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| LCA Tejas |
This was the second Tejas crash since 2001. The first
occurred in March 2024 near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, where the pilot ejected
safely and the crash was blamed on engine seizure.
Possible Reasons of the Crash
Aviation experts have offered several theories about the fatal Dubai crash while the official Court of Inquiry investigation remains underway. Analysis of eyewitness reports and video evidence confirmed the Tejas was performing a complex negative-G maneuver during the downward phase of a loop sequence when it suddenly lost altitude uncontrollably, leaving the pilot with insufficient time to recover or eject. Defense experts suggest possible causes include pilot blackout from excessive G-forces, the maneuver being performed too low to the ground with insufficient recovery space, or a control system malfunction that prevented the aircraft from pulling up in time. The fact that the pilot did not eject despite the Tejas being equipped with a zero-zero ejection seat suggests the situation developed too rapidly for a successful ejection, and the investigation will examine flight data recorder information, maneuver parameters, and engine performance logs to determine the definitive cause.
Understanding the Tejas Aircraft
The HAL Tejas is India's indigenous single-engine, 4.5
generation fighter aircraft designed to replace aging MiG-21 fighters. The
program began in the 1980s but faced one of the longest development cycles in
aviation history. After conceptualization in 1983, full Cabinet approval came
only in 1993, with the first flight occurring on January 4, 2001. The aircraft
finally entered service with the Indian Air Force in 2015.
The development faced numerous challenges including
financial constraints, engine development delays, radar integration issues, and
the complexity of creating India's first fly-by-wire flight control system.
Hurdles in Development and Production
The Tejas program continues to face serious delays. HAL
signed a deal in 2021 for 83 Tejas aircraft worth Rs 48,000 crore, but not a
single aircraft has been delivered despite deliveries scheduled to begin in
March 2024. The main culprit is shortage of General Electric F404 engines
imported from the United States.
HAL currently produces about eight aircraft per year but is
trying to increase capacity to 16-24 annually. Quality control concerns have
emerged after both crashes, raising questions about maintenance procedures and
testing protocols. The March 2024 crash was blamed on engine seizure, while the
Dubai crash investigation is ongoing.
Induction and Operational Status
The Tejas received Initial Operational Clearance in 2011
and Full Operational Clearance in February 2019. Currently, the Indian Air
Force operates approximately 35-40 Tejas Mk1 aircraft across two squadrons. The
first squadron, No. 45 Squadron, is based at Sulur Air Force Station in
Coimbatore, while the second, No. 18 Squadron, operates from Naliya in Gujarat.
The upgraded Tejas Mk1A includes significant improvements
like AESA radar, electronic warfare suite, and integration with advanced
missiles. The IAF has ordered 180 Mk1A aircraft and plans to procure at least
324 Tejas aircraft in total across all variants. However, the IAF currently
operates only 29-31 fighter squadrons against a required strength of 42
squadrons, creating critical capability gaps.
Why Tejas Was Not Used in Operation Bandar and Operation Sindoor
Operation Bandar refers to the 2019 Balakot air strikes,
while Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, 2025, hitting nine terrorist
sites in Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam attack. In both operations, Tejas
played a limited support role rather than being the primary strike platform.
The IAF chose Rafale aircraft for deep strike missions
because of their superior range, advanced capabilities, and proven combat
effectiveness. The Tejas Mk1 has a combat radius of 389-500 kilometers, which
is adequate for border operations but less suitable for deep penetration
strikes. Additionally, limited numbers of operational Tejas meant the IAF could
not risk them in high-threat environments.
However, Tejas did participate in Operation Sindoor by
conducting Combat Air Patrols and Close Air Support missions. During one
mission near the Uri sector, a Tejas reportedly intercepted and locked onto a
Pakistani JF-17, forcing it to retreat.
Performance Comparison with Other Aircraft
The Tejas faces competition from Pakistan's JF-17 Thunder,
Sweden's Gripen, and the American F-16. Against the JF-17, the Tejas has
advantages including better thrust-to-weight ratio, superior AESA radar,
lighter weight, and enhanced stealth features due to its composite airframe.
However, the JF-17 costs only $25 million compared to Tejas Mk1A's $78.5
million, and Pakistan has successfully produced over 150 JF-17s.
Compared to the Gripen E, the Tejas falls short in radar
capabilities, sensor fusion, stealth features, and aerodynamics. The Gripen can
supercruise at Mach 1.1 and has better takeoff and landing performance. Against
the F-16, the gap is even wider. The F-16 has higher maximum speed, better
climb rate, can pull 9g compared to Tejas's 8g, and offers greater combat
radius.
While Tejas may not match the F-16's raw performance, it
holds advantages in agility, modern sensors, and indigenous manufacturing. It
performs better than the JF-17 in most technical parameters and represents a
solid lightweight fighter for its class.
The Naval Rejection
In December 2016, the Indian Navy rejected the naval
variant of Tejas due to technical inadequacies. The aircraft was too heavy for
its engine and had an insufficient thrust-to-weight ratio for taking off from
aircraft carriers with full weapons load. The Navy's Chief stated that the LCA
Navy in its present form did not meet naval requirements for carrier-based
operations.
The naval variant required extensive modifications
including stronger landing gear, arrestor hooks, and redesigned cockpit.
However, it suffered from weak fuselage and landing gear structures that could
not handle the stress of carrier operations on INS Vikramaditya and INS
Vikrant.
In July 2020, DRDO dropped plans for the LCA Mark 2 Navy
and began developing a new twin-engine fighter called the Twin Engine Deck
Based Fighter, with deliveries expected around 2038.
The Future of the Tejas Program
The Tejas Mk1A represents the immediate future with
deliveries expected to begin in late 2025 or early 2026. This variant features
AESA radar, improved electronic warfare systems, and better weapons
integration. From the 41st aircraft onward, it will include the indigenous
UTTAM AESA radar, pushing indigenous content above 75 percent. All 180 ordered
aircraft should be delivered by the early 2030s.
The Tejas Mk2 is a more ambitious project. Originally
planned as an upgraded Mk1, it has evolved into a completely new medium-weight
fighter with a lengthened fuselage, canards, more powerful GE F414 engine,
increased payload capacity, and combat radius of approximately 1,500 km. The
first prototype rollout is expected in late 2025 or early 2026, with first
flight in mid-2026 and production beginning around 2029-2030. The IAF plans to
procure 120-130 Mk2 aircraft.
On exports, India is in talks with Argentina for 15
aircraft and Egypt for 20 aircraft, though no firm contracts exist yet.
Malaysia considered Tejas but appears likely to choose South Korea's FA-50. The
Dubai crash has made export prospects more challenging by raising reliability
concerns.
Looking further ahead, India is developing the
fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft with deliveries expected from
the mid-to-late 2030s, representing India's entry into stealth fighter
technology.
Conclusion
The second Tejas crash at the Dubai Air Show is a major
setback for India’s indigenous fighter program, raising concerns about
reliability, production quality, and the timing of the accident during
international promotion efforts. Still, the Tejas should not be written off. It
reflects India’s long-term push toward aerospace self-reliance and has already
proven its capability in IAF service, including its role in Operation Sindoor.
Future success depends on HAL’s ability to fix technical
issues, speed up production, and regain confidence at home and abroad. The
investigation into the Dubai crash will determine whether the problems are
correctable or deeper in design. Despite challenges, the Tejas program
continues forward as a symbol of India’s commitment to building its own
advanced fighter aircraft.
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