Cabinet Committee on Security approves Tejas Mark-2 Project

Tags: Defence National News

The Cabinet Committee on Security approved the Tejas Mark-2 Project on 1 September. 

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• The committee has approved Rs 6,500 crore for the design and development of Tejas Mark-2 fighter jet with prototype, flight testing and certification.

• This allocation is in addition to the existing Rs 2500 crore sanctioned to HAL.

Features of Tejas Mark-2 fighter jet :

• It will be equipped with more powerful GE- F414 engines in the 98 Kilonewton thrust class.

• The engine will enable it to extend its flight range and carry additional payloads and weapons compared to the current version.

• The payload capacity of Tejas Mark-2 jet will be four tonnes as compared to three tonnes of the current version.

• It will also be equipped with an indigenously developed Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which will be a upgraded version of the existing ELTA's EL/M-2032 multi-mode radar.

Significance :

• Its importance has increased due to the rapidly dwindling strength of the fighter squadrons of the Indian Air Force and the phasing out of MiG-21 aircraft in the coming years.

• This decision will give a boost to indigenous design and development of next generation fighter aircraft.