SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is gearing up to induct the Tejas MkII, a 4.5-generation medium-weight fighter jet designed to replace the aging Mirage-2000 fleet, drawing inspiration from the French Rafale while building on the lessons learned from the Tejas Mk1A.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Tejas MkII promises to be India’s largest and most advanced indigenous fighter in the medium-range class. With enhanced capabilities, modern avionics, and a focus on self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the Tejas MkII aims to reduce India’s reliance on Russian-origin jets like the MiG-29 and Su-30 MKI while emulating the Rafale’s multirole prowess to counter regional threats from China and Pakistan.
The Tejas MkII, also known as the Medium Weight Fighter (MWF), is a significant upgrade over the Tejas Mk1 and Mk1A, addressing their limitations in range, payload, and combat versatility. Designed to replace the IAF’s 50 Mirage-2000 jets, which have been in service since the 1980s and proved their worth during the 1999 Kargil War and 2019 Balakot airstrike, the MkII is tailored to meet modern air combat demands. With a length of 14.2 meters, a wingspan of 8.5 meters, and a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 17.5 tons, it is India’s largest medium-range fighter, surpassing the Mk1A’s 13.5 tons MTOW and aligning closer to the Rafale’s 24.5 tons.
The Tejas MkII’s development, sanctioned in 2009 with a budget of ?9,000 crore, is driven by the need to bridge the IAF’s squadron shortfall, currently at 31 against a sanctioned strength of 42. Expected to undertake its first flight by December 2025 and enter limited series production by 2029, the MkII will incorporate lessons from the Tejas Mk1A, which faced delays and performance issues due to the underpowered GE F-404 engine and limited indigenous content. The IAF has committed to procuring 180 Tejas Mk1A jets, but the MkII’s superior capabilities make it the cornerstone of India’s future airpower.
Emulating Rafale: Design and Capabilities
Modelled after the Rafale, a 4.5-generation multirole fighter that excelled in Operation Sindoor in May 2025, the Tejas MkII seeks to replicate its versatility, stealth features, and combat effectiveness while remaining cost-effective and indigenous. Below is a comparison of how the Tejas MkII aims to mimic Rafale capabilities:
1. Aerodynamic Design and Stealth
- Rafale: Features a delta-wing, canard configuration with close-coupled aerodynamics, reducing radar cross-section (RCS) through composite materials (70% of airframe) and serrated edges. Its SPECTRA electronic warfare suite enhances survivability by jamming enemy radars.
- Tejas MkII: Adopts a compound delta-wing with canards, inspired by Rafale, to improve lift, maneuverability, and angle of attack (AoA). Over 50% of its airframe uses composites, lowering RCS, with radar-absorbent materials (RAM) applied to critical areas. The MkII’s design reduces frontal RCS compared to the Mk1A, though it lacks Rafale’s advanced stealth shaping. It integrates an indigenous electronic warfare suite with active cancellation and jamming, drawing from DRDO’s experience with the Su-30 MKI.
2. Engine and Performance
- Rafale: Powered by two Snecma M88-2 engines, delivering 150 kN total thrust, enabling a top speed of Mach 1.8, a combat radius of 1,850 km, and supercruise capability. Its thrust-to-weight ratio (TWR) of 0.98 supports agile dogfights and heavy payloads.
- Tejas MkII: Equipped with a single GE F-414 INS6 engine, providing 98 kN thrust, with a TWR of approximately 0.95, comparable to Rafale’s single-engine performance. The MkII achieves a top speed of Mach 1.8 and a combat radius of 1,500 km, falling short of Rafale’s range but surpassing the Mk1A’s 500 km. The F-414 deal, expected to be finalized by March 2026 with 80% technology transfer, will enable HAL to produce engines by 2029, reducing dependency on Russian AL-31FP engines used in the Su-30 MKI. The MkII lacks supercruise but offers improved fuel efficiency and maintenance over the Mk1A’s F-404.
3. Avionics and Sensors
- Rafale: Boasts a Thales RBE2 AESA radar with 1,000 T/R modules, detecting targets at 200 km, and the OSF (Optronique Secteur Frontal) for passive IRST. Its sensor fusion integrates radar, SPECTRA, and datalinks for network-centric warfare, as demonstrated in Operation Sindoor.
- Tejas MkII: Features the indigenous Uttam AESA radar with 992 T/R modules, offering a 150–200 km detection range, tested successfully on the Tejas Mk1A in 2024. It includes an IRST system for passive targeting and a DRDO-developed sensor fusion suite, enabling integration with the IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS). While less advanced than Rafale’s RBE2, the Uttam’s GaN-based technology ensures scalability, with plans to match Rafale’s capabilities by 2030. The MkII’s glass cockpit, with larger displays than the Mk1A, mirrors Rafale’s ergonomic design.
4. Weapons and Payload
- Rafale: Carries 9.5 tons across 14 hardpoints, including Meteor (200 km BVR missile), SCALP (560 km cruise missile), MICA, and BrahMos-A (Indian variant). Its versatility was proven in Sindoor, striking Pakistani targets with SCALP at standoff ranges.
- Tejas MkII: Supports 6.5 tons across 11 hardpoints, a significant improvement over the Mk1A’s 3.5 tons. It integrates indigenous weapons like the Astra Mk1 (110 km) and Mk2 (160 km) BVR missiles, Rudram anti-radiation missiles, and BrahMos-NG (290 km). The MkII can carry SCALP-equivalent cruise missiles like the Nirbhay, though with a shorter range (1,000 km). While its payload is lower than Rafale’s, the MkII’s weapon suite is tailored for regional threats, with plans to integrate future hypersonic missiles.
5. Multirole Capabilities
- Rafale: Excels in air superiority, ground attack, reconnaissance, and nuclear delivery, with seamless role-switching demonstrated in Balakot and Sindoor. Its ability to penetrate defended airspace and deliver precision strikes makes it a benchmark.
- Tejas MkII: Designed for air-to-air, air-to-ground, and maritime strike roles, with enhanced multirole flexibility over the Mk1A. It can engage enemy fighters with Astra missiles, strike ground targets with Rudram, and attack naval assets with BrahMos-NG. While less versatile than Rafale due to its single-engine design, the MkII’s integration with network-centric systems like IACCS ensures situational awareness comparable to Rafale in regional conflicts.
The Tejas MkII plays a pivotal role in reducing India’s dependence on Russian-origin aircraft, which constitute over 60% of the IAF’s inventory, including 270 Su-30 MKI, 65 MiG-29, and 40 MiG-21 jets. Russian platforms face challenges like high maintenance costs, spare parts shortages due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and limited technology transfer. The Su-30 MKI, while potent, costs ?60 crore annually to maintain per jet, compared to the Tejas Mk1A’s ?12 crore. The MkII, with its GE F-414 engine and indigenous systems, offers lower lifecycle costs and greater reliability.
The IAF’s experience with Russian jets, marked by delays in upgrades and geopolitical risks, has pushed India toward Western and indigenous alternatives. The Rafale’s success and the F-414 deal, with 80% ToT, provide a roadmap for the MkII to achieve self-reliance. By 2035, the IAF aims to phase out MiG-21s and reduce reliance on MiG-29s, with the Tejas MkII and Mk1A forming the backbone of its medium-weight fleet alongside 36 Rafales.
The Tejas MkII, with 70% indigenous content, strengthens India’s defense industrial base, creating jobs and fostering innovation. Its Rafale-inspired design ensures it can counter Pakistan’s J-17 Thunder and China’s J-20 stealth jets, particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Priced at approximately ?8,000 crore for 120 jets, the MkII is half the cost of Rafale (?9,000 crore for 36 jets), making it a cost-effective solution for the IAF’s squadron needs.