Even as the Indian Air Force (IAF) is awaiting the delivery of single-engine, multirole combat aircraft HAL Tejas MkII, which is likely to happen by 2029-30, the IAF is looking at creating an in-house team to manage feedback, bring in changes and upgrades for the fighter jets whenever necessary.
According to IDRW, this is intended at reducing dependency on Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)—which in collaboration with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is developing the fighter jets—for software-related updates and modification.
The in-house team is expected to help streamline the process of software upgrades for Tejas MkII, reduce costs and ensure that the latest variant of the fighter jet, when inducted into the IAF fleet, is regularly updated. Currently, the IAF is dependent on HAL for any such upgrades and this is also leading to development costs.
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The Aircraft Systems and Testing Establishment (ASTE) of the IAF, which is responsible for the evaluation and testing of aircraft and airborne systems is expected to play a major role in this initiative.
The in-house unit would assess feedback from operational squadrons and implement necessary enhancements.
Tejas MkII, also known as the Medium Weight Fighter (MWF) is a significant upgrade over the earlier Tejas MkI and is designed to replace older aircraft of the IAF, including the Dassault Mirage 2000, and Mikoyan MiG-29.
It has been described as a 4.5-generation machine with a 21st-century look and is developed as an advanced stealth version of the Tejas, to be used for air-to-air combat, interception, ground attack, and air defense.
