India unveils Tejas Mk.2 medium fighter aircraft

A scale model of the HAL Tejas Mk.2 as displayed at Aero India 2019. Photo c/o IHS Jane's.

In the ongoing Aero India 2019, India’s Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has unveiled a scale model of the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Tejas Mk. 2 fighter.

The Tejas Mk.2 is now being considered by India as medium weight fighter, due to increase in size and weight compared to the original Tejas Mk.1 LCA, a greater range and endurance, as well as its increased capacity to carry munitions.

The Tejas Mk.2 is 1.35 meters longer, allowing for more fuel storage and space for a larger engine and additional equipment. The new Tejas variant will grow to 17,500 kilograms compared to the 13,500 kilograms on the original variant. 

Some of the observed changes include the addition of canard foreplanes behind the cockpit, an inflight refuelling probe, and using of a “smart cockpit” feature. The model also shows what appears to be long-range air-to-air missiles, and large stand-off missiles

The fighter is also expected to use a higher output General Electric GE-F414-INS6 engine with Full Authority Digital Electronics Control (FADEC) system. 

The new variant also features a locally-developed active electronic scanned array (AESA) radar, infrared search and track (IRST) sensor, missile approach warning system (MAWS).

It is being pitched by HAL as a replacement for the Dassault Mirage 2000 currently in service with the Indian Air Force (IAF).



[1] Flight Global
[2] IHS Jane’s
[3] Air & Cosmos International
[4] Swarajya Magazine