Tejas clears first hurdle but long way to go

The exact number of aircraft that will finally enter service,however,remains a contentious issue with Antony saying 200 fighters would be inducted while the Air Chief sticking to the IAF plan of six squadrons (120 aircraft).

The immediate challenge for the fighter programme is the final operational clearance (FOC) that is needed for it to be used for combat,with several critical systems still to be integrated. The deadline for the FOC is December 2014. Over Rs 7,000 crore has already been spent on development of the fighter.

Antony called the IOC a semi-final that HAL has won and said socks needed to be pulled up to ensure the final test — the FOC — is cleared by next year.

Designers and testers will have to work hard to meet this deadline given the volume of work left to make the Aircraft combat-worthy. Top on the list is full weapons integration. While the fighter fired an air-to-air missile earlier this month,its air combat suite is far from ready. To be integrated are beyond-visual-range missiles,the integral gun as well as a modern close-combat missile. The air-to-ground component of the weapons suite is ready and was demonstrated with live visuals from the aircraft during the IOC ceremony in Bangalore.

Equipping Tejas with in-flight refuelling,a task that has never been undertaken by Indian designers before,will also be a big challenge. The air force requirement for new drop tanks — essential for a flying range of 1,700 km — that can be used during a supersonic flight will also have to be met.

Even more critical for the programme is development of the MKII version of the fighter — a variant with a more powerful engine the air force wants in greater numbers. “As the programme gathers pace,we must remember the final goal is not just the MKI but the MKII. The two primary design drivers already identified by us are the critical GE 414 engine integration with perhaps a better intake design and improved maintainability of the platform,” Air Chief Browne.

The reluctance of the air force to commit itself to numbers beyond the six planned squadrons (four MKII and two MKI) is in contradiction to what the Defence Minister said. Antony said over 200 fighters would be produced for India and hoped that an even greater number would be required for export. Even if the Navy’s expected order of 40 aircraft carrier variants of the LCA is considered,the total does not go beyond 160 unless the IAF agrees to more squadrons.