New Delhi — India’s indigenous fighter jet Tejas Mark-1A is set to carry out crucial weapon trials before its induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF) later this month.
Sources confirmed that the aircraft will test three separate weapons — the beyond-visual-range Astra missile, the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), and a laser-guided bomb — to validate all combat parameters before delivery.
Two jets are scheduled to be handed over to the IAF this month under the ₹48,000 crore contract for 83 aircraft awarded to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in February 2021. The Mark-1A is a significantly upgraded version of the first-generation Tejas, of which 40 are already in service.
The Astra missile, designed by DRDO, has already been test-fired successfully in March, hitting an aerial target at a distance of up to 110 km. It will undergo another round of firing during the current trials. The ASRAAM, being produced under licence by Bharat Dynamics Limited, is expected to boost the Tejas’ close combat capabilities in forward-deployed bases. The laser-guided bomb will undergo final certification, adding precision strike capabilities against static enemy positions.
The IAF has also integrated similar advanced weapons with its Rafale fleet, including the French-made Hammer system, and work on Tejas integration began in 2020.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh recently said HAL has made steady progress in preparing the jets. “Hopefully, the first two of those are going to be delivered with weapons integration this September,” he noted, adding that ten aircraft are already in advanced stages of readiness.
The delivery marks a major milestone in India’s efforts to strengthen its indigenous defence capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign platforms.
