Air combat manoeuvring (ACM) is the tactical art and science of moving, turning, and situating one’s fighter aircraft in order to attain a position from which an attack can be made on another aircraft. Commonly associated with dogfighting, air combat manoeuvres rely on offensive and defensive basic fighter manoeuvring (BFM) to gain an advantage over an aerial opponent.
LCA Tejas is a 4.5 generation, all weather and multi-role fighter aircraft. The aircraft is designed to be a multi-role aircraft capable of taking up offensive air support, close combat and ground attack role at ease. It is also designed to undertake Ground Maritime Operations.
The different variants of aircraft under production and development are:
• Single seater fighter for Air Force
• Single seater fighter for Navy
• Twin Seater trainer aircraft for Air Force
• Twin Seater trainer version for Navy.
Further LCA Mk1A is the most advanced version of the LCA Tejas. 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.
The technical specifications of the aircraft are tabulated below:
| Length | 13.2 m |
| Width | 8.2 m |
| Height | 4.4 m |
| Max Takeoff Mass | 13,500 Kgs |
| Engine | GE F404 -IN20 |
| Engine Thrust (A/B) | 85KN |
| G limits | +8g / -3.5 g |
| Max Speed | 1.6 Mach |
| Service Ceiling | 50,000 feet |
| No of Hard Points | 09 |
The key characteristics of LCA are:
· Smallest & lightest aircraft in its class – Dimensionally smallest which is coupled with Extensive use of composite structure to make the aircraft lighter
· Excellent flight safety record – Remarkable achievement of accident free flying.
· Compound Tail-Less Delta – Increases the capacity to carry wider range of weapons like Bombs, Missiles etc
· In Flight Refueling (IFR) Probe – Enhances range during mission undertaken. IFR capability has been proven for day and night operations.
· Open Architecture based Mission Computer – Indigenously designed which provides interoperability, scalability and portability
· Quadruplex-Redundant Fly-By-Wire – Fully redundant quadruplex digital fly-by-wire flight control system to ease handling by the pilot
· AESA RADAR – Electronically Scanned Array RADAR with low probability of interception.
· Variety of Weapons LCA -Tejas is having 9 hard points and is capable to fire variety of weapons like Long Range BVR & WVR missiles, Bombs etc. with required precision and accuracy.
LCA Tejas Division was awarded “Uttama Suraksha Puraskar” –Safety Award 2021National Safety Council, Karnataka Chapter has awarded LCA Tejas Division the “Uttama Suraksha Puraskara” Safety Award 2021. The award was given in recognition of the ‘Good Management Systems and Safety performance during 2019 and 2020.
LCA Tejas Division was awarded “Uttama Suraksha Puraskar” –Safety Award 2019National Safety Council, Karnataka Chapter has awarded LCA Tejas Division the “Uttama Suraksha Puraskara” Safety Award 2019. The award was given in recognition of the ‘Good Management Systems and Safety performance during 2017 and 2018.
LCA Tejas Division was awarded “Uttama Suraksha Puraskar” –Safety Award 2017National Safety Council, Karnataka Chapter has awarded LCA Tejas Division the “Uttama Suraksha Puraskara” Safety Award 2017. The award was given in recognition of the ‘Good Management Systems and Safety performance during 2015 and 2016.
Aero India is a biennial air show and aviation exhibition held in Bengaluru, India at the Yelahanka Air Force Station. It is organised by the Defence Exhibition Organisation, Ministry of Defence.
- Mig – 21 Bison
- Max. Speed: Mach 2.05 at altitude; Mach 1.05 at sea level.
- Initial Climb Rate: 58,000 ft./min.
- Range: 585 nm.
- Service Ceiling: 57,400 ft.
- Wingspan: 23.46 ft.
- Length: 40.29 ft.
- Height: 13.46 ft.
- Weight: 12,600 lb. empty; 22,925 lb. Max Takeoff.
- Maximum Payload – 3,310 lbs.
- Gun – single 23-mm GSh-23L two-barrel cannon (200 rounds)
- Air to Air Missiles – K-13/AA2 Atoll, R-60/AA-8Aphid
- Air to Surface – none (Fishbed-J was first model with surface capabilities)
- Bombs – 250/500 kg conventional, nuclear and napalm
- Other – Rocket pods, ECM pods and reconnaissance pods
The Sukhoi Su-57 is a twin-engine stealth multirole fighter aircraft developed by Sukhoi. It is the product of the PAK FA programme, which was initiated in 1999 as a more modern and affordable alternative to the MFI. Sukhoi’s internal designation for the aircraft is T-50.
The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a two-seater, twinjet multirole air superiority fighter developed by Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi and built under licence by India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force. A variant of the Sukhoi Su-30, it is a heavy, all-weather, long-range fighter.
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force. Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft.
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole combat aircraft that is intended to perform both air superiority and strike missions. It is also able to provide electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole combat aircraft that is intended to perform both air superiority and strike missions. It is also able to provide electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.
Single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole combat aircraft that is intended to perform both air superiority and strike missions. It is also able to provide electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.
Even taking off and landing in heavy rain, snow, and fog is possible for aircraft equipped with adequate instruments and automated control systems for the conditions.
Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk2 is not only capable of carrying eight Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) missiles together but can also integrate all native weapons, as well as a variety of advanced weapons from other countries.
Tejas weapon suite consists of I-Derby ER and Astra beyond visual range air-to-air missiles and R-73, Python-5 and ASRAAM close combat missiles. The Tejas has an internal 23 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23 twin-barreled autocannon under the starboard side air-intake.
The indigenous Astra air-to-air missile was successfully tested from the Tejas fighter jet for the first time. The Astra-1, with a beyond visual range of 100 km, was test-fired at an altitude of around 20,000 feet.
The F-35A’s advanced sensor package gathers and distributes more information than any fighter in history, giving operators a decisive advantage over all adversaries. Its tremendous processing power, open architecture, sophisticated sensors, information fusion and flexible communication links make the F-35 an indispensable tool in future homeland defense, joint and coalition irregular warfare, and major combat operations.
A combination of sensor capability, integrated avionics, situational awareness, and weapons provides first-kill opportunity against threats. The F-22 possesses a sophisticated sensor suite allowing the pilot to track, identify, shoot and kill air-to-air threats before being detected. Significant advances in cockpit design and sensor fusion improve the pilot’s situational awareness. In the air-to-air configuration the Raptor carries six AIM-120 AMRAAMs and two AIM-9 Sidewinders.
Provide a synergistic effect ensuring F-22A lethality against all advanced air threats. The combination of stealth, integrated avionics and supercruise drastically shrinks surface-to-air missile engagement envelopes and minimizes enemy capabilities to track and engage the F-22.
