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

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 06 Feb 2025 21:57

I can only imagine the rona-dhona that would occur if General Electric was French or Russian.

https://x.com/rajatpTOI/status/1887340145827062054 ---> With General Electric promising revised delivery of GE-F404 turbofan engines for Tejas jets from March onwards, India plans to progressively crank up production of the much-delayed indigenous light combat aircraft and stem the rapid depletion of fighter squadrons in the IAF.

hemant_sai · Post by **hemant_sai** » 07 Feb 2025 00:38

Should India take any system from US which is controlled by software?
If military leadership is aware of the situation, why they can't keep PM and RM informed on this.
Software on military hardware from US which is complete black-box should be avoided. Especially fighter planes and engines too.

S_Madhukar · Post by **S_Madhukar** » 07 Feb 2025 02:53

A Deshmukh wrote: ↑28 Jan 2025 14:48 ALH is grounded after the recent CG ALH crash.
LCA is single engined aircraft and usually does not fly in RD parades.

I too was a bit disappointed not to see Tejas on Republic day specially when we had such a clear blue sky that day… recently saw a Korean fly past in downtown Seoul with F16s … problem must be with our urban environment with birds and waste sites apart from pollution…

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 07 Feb 2025 08:36

The rules were put when our single engine Aircraft were Mig 21s mainly, ALH if we replace the connecting rod with steel alloy instead of Aluminum alloy should be up and running

uddu · Post by **uddu** » 09 Feb 2025 19:08

MoD Note: Please do not post pictures without providing a link. Please repost the picture with a link.

uddu · Post by **uddu** » 09 Feb 2025 19:12

Aditya_V wrote: ↑07 Feb 2025 08:36 The rules were put when our single engine Aircraft were Mig 21s mainly, ALH if we replace the connecting rod with steel alloy instead of Aluminum alloy should be up and running

That issue was sorted last time. This one is a new one.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-ne ... 06920.html
Bengaluru, found that the device that malfunctioned compromised the ability of the pilots to control the helicopter’s motion, said the first official. It is most likely the swashplate assembly in the ALH’s transmission system, HT has learnt.

konaseema · Post by **konaseema** » 09 Feb 2025 20:50

uddu wrote: ↑09 Feb 2025 19:08 ...

Interesting to see new trainers labeled as Mk1A Trainer. I thought even the 10 ordered as part of the order for 83 (73 + 10) Mk1A's were Mk1 standard trainers.

ashishvikas · Post by **ashishvikas** » 09 Feb 2025 21:43

https://x.com/cvkrishnan/status/1888592 ... Zptsg&s=19 ---> All 7 on display! Looks like HAL wanted to prove a point!

https://x.com/Ray70409890/status/188859 ... wj5Ew&s=19 ---> Brand new Tejas mk1A and trainers at the Tejas complex of HAL. LA-5037, the 5th Tejas Mk1A is seen in the left bottom corner. LT-5207, the 7th trainer from the 20+20 ioc foc batch is seen in the right bottom corner. 1 Trainer, 1 Mk1A in primer can be seen in the hangars.

From official HAL twitter account:

https://x.com/HALHQBLR/status/188858691 ... F4hOQ&s=19 ---> Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh paid a visit to HAL's state-of-the-art LCAMK1A production facility in Bengaluru today. He was shown 7 newly built aircraft comprising of 3 Mk1A fighters and 2 trainers in flight line and 2 aircraft in final stages of testing.

ashishvikas · Post by **ashishvikas** » 10 Feb 2025 07:18

From background to foreground...

• LA-5034
• LA-5037
• LA-5208
• LA-5033

https://x.com/hvtiaf_bharat/status/1888 ... suNeA&s=19 --->

konaseema · Post by **konaseema** » 10 Feb 2025 10:15

konaseema wrote: ↑09 Feb 2025 20:50
uddu wrote: ↑09 Feb 2025 19:08 ...
Interesting to see new trainers labeled as Mk1A Trainer. I thought even the 10 ordered as part of the order for 83 (73 + 10) Mk1A's were Mk1 standard trainers.

The twin seater trainers don't have the mid-air refueling probe. Not sure if the MK1A LRU's and the Israeli ELTA AESA radar are included in them.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 10 Feb 2025 14:08

If I Remember, Tejas Refueling probe from FOC standard are Bolt on/Bolt off- i.e refueling probe can be fixed before the mission- not sure if due space constraint in the Trainers whether there is no refueling provision

Khalsa · Post by **Khalsa** » 10 Feb 2025 15:18

Twitter traffic pointing to the resumption of GE Engines from next month.
We seem to have 40% of the Mk1A Squadron ready, frame wise.

Bring on 2025.

srai · Post by **srai** » 10 Feb 2025 16:57

Place the mass orders
Industry will deliver
Stop the whining

… if wish to catch-up … two decades behind the northern neighbor!

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 10 Feb 2025 17:07

LA-5034

Twitter link

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 10 Feb 2025 17:16

Tejas Mk1A Uttam AESA radar details.

Twitter link

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 10 Feb 2025 17:28

Tejas Mk1A display at Aero India 2025.

VIDEO: https://x.com/ANI/status/1888816263310594148 ---> Aero India 2025 | Bengaluru: Indian Air Force LCA Tejas Mark 1A performs manoeuvres in the sky as spectators look on.

csharma · Post by **csharma** » 11 Feb 2025 11:18

Since AMCA will take time (2038 or later), can Tejas + CATS step in to fill the void? Since the CATS warrior is stealthy, can it be used in SEAD roles etc? That will alleviate some pressure on having 5th generation fighters.

Bharadwaj · Post by **Bharadwaj** » 11 Feb 2025 12:25

This video is now doing the rounds. I leave it to you to make of it whatever you wish to. Mods please delete if it is too controversial.

https://www.youtube.com/@NationalDefence

Khalsa · Post by **Khalsa** » 11 Feb 2025 14:43

csharma wrote: ↑11 Feb 2025 11:18 Since AMCA will take time (2038 or later), can Tejas + CATS step in to fill the void? Since the CATS warrior is stealthy, can it be used in SEAD roles etc? That will alleviate some pressure on having 5th generation fighters.

Don't see why not and I was thinking that too.

Khalsa · Post by **Khalsa** » 11 Feb 2025 14:47

@Admiral @Rakesh

I think we need an update on the Mk1 page and a clarification from yourself and our other esteemed BRFites.
How many Mk1 Trainers have been delivered and the trainers at AI-25 are they Mk1 trainers or Mk1A trainers ?

Bharadwaj · Post by **Bharadwaj** » 11 Feb 2025 15:51

Ab to pick up ho gaya... The story is likely to run and run.

‘No Confidence’: IAF Chief Scolds HAL
https://www.livefistdefence.com/no-conf ... colds-hal/

“I can only tell you what our requirement and our worries are. You have to alleviate those worries and make us more confident. At the moment I am just not confident of HAL, which is a very wrong thing to happen,” a visibly annoyed IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh said to HAL Chairman D.K. Sunil. The six-and-a-half minute video posted by defence news portal NationalDefence on its YouTube channel (see below) appears to have been filmed while the IAF chief was getting a brief while seated in the cockpit of a HJT-36 Yashas.

“The aircraft that you flew, calling it Mk1A. It is not Mk1A. It cannot happen just by change of one software or by looks. When the weapons come and the capability comes, then it’s a Mk1A,” said the IAF chief.

srai · Post by **srai** » 11 Feb 2025 19:24

^^^
Frustration lies elsewhere

All the Air Chiefs around the globe are in shock over multitude of Chinese 5th/6th Gen revelation in the last two months. Far far ahead!

To catch up, India needs to keep up mass production (at least 30/year) of whatever combat aircraft is ready like Tejas (even if not deemed “perfect”). No more hostaging orders while waiting for some fantasy to become a reality.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 11 Feb 2025 21:29

Official New Timelines On India’s Fighter Programs
https://www.livefistdefence.com/officia ... -programs/
09 Feb 2025

LCA Tejas Mk1A: 83 aircraft to be delivered between 2024-2029 (+97 more awaiting order clearance)

-------------------------------------------------

https://x.com/livefist/status/1889225872512778533 ---> ₹1.3 lakh crore order for 97 LCA Tejas Mk1A and 156 LCH Prachand to be placed in next 3-6 months: HAL Chairman DK Sunil.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 11 Feb 2025 21:48

https://x.com/livefist/status/1888781019740053677 ----> This is going to shut a lot of people up! A pack of Tejas Mk1A fighters & a trainer.

• Finish/build quality
• Big push from @RajnathSingh
• F404s begin delivery next month
• First five deliveries to IAF by end April
• HAL set to ramp up production
• All systems go for +97

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 11 Feb 2025 21:53

https://x.com/Defencematrix1/status/1888842130879062322 ---> Tejas Mk1A, LA 5034!

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 11 Feb 2025 21:58

https://x.com/HALHQBLR/status/1888922065052590356 ---> The LCA Mk1A flew in the inaugural program of ongoing Aero India 2025. Four Mk1A aircraft flew in 'finger four' formation called Yodha formation. The Mk1A second prototype did an amazing aerial display in front of the Raksha Mantri, enthralling the spectators.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 11 Feb 2025 22:00

EXCLUSIVE: Tejas Mk1A Flexes From The Air
https://www.livefistdefence.com/exclusi ... m-the-air/
10 Feb 2025

Tanaji · Post by **Tanaji** » 11 Feb 2025 22:04

I am confused now, are these Mk1A or are they not? If they are why does the IAF chief say otherwise?

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 11 Feb 2025 22:12

https://x.com/ReviewVayu/status/1889229593351209143 ---> Nice clear, upclose and personal with the LCA Mk1A at Yelahanka. Nice to see it kitted out with ASRAAMs and Astras.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 11 Feb 2025 22:15

https://x.com/ShubhamZ80/status/1889239907173839070 ---> In a test, Tejas Mk1A with Uttam AESA radar with 912 TR modules, it was able to track another Teja Mk-1 at a range of 140 km. A clean Tejas has RCS of 0.5 m² and with missiles the RCS is around 1 m².

https://x.com/ShubhamZ80/status/1889249512788504901 ---> Tejas Mk1A with Uttam radar can track another Tejas at a range of 140 km.

Manish_P · Post by **Manish_P** » 11 Feb 2025 22:20

Happy for the Uttam. Feel a little sad for the Tejas being detected at 100 plus km despite being so small.

Just goes to show the importance of shaping and RAM coating needed for the AMCA.

ashishvikas · Post by **ashishvikas** » 11 Feb 2025 23:23

Two deals to be signed this year.

1. 97 Tejas Mk1A: 65,000 crores
2. 26 Rafale M: 63,000 crores

Both to be delivered in roughly the same time period.

https://x.com/Indrani1_Roy/status/18893 ... AsYwQ&s=19

Avinandan · Post by **Avinandan** » 11 Feb 2025 23:27

Manish_P wrote: ↑11 Feb 2025 22:20 Happy for the Uttam. Feel a little sad for the Tejas being detected at 100 plus km despite being so small

Saar, not just 100 km rather 140 kms!
I wonder if we have figures from EL 2052 in public domain to compare.

Isn't such sort of information sensitive ?

RCase · Post by **RCase** » 12 Feb 2025 04:20

Bharadwaj wrote: ↑11 Feb 2025 15:51 Ab to pick up ho gaya... The story is likely to run and run.

‘No Confidence’: IAF Chief Scolds HAL
https://www.livefistdefence.com/no-conf ... colds-hal/

“I can only tell you what our requirement and our worries are. You have to alleviate those worries and make us more confident. At the moment I am just not confident of HAL, which is a very wrong thing to happen,” a visibly annoyed IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh said to HAL Chairman D.K. Sunil. The six-and-a-half minute video posted by defence news portal NationalDefence on its YouTube channel (see below) appears to have been filmed while the IAF chief was getting a brief while seated in the cockpit of a HJT-36 Yashas.

“The aircraft that you flew, calling it Mk1A. It is not Mk1A. It cannot happen just by change of one software or by looks. When the weapons come and the capability comes, then it’s a Mk1A,” said the IAF chief.

From the video, it is very disappointing to note the behavior of the Air Chief. Comes across as a bully with no diplomatic finesse that would be required of a leader. Whatever his bone of contention, he needs to do that in a private talk with the HAL leadership and not air it out in public, on camera. Very demoralizing to any development team. I wonder if he speaks like that with the foreign firms like Dassault, GE, Sukhoi or MIG.

I wish the HAL chief had the spine to give it back to the IAF Chief in their non-committal approach to developing the local ecosystem in a collaborative manner. Did not appreciate him bullying that woman engineer either.

Rome was not built in a day. Fighter aircrafts are complex and even the West went through its iterations in evolving their aircrafts over time.

In the past, I have interacted with Aerospace companies in the US from a manufacturing perspective and even they had their trials and tribulations in their development cycle. Quite a few spectacular design and manufacturing errors.

Coming to the Tejas, it has had a very impressive track record of flying and safety.

It is high time that IAF learned to change their mindset from import and embraced the concept of iterative, continuous improvement. If they want HAL to be in mission mode, then IAF also needs to join in that mission and behave in mission mode.

Bharadwaj · Post by **Bharadwaj** » 12 Feb 2025 08:19

Have to Disagree Rcase ji. The chief came across as enthusiastic, kind yet direct. He clearly is worried about the situation and was mostly talking to his former colleagues who are now in the flight test department at HAL. There was some comment at the end to the media that sounded like "you were already recording me". So he was possibly aware of his words going on record but even then he Imho did no sound like he was bullying anyone. The lady in question is a senior official and I am sure she took things in the right spirit.

williams · Post by **williams** » 12 Feb 2025 08:28

Yeah watching the video, it was a friendly conversation, but a frank one. Also it is sort of a private conversation, people simply captured it through their phones. But I liked the ending where the HAL folks said they will make things better. Also HAL and most of our production/R&D people need to learn to commit for less and delver more. I don't like the timeline of March 2026 for Mk 2.0, it is better to say March 2027. Just double the guestimate.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 12 Feb 2025 08:37

Overheard in Aero India: IAF chief AP Singh says ‘not confident of HAL, it’s not in mission mode’
https://theprint.in/defence/overheard-i ... e/2489682/
11 Feb 2025

At a time when the spotlight is on state-run HAL due to its slow pace of manufacturing Tejas fighters, Air Chief Marshal Singh's candid remarks were recorded by a YouTube channel.

AkshaySG · Post by **AkshaySG** » 12 Feb 2025 09:29

Rakesh wrote: ↑12 Feb 2025 08:37 Overheard in Aero India: IAF chief AP Singh says ‘not confident of HAL, it’s not in mission mode’
https://theprint.in/defence/overheard-i ... e/2489682/
11 Feb 2025

There is no point getting excited about any of HALs chances selling LCA to Malaysia, Argentina etc etc when everyone around the world sees it's own primary customer lambast it every few months

Also does anyone really think the Air Force itself in mission mode ?
I'm sure when it comes to immediate operational needs it can do whatever is needed and fight with " bird in hand " but that's not all there is to being in mission mode.

Because if they were then we wouldn't have spend the last decade or so spending billions on 6-8 Apaches, MQ9s , dreaming up MRCA and letting critical orders be delayed indefinitely while flying 60 yr old jets.

You don't need to be a fighter jockey to see that the base Mk1 (forget Mk1A) is leaps and bounds better & safer than Mig 21 and has been so since IOC days, A force in mission mode would have had enough in service to have retired the Bisons half a decade ago

Tanaji · Post by **Tanaji** » 12 Feb 2025 12:43

I am more concerned as to why he is saying its not MK1A…

There is plenty of blame for HAL, but this also seems a rant to cover up for the utter short sightedness exhibited by AHQ and its obsession with MRCA.

srai · Post by **srai** » 12 Feb 2025 15:08

^^^
He wants the full package including weapons from day 1