Tejas Light Combat Aircraft

About Tejas Light Combat Aircraft:

• It is a 4.5-generationsingle seat supersonic multirole fighter aircraft.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) led the design and development of the aircraft under the light combat aircraft (LCA) programme, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) working as the prime industrial contractor.
  • LCA programme was envisioned in the late 1980s to replace the MiG-21 and Su-7 fleet.
• It entered service with the Indian Air Force (IAF) in July 2016.
• It is India's second indigenous fighter jet after the HAL HF-24 Marut.
• It is designed for offensive air support, close combat, and ground attack roles.
• It has three production models: Tejas Mark 1, Mark 1A, and trainer variant.
• Features:
  • It is the smallest and lightest in its class of contemporary supersonic combat aircraft.
  • It features a fin but lacks a horizontal tail.
  • The aircraft weighs approximately 5,450 kg and has a maximum take-off weight of 13,500 kg.
  • It is powered by a single uprated General Electric F404-GE-IN20 engine.
  • It is designed to carry a range of air-to-air, air-to-surface, precision-guided, weapons.

Q1: What is the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)?

The DRDO is an agency of the Government of India responsible for the research and development of technology and equipment related to defense and military applications. Established in 1958, DRDO operates under the Ministry of Defence and plays a crucial role in enhancing India's defense capabilities by developing advanced technology, systems, and products.

Source: Tejas LCA fighter: Indian Air Force faces further delays in warplanes’ deliveries from HAL