Bad news for Pakistan, China as India to install THIS deadly BVR missile in indigenous Tejas MK1A fighter jet, has range of..., trials begin in..
In a significant development that could further boost India's India's indigenous defence capabilities, state-owned defence manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will conduct the first live-firing test of the Astra MK1 Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) from the indigenously-built Tejas Mk1A fighter jet, marking a historic step in India's homegrown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program. How powerful is Tejas MK1A fighter jet?
Designed by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and manufactured by HAL, the Tejas Mk1A is the successor of Tejas MK1, India's indigenous 4.5 generation multi-role fighter aircraft, aimed to replace the aging fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF), such as the MiG-21, MiG-23 and MiG-27 fighters.
The Tejas MK1A has more than 40 improvements over the previous variant, including an ELM-2052 AESA radar developed by Israel's ELT
Systems. The advanced radar has anti-jamming capabilities, and can simultaneously track multiple targets. The 4.5th gen fighter will be equipped with India's homegrown Uttam AESA radar in the coming future.
The LCA is equipped with the new Quadruplex Digital Flight Control Computer (DFCC Mk1A), which gives the Tejas Mk1A better control and safety during flight, and aids the the pilot in complex maneuvers during aerial combat.
Additionally, the Tejas MK1A features the DARE Unified Electronic Warfare Suite, which has a radar warning receiver (RWR), self-
protection jammer, and chaff-flare dispenser, and helps protect the aircraft from enemy radars and missiles. What weapons are equipped on the Tejas MK1A?
The Tejas MK1A fighter jet is equipped with a wide array of offensive and defensive armaments, including the the indigenously-built Astra Mk1 BVR air-to-air missile with 100+ km range, the ASRAAM missile for close aerial combat, the Rudram anti-radiation missile, SAAW Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon, in addition to laser-guided bombs for precision ground strikes.
The aircraft is powered by a General Electric F404-IN20 engine, which churns out 84 kN thrust, enabling the Tejas MK1A to reach a speed of up to Mach 1.8 and altitude of 52,000 feet. The warplane also has mid-air refuelling capability, which increases its flight duration and range.
Tejas MK1 has a maximum takeoff weight of 13,500 kg, and is capable of carrying up to 8-9 tons of weapons. Why Tejas MK1A is being equipped with Astra Mk1 BVRAAM missile?
The Astra Mk1 is a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile developed by DRDO, which capable of striking enemy fighter jets from a distance of over 100 kms with pinpoint accuracy. Manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), the missile is already equipped on the IAF's Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Tejas fleets.
The homegrown BVR missile has a range of up to 110-km, and uses the indigenous AESA radar for precise strikes even when complex electronic countermeasures are deployed.
The Astra MK1A can reach speeds of up to Mach 2.2, and costs Rs 7-8 crore per missile, making it a lot cheaper than its exported counterparts such as the MBDA Meteor, which cost a whopping Rs crore per unit.
In August 2023, the first successful test fire of the Astra MK1 was conducted from a Tejas MK1 off the Goa coast at an altitude of 20,000 feet, while in March this year, the missile accurately struck its target from a 100+ km distance after being fired from a Tejas Mk1 prototype from Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha.
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