The Indian Air Force has finalized an agreement with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) for the future integration of sophisticated weaponry and sensors into the light combat aircraft Tejas to meet the demands of modern warfare for faster, more accurate, and powerful munitions.
Advancements in defensive systems and early-warning sensors are imperative. Thus, the ADA will develop or facilitate the creation of these high-caliber armaments and sensors. This allows the Air Force to verify the Tejas fighter jet's operational capacity after completing sensor integration, weapon system tests, and flight trials.
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Source: aajtak
Let’s explore the arsenal that will fortify the Tejas in the times ahead...
Astra Mk-3...
Currently under trial, this air-to-air 'Beyond Visual Range' missile (BVRAAM) can strike from distances up to 350 kilometers and ascend to 66,000 feet. With a speed of 5557 km/h, this missile, equipped with a ramjet engine, zooms at supersonic speeds towards enemy targets. Tests were successfully carried out in 2023.
TARA...
Standing for Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation, TARA is a guided stand-off precision strike weapon, varying in range from 50 to 100 kilometers and available in three weight variants: 250 Kg, 450 Kg, and 500 Kg, each incorporating a high-explosive warhead.
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NASM-MR...
This medium-range naval anti-ship missile with a range between 250 to 350 kilometers and a speed of 864 km/h is set to be deployed both aboard warships and within the Tejas. Its swift pace is poised to fortify naval warfare capabilities.
Source: aajtak
Rudram Missile...
An advanced, precise, high-speed air-to-surface anti-radiation missile, Rudram bolsters the Indian Air Force's attack prowess. With three variants—Rudram-1, Rudram-2, and Rudram-3—each carrying warheads of differing weights, they offer ranges from 150 to 550 kilometers and speeds ranging from 2500 km/h to 6791 km/h.
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Brahmos-NG...
A next-gen evolution of the Brahmos missile, boasting a range of 290 kilometers, this lean missile adopts the 'fire-and-forget' approach. It's designed in multiple variants for launch from land, sea, and air, speeding at 3704 km/h, making it an exceptionally fast supersonic cruise missile.
