Source : Indian Defence Analysis
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| A screengrab from AVIATION WALL (Twitter @AviationWall) video posted on Twitter about Flying LCA Tejas (possibly Mk-1A testbed) |
The LCA Makr1A secretly took its first flight on 20th May 2022 and there was no footage or pic shared for the same except for the sweet box pic marking its celebration. However, the LCA Mark1A has been spotted now.
Recently, Aviation Wall has shared a video on twitter “Chasing the TEJAS 
the raw sound from the cockpit”. We cannot share the video due to copyright protection, however, would recommend you watch it from twitter, the link is in description section. The noticeable points on the video was the LCA tejas which was filmed was with tail number LA-5021 or SP-25.
Chasing the TEJAS 🤙 the raw sound from the cockpit 👌#lightcombataircraft #madeinindia
🎥 @AviationWall x @zone5aviation pic.twitter.com/AZ5LKAveRC— AviationWall™️ (@AviationWall) February 24, 2023
As we already know that IAF has allotted HAL a Tejas Mark 1, numbered SP-25 (series production aircraft number 25), for integrating the modification required for Tejas Mark1A. The SP-25 will act as a test platform for the entire production line of the Mk1A version and will undergo certification tests over coming months. HAL is expected to complete the development trials of the Tejas MK1A by the end of year 2023. As per contract, HAL is required to deliver the first three aircraft in 2024 and 16 aircraft annually for the next five years. HAL is confident of delivering first LCA Tejas Mark1A by February 2024.
New RWR on LCA Tejas Mark1A
Another noticeable point was RWR on LCA Tejas. Recently we have posted a detailed article on RWR and ASPJ being developed by DRDO for SU-30 MKI and LCA Tejas. These two EW components are next-generation weapons which are going to change the rules of arial engagement towards Indian Air Force.
The LCA Tejas Makr1A is going to feature 6 RWR around the aircraft providing it 360-degree coverage against hostile RF signal from missiles or FCR. The RWR can also transfer the data to self-protection jammer to jam the incoming hostile RF signal.
The video of LCA Tejas Mark1A flying with RWR hints that the aircraft development is at advance stage.
Tejas Mark-1A improvements
The Tejas Mk1A is going to be an upgraded version of the final operational clearance (FOC) configuration (Mk1) with 80 per cent of the detail components being the same. Tejas MK 1A will have 43 improvements over the Mark-1 version.
At present, the LCA is equipped with 344 systems — 210 are indigenous and 134 are imported, however in Mark-1A the imported systems will be reduced to about 80.
Many LRUs (Line Replaceable Units) will be re-positioned & new LRUs are to be included too, keeping in mind the maintainability easiness. IAF wants airframe panels that can be replaced without taking too much time and these will be supplied to the IAF with quick-release fasteners.
EW & Missiles
The major highlights of Mark-1A version is going to be indigenous UTTAM AESA radar, an electronic warfare (EW) suite that includes a jammer, the Combined Interrogator and Transponder (CIT) – an IFF plus system, a digital map generator, indigenous Beyond Visual Range missiles ‘Aastra’ and MBDA’s Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM).
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| A LCA Tejas prototype with Uttam AESA radar on its nose cone for display (File Photo) |
The development trials of both Astra mark-1 and ASRAAM is planned to be complete before the delivery of Tejas Mark-1A starts. The carriage as well as the captive trials of both the missiles are complete and the next set of user and developmental trials is expected soon.
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| An Indian Air Force LCA Tejas Mk-1 with indigenous Astra Mk-1 Beyond Visual Range Air to Air missile having an official range of 110km at Aero India 2023 |
Tejas has already been integrated with Israel’s I-Derby ER and Python-5 missiles. I-Derby ER missile is a long-range air-to-air missile having an operational range of up to 100km with a maximum speed of Mach 4 & two-way data link. The Python-5 is the newest member of the Israeli Python family of short-range air-to-air missiles.
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| A LCA Tejas two-seater variant with Derby BVRAAM and Python-5 WVRAAM showcased for display (File Photo) |
