Posted on 01/28/2011 6:37:04 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Troubled Tejas edges toward service
By Greg Waldron
India's Tejas light combat aircraft is about to enter service more than two decades after it was conceived to replace the country's ageing MiG-21s
Few of the aircraft that will perform at Aero India have inspired as much opprobrium - or pride - as Hindustan Aeronautics' Tejas light combat aircraft.
After an agonising development process, the long-delayed fighter is finally approaching Indian air force service. Throughout its long history, the Tejas has had no shortage of critics, but if all the Tejas models that adorn the offices of India's aerospace industry mean anything, it is also a source of pride to the country's still nascent aerospace industry. It is an indigenous fighter, albeit one that benefits greatly from foreign equipment.
Despite its troubled past, the Tejas - named after the Sanskrit word for radiance - is finally entering service, more than two decades after it was conceived as a replacement for India's ageing Mikoyan MiG-21s.
© Aeronautical Development Agency
India's Tejas light combat aircraft is about to enter service more than two decades after it was conceived to replace the country's ageing MiG-21s
The aircraft received initial operational clearance on 11 January. This paved the way for Hindustan Aeronautics to take up series production of 40 Mk I examples of the Tejas on order for the Indian air force. The company has the infrastructure in place to roll out 10 of the General Electric F404-IN20-powered aircraft a year, with the first due to be handed over before the end
(Excerpt) Read more at flightglobal.com ...
I’m curious as to why they are calling it Tejas...does anyone know why?
I thought that was interesting too. The article says it was named after the Sanskrit word for radiance.
Well, they’re wrong! LOL!
We all know the meaning of Tejas, don’t we?
wonder what a batch of drones would have generated for the same dollars
You’re saying the Indians named their fighter “Texas?”
That’s what it looks like to me! (Just being a bit silly here.....)
Could be—but then the longhorn wouldn’t fit—LOL!
“Tejas, a Sanskrit synonym for fire; light; brightness; lord of speed”
It is also an American indian word that meant “friend”, name of the State of Texas is said to have originated there.
Looks like a really nice 1960s design. Sounds like they are as good with planes as they are with tanks. Wouldn’t want to get on one of those submarines that they are developing.
60s design?? It was designed to replace the Mig-21/23/27 series at a cheap rate. It does that pretty well.
About the Arjun tank-I think we’ve been over that a few times. The problems with it are primarily related to the army’s unwillingness to change from the Russian T-series. Hand them an Abrams or Challenger and they will say the same thing. Too big to use bridges or rail carriages and too expensive.
OK, 50s design. Looks like an updated Mirage III to me.
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