Last week, Indian media revealed that the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) was interested in the HAL Tejas fighter. The information was confirmed by the Air Force Commander himself, Lieutenant-Brigadier Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno, who stated in an interview that the small Indian fighter jet is among the options to complement the F-39 Gripen.
Brig. Damasceno's speech comes months after the FAB itself confirmed that it is studying the acquisition of used F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters, from US stocks, a subject that also attracted attention.
“According to our rules, we should have no less than two and no more than three types of combat aircraft. Currently we have the F-5 and the Gripen, but after 2030, we will need two more types with the retirement of the F-5,” said the military man in an interview with the portal Times Now News, from India. Speaking to the same website, Damasceno stated that there is also interest in combat helicopters.
Brief history
In a world dominated by American, European and Russian models, the name Tejas ends up not being so well known. The fighter is the result of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program, created by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the early 1980s to replace the MiG-21 Fishbed.
By then, India had already gained experience in developing fighter jets, such as the Marut supersonic fighter and the Kiran trainer, as well as producing models under license, including the Ajeet (a version of the British Gnat), Jaguar and the MiGs 21 and 27. Developed in the USSR in the 1950s, the MiG-21 formed the bulk of the IAF’s fighter fleet, which at one point had more than 800 of these aircraft in service. But looking to the long term, the Indians knew they needed a replacement.
In 1984, India created the Aerospace Development Agency (ADA), an arm of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), to manage the LCA programme. In parallel, the DRDO sought from Dassault for the work. Later, the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was contracted to manufacture the LCA; the design of the aircraft was completed in 1990.
In service, with some problems
With the design phase complete, India focused on the Fly-By-Wire project and the indigenous multi-mode radar, encountering more problems in the development of the latter. On January 04, 2000, the first LCA technology demonstrator made its maiden flight; five years later, India had only obtained two functional modes for the radar.
Throughout the development of the aircraft, the Indians encountered several challenges, but the Tejas has increasingly received locally sourced components, increasing the country's technological independence. However, some important items are still from other countries, such as its own engine, the General Electric F404, the same one used in the F/A-18 Hornet and the Saab JAS-39 Gripen. The LCA program included the production of a national engine, the GTRE Kaveri, but the project was cancelled.
In 2011, the Tejas obtained its initial service certificate, allowing it to begin its introduction into service with the Air Force. Three years later, the campaign to achieve full operational capability began, with in-flight refueling trials and the deployment of additional weapons. In 2016, the IAF's 45 Squadron became the first to receive the Tejas, replacing its aging MiG-21s with the new model, designated the Tejas Mark 1.
Initially, the IAF faced problems with the introduction of the aircraft. At the time, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) highlighted 53 significant deficiencies that reduced its operational and survivability capabilities, such as its low range, lack of an electronically scanned array radar and a jammer.
Mark 1A
To improve the aircraft and correct the flaws identified by the CAG, the Tejas Mark 1A was developed and presented earlier this year. The aircraft incorporates a series of improvements, including the ELTA EL/M-2052 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, the Angad electronic warfare suite, dual hangers and a remodeled cockpit. It is also lighter than its predecessor, due to the greater presence of composite materials and carbon fiber in its construction.
Despite the promises, the Mark 1A has not yet been delivered to the IAF: with delays in receiving the F404 engines, the delivery of the fighter, which was scheduled for March, has been postponed to November 2024. In total, 97 Tejas Mark 1A have been ordered.
Using the data collected from the Tejas Mark 1 and 1A, the DRDO will develop the Mark 2, a sort of definitive version of the fighter. The new Tejas is scheduled for its first flight in 2025 and will incorporate the F414 engine, canards, more advanced sensors and increased weapons capacity. The Tejas Mk2 is also part of the Medium Weight Fighter (MWF) programme, which seeks to develop a medium-weight fighter for the IAF.
In 2021, the Indian Ministry of Defense dismissed the Tejas as a replacement for the MiG-21, instead positioning the fighter as part of a major modernization of the IAF.
What is HAL Tejas?
The Tejas is a small, multi-role, supersonic fighter aircraft that is in service only with the Indian Air Force and has not found any export customers to date. A naval version is also being developed and has been tested on aircraft carriers. The name Tejas loosely translates to “Brightness”.
Manufactured by HAL, the fighter is 13 meters long and has a wingspan of eight meters. It is powered by a single GE F404 turbofan engine, which takes the aircraft to a maximum speed of Mach 1.8, or about 2200 km/h. According to Indian media, each unit of the Tejas Mark 1A has an estimated unit cost of US$ 37,8 million.
It has nine hard points on the wings and fuselage to carry bombs, missiles, fuel tanks and weapons designation and electronic jamming equipment. It also carries a GSh-23 automatic cannon, caliber 23mm, manufactured by Russia. It is currently certified to use various weapons, including the Derby missile and Spice smart bombs, already acquired by the Brazilian Air Force.
Tejas in the FAB
Now, it is important to highlight: FAB is not buying the Tejas. So far, the Air Force Command has only signed the purchase of 36 Gripens, of which it has already received eight and is close to having another F-39. In parallel, the FAB negotiates the acquisition of more of these fighters, through a contractual addendum of the agreement signed in 2015 with Sweden.
However, as mentioned by the Air Force Commander, the Brazilian Air Force plans to have a fleet of fighter aircraft with more than one model. Currently, there are seven F-39E Gripen, between 30 and 40 F-5 Tiger II fighters and around 11 A-1 AMX fighter-bombers in service. The FAB urgently needs to find a replacement for the AMX, which will be retired in 2025. The time for retirement is also approaching for the F-5, which should leave service in 2030.
At the same time, the FAB has been ing the Brazilian government in its rapprochement with India. In addition to BRICS, Brazil and India have increasingly talked about military partnerships. This is reflected in the Brazilian Army's interest in Akash anti-aircraft missiles and the FAB's interest in Brahmos cruise missiles.
Finally, Brigadier Damasceno's visit also focused on the sale of KC-390 tactical freighters to the IAF. Embraer's jet has won over several customers and is competing in India for an important contract for up to 80 aircraft. “Compared to the C-130, the C-390 is faster and carries at least the same payload. We are offering this to India and MoUs with Mahindra have already been made. So far, its serviceability level is over 97%,” stated the FAB Commander.
