HADF pod. Designed to protect aircraft from surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. The spectral info of 2-colours is used to discriminate efficiently b/w sunlight reflections, BG radiation and radiation from missiles.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/alpha_defense/status/2000 ... 61988?s=20 ---> Tejas is no longer “just a base-based aircraft”

By conducting OPCON 2025 at AFS Naliya, a forward, near-border air base, the IAF has demonstrated that LCA Tejas can operate independently in a frontline environment with its own logistics, maintenance, mission planning, and command chains.

https://x.com/SWAC_IAF/status/2000902607095914542?s=20 ---> LCA Tejas OPCON 2025 was successfully conducted on 15 Dec 25 at Air Force Station Naliya. The conference was addressed by Chairman, AVM Kesavan Nair Harisankar, SMSO, HQ SWAC. Various stakeholders from across the country, along with LCA Tejas aircrew and engineers, participated in focused deliberations. Key agenda points, future upgrades, and advanced weapon integrations were discussed, reaffirming the collective resolve to evolve Tejas platform into a more capable and combat-dominant platform. The indigenous LCA Tejas has taken a major leap, operating independently in a forward environment, showcasing its capabilities and India's self-reliance in defence.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/Kunal_Biswas707/status/20 ... 26855?s=20 ---> Flashback: Rare photo of an Indian Air Force MiG-21 Bison and Tejas Mk1 flying in formation, highlighting how small the Tejas is compared to the MiG-21 Bison, given that this little bird is 70% composite.

[Rakesh]

25 Years On: My Recollections of The 1st Tejas Flight
https://www.livefistdefence.com/25-year ... as-flight/
25 Dec 2025

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/DefenceDecode/status/2005 ... 50301?s=20 ---> A Jaguar flies in formation with two Tejas aircraft.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/FighterPiloting/status/20 ... 93576?s=20 --->

[Manish_P]

^ Oh, wow.

Happy New Year

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/officialTatya_1/status/20 ... 43017?s=20 ---> LCA Tejas in the making. Only publicly spotted airframes are marked.

[ashthor]

lovely graphics...hope its updated every month...we can add engine delivered

[Cain Marko]

https://x.com/officialTatya_1/status/20 ... 43017?s=20 ---> LCA Tejas in the making. Only publicly spotted airframes are marked.

So almost one sqd of mk1 is ready. Wow! Have all the engines been delivered for these birds and integration of sensor suite/weapons completed?

[Cain Marko]

https://x.com/DefenceDecode/status/2005 ... 50301?s=20 ---> A Jaguar flies in formation with two Tejas aircraft.

Does the bird at the bottom have a chrome radome? Looks really shiny and cool.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/officialTatya_1/status/20 ... 43017?s=20 ---> LCA Tejas in the making. Only publicly spotted airframes are marked.

So almost one sqd of mk1 is ready. Wow! Have all the engines been delivered for these birds and integration of sensor suite/weapons completed?

Both Mk1 squadrons are up & running.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/DefenceDecode/status/2005 ... 50301?s=20 ---> A Jaguar flies in formation with two Tejas aircraft.

Does the bird at the bottom have a chrome radome? Looks really shiny and cool.

Not a chrome radome and similar to the bird at the top. The IFR probe on the bottom bird is playing visual tricks.

[bharathp]

So almost one sqd of mk1 is ready. Wow! Have all the engines been delivered for these birds and integration of sensor suite/weapons completed?

Both Mk1 squadrons are up & running.

i believe Cain MArko saar was implying almost one sqdn of mk1"A" is ready - showing the "testing" phase of close to 10 aircraft as per the visual of the Mk1A standard

[Rakesh]

The first Mk1A squadron is not ready. We have received a grand total of five GE F404 turbofans to date (Source: viewtopic.php?p=2667658#p2667658). Hopefully by the end of the financial year, at least 12 air frames can join No 3 Cobras Squadron, which is the first Mk1A unit. But at the drip feed rate, the F404 turbofans are coming...that is highly doubtful.

This is what happens when you have your own turbofan ---> viewtopic.php?p=2667989#p2667989

[Rakesh]

^^^ BTW, Govt's priority right now is to expedite the 114 MRFA contract by the end of the financial year. Our priorities!!!

We have reached a stage that the MRFA is now an absolute must.

[Cain Marko]

Both Mk1 squadrons are up & running.

i believe Cain MArko saar was implying almost one sqdn of mk1"A" is ready - showing the "testing" phase of close to 10 aircraft as per the visual of the Mk1A standard

Yes yes Bharatji. Bilkul. That's what I meant. Mk1a. That's a lot of airframes about to join the pack.

[Cain Marko]

The first Mk1A squadron is not ready. We have received a grand total of five GE F404 turbofans to date (Source: viewtopic.php?p=2667658#p2667658). Hopefully by the end of the financial year, at least 12 air frames can join No 3 Cobras Squadron, which is the first Mk1A unit. But at the drip feed rate, the F404 turbofans are coming...that is highly doubtful.

This is what happens when you have your own turbofan ---> viewtopic.php?p=2667989#p2667989

Damn. This is excruciating... drip water torture technique being applied.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/IAF_MCC/status/2007751728545083815?s=20 ---> On the 25th anniversary of Tejas LCA's historic first flight, IAF reflects on enduring partnership in building this fighter. Congratulations to ADA's innovative scientists, HAL's skilled engineers, brave IAF & IN test pilots/engineers, and all IAF personnel who've championed self-reliance. Sky is the limit!

[Rakesh]

VIDEO: https://x.com/ANI/status/2007757991697924425?s=20 ---> Bengaluru, Karnataka: The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) hosts a two-day national seminar, Tejas-25, to commemorate 25 years of the Tejas program and chart the future of Indian aviation toward 2047.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/AnchitGupta9/status/20077 ... 48175?s=20 ---> India celerates Tejas's first flight's 25 years. Worth remembering Wg Cdr Rajiv Kothiyal, the pilot who flew that sortie. Awarded Kirti Chakra the same day.

[Rakesh]

25 Years On: My Recollections of The 1st Tejas Flight
https://www.livefistdefence.com/25-year ... as-flight/
25 Dec 2025

[uddu]

We overcame many things. One was political class showing spine and trusting our scientists, engineers and pilots.
Book excerpt: In The Tejas Story, a retired air marshal chronicles his experiences of test flying the LCA jets
https://www.firstpost.com/india/in-the- ... 51021.html
The Raksha Mantri, George Fernandes, told us much later that on the day preceding the first flight, a foreign aerospace company had written to him warning him of catastrophic consequences, if he permitted the first flight to take place. Their view was that the FCS software had not been developed with adequate rigour and had not been validated properly.

[uddu]

Goosebumps reading those lines.

25 Years On: My Recollections of The 1st Tejas Flight
https://www.livefistdefence.com/25-year ... as-flight/
25 Dec 2025

My eyes stayed glued to the LCA as she began to roll—graceful, determined, all raw potential. Then, almost imperceptibly, the nose lifted, and she broke contact with the ground…..India was airborne again—on her own wings, at last.

For a moment, absolute silence enveloped the cockpit. Then came a rush of gratitude, relief, pride—and a kind of disbelief that all those years of drawings, arguments, and simulations had finally become a living, flying machine.

[SSridhar]

Remarkable, just plain remarkable !!
Salute to all those who believed and stayed the course.

[Haridas]

Time flies, it seems it only yesterday when we celebrated Tejas first flight.

Those were the days....

[sanjaykumar]

There have been three generations of aircraft on the last 25 yrs.

It is disconcerting.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/zone5aviation/status/2007 ... 63098?s=20 ---> Happy 25th to this little guy!

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/Sukhwinder104/status/2007 ... 99862?s=20 ---> On this very day in the year 2001, The Tejas took to the sky for the first time. 25 years later, this jet has been developed into a word class light weight 4.5 generation fighter featuring an AESA radar, NCW (Network Centric Warfare) capability and integration of long range weapons. Here is to our homeboy.

[Rakesh]

VIDEO: https://x.com/ShiroBarks/status/2007980 ... 89681?s=20 ---> Tejas Full Mission Simulator facility at the ADE, another one at AFS, Sulur. Simulators let pilots practice thousands of malfunctions like fly-by-wire sensor or actuator failures. The team is currently working on simulators for Tejas Mk1A, Mk2, AMCA. Video courtesy of Tarmak Media House on YT.