In what constitutes a new step for the development of indigenous air capabilities, India has confirmed that it will equip its new LCA Tejas Mk1A fighters with ASRAAM air-to-air missiles to replace the Russian-origin R-73 currently in use, whose development has been carried out by the company MBDA. Anticipating that in the future this missile will become the standard for its fleets, New Delhi is currently exploring possibilities for local production, which would also facilitate its potential incorporation into the Su-30MKI fighter fleets that also use the R-73.
The announcement was made by the president and CEO of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Dr. D. K. Sunil, who spoke about it after the missile integration phase in the mentioned aircraft was completed. Pending validation tests to ensure proper functionality, the executive expects that future LCA Tejas Mk1A fighters will be equipped with a missile capable of neutralizing targets up to 25 kilometers away, featuring an infrared seeker and being especially effective when used in conjunction with the aircraft’s AESA radar.
Additionally, according to local media, India also plans for its new fighters to be armed with Israeli weaponry, specifically the CCM Python-5 manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems. These missiles have 360-degree attack capability and high performance even when fired off-target, and when used together with the ASRAAMs mentioned above, they will provide Indian pilots with considerable short-range combat capability.
It is useful to note that India is advancing with these tests and plans while awaiting the delivery of 97 new LCA Tejas Mk1A fighters, whose purchase was confirmed last week. This represents a significant batch of combat aircraft intended to replace the now-obsolete and recently retired Soviet-designed MiG-21s, which served in the country’s Air Force for over six decades; thus preventing a larger gap in operational squadrons compared to the numbers required by current strategies. To acquire them, New Delhi invested approximately 62,370 million rupees, around 700 million U.S. dollars.
Finally, returning to the initial point, it is important to mention that the integration of ASRAAMs into the LCA Tejas Mk1A arsenal is only a first step in India’s plans. Intentions have already been indicated for these missiles to also be incorporated into the Su-30MKI fighters of the Indian Armed Forces, as well as into the older SEPECAT Jaguars. In the case of the latter, which entered service in the 1970s, India has already stated that the incorporation of the MBDA-developed missile is part of their upgrade plans, aiming to extend the service life of the platform, which India remains the only nation to operate today.
*Images used for illustrative purposes
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