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How Many Tejas Does India Have?       

Tejas is one of the best birds on the Indian fighter aircraft list. It is manufactured by an Indian company named Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The HAL Tejas has been very effective in all the missions it has been assigned to.

Today, we will look at some information about the Tejas aircraft. We will study its history, speed, world ranking, etc. We will also find an answer to the main question: how many Tejas does India have? So without making it any later, let's hop in!

History of HAL Tejas 

Produced in 2001, Tejas is India's second aircraft that was made by HAL. Tejas took its first flight on January 4, 2001. It was introduced in 2015. This jet took part in the Gagan Shakti, one of India's biggest events in 2018.

 

Tejas aircraft were even in another program known as Vayu Shakti in 2019, where they showed their amazing air presence. The first operational mission happened in 2020 when these Indian-made fighter jets were deployed over the LOC in Pakistan. 

How Fast Can the Tejas Fighter Jet Fly? 

Among all the aircraft that India owns, the Tejas fighter jet's speed is one of the greatest. The Tejas Mk1A can fly at a maximum speed of 2200 km/hour. However, the speeds vary for different variants of the aircraft. On comparing Tejas with other recent foreign jets, one can see that the speed difference is not so great. The Indian Tejas fighter plane can reach speeds more than the other popular ones.

How Many Tejas Does India Have?

So the main question is: how many Tejas does India have? The answer is 40! Yes, India, at present, has 35+ Tejas aircraft that are fully functional and active. However, the numbers are going to increase very soon, as the IAF aims to have more than 320 Tejas Indian fighter jets in the fleet. It includes orders of 30+ Tejas Mark 1s, 70+ Tejas Mark 1As, 15+ Tejas Mark 1 trainers, and the Tejas Mark 2, which is still in production.

Different Variants of Tejas Aircraft 

Production Variants 

1. Tejas Mark 1.

2. Tejas Trainer. 

3. Tejas Mark 1A.

Future Variants 

1. Tejas Mark 2.

2. SPORT (Supersonic Omni-Role Trainer).

3. Tejas Trainer - NP 5 based. 

4. CATS MAX (Combat Air Teaming System)

Terminated Variants 

1. Tejas Mark 1 Navy

2. Tejas Mark 2 Navy

3. Tejas Trainer IN

How Much Does One Tejas Fighter Jet Cost? 

The cost of fighter jets is at its peak, especially after World War II, when every country is trying their best to procure the maximum amount of arsenal. The Indian fighter aircraft Tejas is directly proportional to the version that is being used. 

Tejas Mark 1A costs 60 million+ in USD, or 450+ crore in INR. This cost is for the latest Tejas aircraft with an in-flight refuelling system and a special radar called AESA. With further upgrades and modifications, prices are expected to rise further. 

How Does the Tejas Rank Among Fighter Jets Worldwide? 

The Tejas fighter plane's world ranking fully pivots on what basis we are ranking it. There are many functions that an aircraft can perform, and each type is assigned a specific role. If it is about warfare, HAL Tejas' world ranking is not really close to other fighter aircraft present all around the globe. 

However, Tejas would rank as outstanding if the talk were about a fighter jet with a good conveying capacity. This Indian-made fighter aircraft can carry up to 6.5 tonnes of load while being so light in weight. The best thing about these aircraft is that they have a maximum range of 1800 km. 

Weapon Specifications of Tejas 

Unlike any other fighter jet, Tejas has a great carrying capacity, as discussed earlier. Hence, a good stock of weapons can be mounted on the aircraft. Here is a list of weapons that are equipped in the Indian fighter aircraft Tejas:

Guns 

Tejas carries twin-barreled machine guns and a Russian autocannon called the GAh-23. 

Rockets 

Tejas will carry a Russian rocket known as the S-8 rocket. 

Missile 

Air-to-air Missile 

1. R-73

2. I–Derby

3. Python-5

4. ASRAAM

5. Astra Mark 1

6. R-77

Air-to-ground Missile 

1. Kh-59, Kh-59L and Kh-59T

2. AASM-Hammer

3. BrahMos-NG 

Anti-radiation Missile 

Rudram 1, an anti-radiation missile, is planned for now but has not been implemented yet.

Anti-Ship Missile 

1. Kh-35

2. Kh-59MK

Bombs 

Precision Guided Bombs 

1. Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)

2. HSLD-100/250/450/500

3. DRDO Glide Bombs

4. Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA)

5. Spice

Laser Guided Bombs 

1. KAB-1500L

2. Sudarshan

3. GBU-16 Paveway II

Bombs Without Guidance 

1. BetAB-500 Shp

2. ZAB-250/350

3. FAB-250

4. FAB-500

5. ODAB-500PM

Others 

1. To escape the heat-reading radars of enemy territory, Tejas uses Flares as a Countermeasure Dispensing System (CMDS).

2. Targeting Pods are used by the aircraft to attack the enemy with proper precision.

Future of HAL Tejas 

Tejas Mark-II, made by ADA and HAL, is one of the best versions of the HAL Tejas. IAF has currently ordered 108 Tejas Mark-II. This variant of the Tejas is better than all the other variants of the aircraft that were ever produced. It has an extended airframe, better sensors, and stronger engines. 

The Tejas Mark-II is being made keeping in mind that it should be better than the Jaguar, Mirage, and MiG fighter jets. It will have a range of 2500 km, which is outstanding compared to other Indian aircraft. Also, the Tejas Mark II is expected to carry a maximum load of 6500 kg.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the Tejas fighter plane is one of the most durable fighter planes made in India. The best thing about it is its ability to carry heavy payloads. And the upcoming versions, like the Tejas Mark-II, are far better than the aircraft that India has bought from other countries. India has ordered 320+ Tejas aircraft, which will dominate the air soon.