The Indian Air Force is preparing to buy 114 new Rafales from France to fulfill the shortage of fighter jets in its fleet. The Defense Ministry is engaged in deep brainstorming regarding this. There is speculation that this deal may be sealed during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India next month. Meanwhile, India has taken important steps towards strengthening its defense capabilities.
India is preparing to equip its fleet of fighter jets purchased from France with indigenous air-to-air Astra MK1 and Astra MK2 Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles (BVRAM). Testing regarding this will start in the next two years i.e. by 2028.

Su-30MKI and Tejas fighter jets also equipped with Astra

According to defense news website Defense.in, this initiative is an important part of the Indian Air Force’s roadmap to increase operational flexibility while promoting self-reliance in defense technology. Let us tell you that Astra MK1, which is already equipped in fighter jets like Sukhoi-30MKI and LCA Tejas, provides a strike range of more than 100 kilometers.

Astra MK2 will increase firepower

Not only this, in the coming time, Rafale and Sukhoi-30 will also be upgraded with Astra MK2, due to which their range will increase from 100 km to 160 km. Along with this, this missile will compete with missiles like Meteor made by European countries. According to defense sources, the fighter jet and its manufacturers Dassault Aviation and Thales have agreed to provide necessary technical support for this programme.

Their participation is crucial to develop specific software upgrades that enable Indian missiles to effectively coordinate with Rafale’s advanced RBE2 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and its combat management system. This cooperation ensures that the fighter jet can fully utilize the guidance and targeting capabilities of the Astra missiles. It will have to go through many stages before going into a war-like situation.

Tension between China and Pakistan will increase!

As soon as the news of upgrade of Rafale fighter jets is heard, the tension of Pakistan as well as China is going to increase. In fact, the way India is equipping its fighter jets with missiles like Astra, such technology is also used by European countries and America. Therefore, upgrading Indian indigenous missiles will make Rafale even more dangerous.

The country has made a mega deal of about 120 Tejas MK2 fighter aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). With the involvement of these aircraft, the fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be more powerful. HAL has made it clear that the company will hand over 30 fighter jets to the Air Force every year, so that the old MIG-29, Mirage-2000 and Jaguar aircraft can be filled in time. It is estimated that the final order of the Indian Air Force (IAF) may be more than 200 aircraft. This step is a major achievement towards India’s military modernization and self -sufficiency in the defense sector.

Tejas MK2 will replace old fighter jets

The Indian Air Force is going to remove its old fighter aircraft in the coming years. These include Russia’s MIG-29, France’s Mirage-20000 and Anglo-French’s Jaguar. Their total number is about 230. After these aircraft retires, the Air Force will need new modern aircraft and Tejas MK2 will be included to meet this need.

What is HAL’s plan?

The Indian Air Force has initially ordered 120 Tejas MK2 order to HAL, but the number of old aircraft is close to 230, so the final order can be more than 200. HAL is planning to increase its production capacity keeping this possibility in mind.

What is special in Tejas MK2?

Tejas MK2 is a 4.5 generation of medium weight multi-rol fighter aircraft. This Tejas is more powerful and modern than MK1A. It will have a General Electric F414 engine, which will make it more powerful. It will have the UTTAM AESA radar made in the country, which will greatly increase the capacity to monitor and target the target. This aircraft will also be able to use modern weapons, including India’s own long -range Astra missile. Tejas MK2 has been designed in such a way that it can fill the technical gap between existing aircraft and the fifth generation AMCA aircraft to be built in the future.

How many Tejas will be ready every year?

According to the report of the website named Defense.com, HAL has already prepared three assembly lines for Tejas MK1A. 30 aircraft will be made every year by 2028 from these lines. For Tejas MK2, HAL has fixed the initial production rate of 24 aircraft per year. Accordingly, the Air Force will get 120 aircraft by 2036. If the final order is more than 200, HAL will increase its capacity to 30 aircraft per year. In this way, delivery of a large number of aircraft can be completed on time.

Large partnership in engine manufacture

The engines for Tejas MK2 will be made in India only. For this, there has been a historic agreement between HAL and American company General Electric. Under this agreement, the GE F414 engines will be prepared under license production in India itself. This is a big step towards self -sufficient Bharat Abhiyan.

When will the first Tejas fighter jet fly?

Tejas MK2 development works are moving fast. The first flight of this fighter jet is likely to be held in the year 2027. After this, its serial production will be started from 2031. The scheme will play an important role in meeting the war capacity and future needs of the Indian Air Force.

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