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India’s 5G Fighter Aircraft and LCA Tejas

India’s 5G Fighter Aircraft and LCA Tejas

12-04-2024

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved a Rs 15,000 crore project to design and develop India's fifth-generation combat multirole jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

  1. In a related incident, a Court of Inquiry has been initiated to probe the reasons behind the crash of Indian Air Force Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas during an operational training flight in Rajasthan.

What defines Fifth-Generation Fighter Jets?

  1. 5G fighter jets are designed for advanced battlefields with the ability to overcome current and anticipated threats.
  2. These jets offer stealth technology and supersonic speeds without the need for afterburners.
  3. They stand out from previous generations with their multi-spectral low-observable design, self-protection, radar jamming, and integrated avionics.
  4. Currently, only Russia (Sukhoi Su-57), China (Chengdu J-20) and the US (F-35) have 5G jets.

Why does India need Fifth-Generation Fighter Jets?

  1. The current strength of 30 fighter squadrons of the Indian Air Force is less than the sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons.
  2. Aging aircraft like MiG-21s, MiG-29s, Jaguars, and Mirage 2000s will be phased out by the mid-2030s, leaving a capability gap.
  3. In view of China's increasing military power, India needs to increase its air defence, because China has the upper hand in terms of number of aircraft.
  4. India aims to achieve self-reliance in defense by focusing on strengthening its air force and replacing aging aircraft, recognizing that acquiring fighter jets is a time-consuming process.
  5. India is developing Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) based on the success of LCA Tejas. This indigenous project involves collaboration between ADA, HAL and private industries.
  6. Acquiring 5th-generation fighter jets will place India among the select group of countries that possess this advanced technology, including the US, Russia, and China.

Key Features of India's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA):

Nodal Agency:
  • The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)  will be responsible for executing the program and designing the aircraft.
  • Manufactured by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Stealth Capabilities:
  • The 25-tonne twin-engine aircraft will surpass current Indian Air Force fighters in size and incorporate advanced stealth technology, exceeding the capabilities of global 5G stealth fighters.

Fuel Capacity and Armament:
  • The aircraft will have a large, hidden internal fuel tank with a 6.5 tonne capacity and an internal weapons bay capable of carrying a variety of weapons, including indigenous weapons.

Engine Configurations:
  • The AMCA Mk1 will be equipped with the US-built GE414 engine (90 kilo Newton class), while the more advanced AMCA Mk2 will utilize a more powerful 110 kN engine developed by DRDO's Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) in collaboration with a foreign defense major.

Development Timeline:
  • ADA aims for the aircraft's first flight within 4–5 years, with full development expected to take approximately 10 years.
  • 5 prototypes will be prepared by HAL before manufacturing, in which private industry will also participate.

The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is an impressive aircraft with several notable features:

Origin:
  1. Initiated by the Government of India in 1984 to replace the aging Mig 21 fighter planes.
  2. Managed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Department of Defence Research and Development.

Design and Development:
  1. Designed by ADA, the LCA Tejas is the lightest, smallest, and tailless multi-role supersonic fighter aircraft in its class.
  2. Manufactured by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Key Features:
  1. Capable of carrying a range of air-to-air, air-to-surface, and precision-guided weapons.
  2. Equipped with air-to-air refueling capability, allowing extended flight duration.
  3. Has a maximum payload capacity of 4000 kg.
  4. Can attain a maximum speed of Mach 1.8.
  5. Offers an operational range of up to 3,000 km.

Variants:
  1. Tejas Trainer: A 2-seater operational conversion trainer, used to train air force pilots.
  2. LCA Navy: Twin- and single-seat carrier-capable variant designed for the Indian Navy.
  3. LCA Tejas Navy MK2: This is phase 2 of the LCA Navy variant.
  4. LCA Tejas Mk-1A: An improved version of the LCA Tejas Mk1, equipped with a higher thrust engine.

 

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