India Likely To Unveil Advanced Version Of Tejas Combat Aircraft In 2019

India is likely to introduce prototype of indigenously developed Tejas light combat aircraft's advanced version in 2019.

The project for design and development of Tejas Mk2 was sanctioned in November 2009 at a cost of $370 million. It was thought that MK2 project may not succeed but the recent request for proposals (RFP) indicate that manufacturer may be simultaneously working on MK-1A and MK-2 versions.

Indian aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has floated a tender for the supply of valves and wheel tires for Tejas MK2. The open tender is for domestic as well as global manufacturers, Sputnik News reported Wednesday.

The Indian Air Force had to accept a less advanced version of Tejas due to the delay in getting the MK2 project off the ground. The project has suffered because of the delay in finalization of the engine contract.

Tejas MK2 aims to have home-developed Active Electrically Scanned Array (AESA) radars, unified EW suites, on board oxygen generation systems and upgraded avionics.