Tejas Mark-1A to test two missiles & laser guided bomb, before it’s handed over to IAF

Indigenous fighter jet Tejas Mark-1A will carry out tests of three separate weapons —  two missiles and a laser-guided bomb — before the first jet is handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Sources said the Tejas Mark-1A will fire the weapons to validate all parameters before deliveries commence by the end of this month. 

These tests are for — the beyond visual range air-to-air missile Astra; a laser guided bomb; Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM). All three have separate usage in air battles.

Two jets are scheduled to be handed over to the IAF this month. These two are part of the Rs 48,000-crore, 83-jet order the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had placed in February 2021 with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Tejas Mark-1A  is a much improved version of the first lot of Tejas, of which the IAF has 40.

In March this year, the Tejas Mark-1A had successfully test-fired homegrown beyond visual range air-to-air missile ‘Astra’.

The missile will be test-fired again from the same jet.

"The test-firing successfully demonstrated the direct hit of the missile on flying target," the Ministry of Defence had said after the first test in March. The ‘Astra’ missile, which is designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), can hit ariel targets 110 km away and travel at a speed of 4.5 Mach.

The second test the Tejas Mark-1A will carry out is for a close combat missile. The jet is mated to fire the Russian-origin R-73 and the Israeli-origin Python 5 and is now being mated with ‘ASRAAM’, a missile made by public sector Bharat Dynamics Limited under licence from European armament maker, the  MDBA.

Since the Tejas Mark-1A squadrons are expected to be deployed along forward bases, there are high chances of encountering enemy aircraft within visual range, hence the short range ASRAAM. The missile is capable of rapid acceleration and its range can be extended range.

The third test will be for laser-guided bomb. These have a range of 70 km and are used to hit static enemy targets like radars. The jet would get certified with one of the LGBs. The French ‘hammer’ system is already operational on the IAF’s Rafale fighter jets. Its integration with the Tejas Mark 1A commenced in 2020.

A limited ‘release test’ was done, a final test is scheduled now.

Last month, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, while speaking at an event, had said, "The intent is to provide enough visibility to HAL to perfect this platform.”  Ten of the jets are ready, and two engines have been delivered so far, he added.

“Hopefully, the first two of those (jets) are going to be delivered with weapons integration this September,” the Defence Secretary added.