Tejas Gears Up for Advanced Armament: Astra MkIII, BrahMos-NG, Tara Smart Munitions, and More

Defense News ,India : - The Indian Air Force (IAF) is doing something big to make its Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) even better. They're teaming up with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), and the IAF's Software Development Institute (SDI) is taking the lead. Their goal is to add more powerful weapons to the latest Tejas Mk1A fighter.

Building a Strong Arsenal

India has big plans for its air combat, and the upgrades to Tejas show it. They're thinking of adding some cool stuff, like:

1. Astra Mk-III: This is a super long-range missile that can hit targets over 300km away, making Tejas more effective in fights.

2. Tara Smart Munitions: These precision-guided munitions, offered in 250kg, 450kg, and 500kg variants, would enhance the Tejas' strike  capabilities against various ground targets.

3. Rudram and Rudram-II Missiles: Specializing in anti-radiation and air-to-surface roles, these missiles target enemy air defenses and ground installations, making them valuable for suppression or destruction missions.

4. BrahMos-NG: A smaller, lighter version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, the BrahMos-NG would substantially boost the Tejas' standoff strike potential.

If these weapons get added successfully, Tejas will become much more dangerous and versatile.

Doing it Ourselves

What's interesting is that the IAF is letting its own Software Development Institute handle all this. It means they want to rely more on themselves for defense technology.

The SDI will do all the testing, updates, and adjustments needed to make these weapons work perfectly with Tejas. Doing this in-house could make things happen faster compared to depending on outside companies.

Tejas on the Rise

This upgrade plan shows that the Tejas fighter is becoming super important for the IAF. They're getting 83 Tejas Mk1A planes, and there's talk of having more than 200 of them. This proves that the IAF thinks highly of Tejas.

The advanced weapons, managed by the SDI, will make Tejas even more crucial for India's air defense plans. These weapons will also be used in the upcoming Tejas MkII fighters.

Key Points

This Tejas upgrade is a big step for India to become a top aerospace power. By creating advanced weapons and taking control of the integration process, the IAF is getting ready to act faster and depend less on foreign companies, especially in tricky global situations.