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The Indian Air Force (IAF) has deployed the domestically-built LCA Tejas in the Kashmir valley, making it the first foray of the fighter jet in the high mountainous region of India.
The IAF stated on Sunday that the move to shift the locally-manufactured combat aircraft fleet from South India to the Northernmost parts of India nation was made because of operational requirements.
The development would allow the pilots operating the LCA Tejas to acquaint themselves with warfare in the hills unlike the plains or the plateaus in South and Western India.
What is the Role of Tejas?
According to its manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the LCA Tejas is a "multi-role" warplane designed to perform in all weather situations.
The Indian defense behemoth further states that the LCA Tejas has been built to carry out a series of combat roles. Among its core capabilities are launching ground attacks, offensive air operations against enemy aircraft, and carrying out maritime missions on the seas.
The LCA Tejas is equipped with an array of advanced features which could assist the aircraft in dominating the battle against rival jets.
"It is equipped with AESA Radar, EW suite consisting of radar warning and self-protection jamming, Digital Map Generator (DMG), Smart Multi-function Displays (SMFD), Combined Interrogator and Transponder (CIT), Advanced Radio Altimeter and other advances features," a description of Tejas's features on HAL's website reads.
What is Special About Tejas?
India's locally produced warplane can attain a maximum speed of 1.6 Mach (1975 km/h) and has a payload capacity of 13,500 kgs.
The LCA Tejas can drop missiles from an altitude of up to 15 kms. These include:
air-to-air missiles, such as R-73 and ASRAAM;
air-to-surface missile, such as BrahMos-NG, Anti-radiation missile Rudram-1 and AASM-Hammer;
anti-ship missiles, such as Kh-35.
The 'Make in India' fighter jet can use a variety of weaponry to destroy adversary bunkers, hide-outs, arms and ammunition depots, aircraft bases, etc.
Long Range Beyond Visual Range (BVR), Within Visual Range (WVR), and precision-guided bombs are some of the weapons that it can fire with pinpoint accuracy to dismantle enemy infrastructure.
LCA Tejas
© Sputnik
How Many Tejas are There in India?
At present, the IAF is operating three different models of aircraft which are Mark 1, Mark 1A, and a variant used for training purposes.
In 2021, the Indian Defense Ministry on behalf of the IAF placed a multi-billion dollar order for 83 LCA Mk-1A aircraft with HAL. Till April 2023, the defense firm has supplied 40 of these jets to the IAF.
The LCA MK-1A is an improved variant of Tejas' maiden version which didn't have advanced avionics, and other key features to fight modern wars.
Unlike its predecessor, HAL mentions that the LCA Tejas Mk-1A comes with a "network warfare system comprising software defined radio (SDR), electronic warfare system, beyond visual range (BVR) missiles, and advanced electronically scanned array (AESA)".
The HAL is also developing a Medium Weight Fighter (MWF), called the LCA Mk2 for the IAF, scheduled to take its maiden flight in 2025.