HAL Tejas LCA vs JF-17 Thunder: Who won the battle?

Few days back I had gone through from an interview of Indian Air Chief  RKS Bhadauria who claim that  LCA Tejas was far more better than JF-17 Thunder, better equipped for air strike. 

So, I thought why not compare these two aircraft with proper research or analyze it neutrally. I'm pretty much sure after reading this blog you're capable to judge which aircraft is better or more equipped. 

Hal Tejas LCA:

Government of India had signed a deal with Hindustan Aeronautical Complex (HAL) in 1983 for 83 Hal Tejas aircraft production but due to some major reason this deal took 37 years to make only 16 Tejas by the year 2020 which raise a serious concern over the production rate, why it takes more than three decades? this question will be answered in the last part of this blog. 

Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is an Indian origin, single engine, multi role light fighter manufactured by HAL and designed by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) with the collaboration of Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) for the needy requirement of Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.

Basically in 1980's, IAF realized that in their air fleet a need of combat aircraft for two primary reasons. The first and foremost reason is to replace Russian MIG-21 aircraft, which is a front line aircraft of IAF since 1970's, which is about to reach the end of their service by 1995 in future. Resulted, IAF would lack 40% of the aircraft needed to fill its projected structured requirements.

The other main objective is to promote the India's domestic aerospace industry. The self-reliance initiative was not only for aircraft's production, but for the building of a local industry capable of creating products, and can compete with global market. 

There first squadron No 45 Squadron IAF (Flying Daggers) was equipped with Tejas in July 2011. The second Tejas squadron was formed as Sulur on 27 May 2020, namely Squadron 18.        

JF-17 Thunder:

The JF-17 Thunder was built jointly by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and Chengdu Aircraft Corporation by China. It is a low cost, fourth generation, multi role combat aircraft, light weight, single engine. The weightage of production distributed as 58% PAC hold and 42% CAC hold. Detail

 

You can find the detail on JF-17 Thunder on the above mention link.

Brief Comparison:

Specification:                     Hal Tejas              JF-17 Thunder

• Origin                                  India                        China/Pakistan
• Max takeoff weight     29,762lb (13,500kg)    27,300lb (12,385kg)
• Hardpoints                              8                                     7
• Service ceiling                 15,500m                           16,920m
• Max Speed                       1.8 Mach                         1.6 Mach
• Takeoff distance                460m                                610m
• Empty weight            14,400lb (6,550kg)           14,517lb (6,585kg)
• Range                               3,200km                           3,482km
• Height                          14.44ft (4.40m)               15.49ft (4.72m)
• Length                              43.31ft                             48.98ft 
• Production Units                  33                                   155
• Internal fuel capacity     2,500litres                        2,300litres
• Engine max thrust            89.8kN                           85.31kN
• Unit cost                     40million USD (approx)   30million USD (approx) 
• Armament                      Limited options          Plenty of Options
• Mid air refueling               Yes                                      No

What we get from these specifications?

Well, there is no doubt about the capability of these two aircraft in fact both are capable for modern warfare but if you look it from broader aspect you can find astonished things about LCA Tejas, although it is quite better in some aspect of JF-17 Thunder, but on the contrary Tejas is supposed to be headache for Indian Air Force.

How ? as it takes 37 years to be on ground and you might be think why it takes so long, actually in the beginning of the production of Tejas its main components got worse with the time, first its Kaveri engine got failed which is later replaced with American GE F414 engine, then its multi mode radar which is also replaced with Israeli Radar ELM 2032, worst thing radome was also being import from UK, air refueling system imported from Israel, so if you sum up all the factors around 70% material of Tejas is imported, so why India called it self-reliance? 

        

Another aspect if India think its a better aircraft than JF-17 Thunder so why India only produced only 33 units of Tejas including trainee aircraft? why India mostly rely on Dassault Rafale knowing the fact that it is expensive? these question still unanswered.          

The most highlight issue is its maintenance which make it more expensive in future and if a country stop its exporting so should India have alternatives? these concern also influence the global market.

Why JF-17 Thunder has more buyer while Tejas has none in Global Arms Market?

I'll just highlight some main reason of better prospectus of JF-17 Thunder than Tejas:

• Tejas has small integrated weapon system than JF-17 Thunder
• JF-17 Thunder is a better slotted plane which offers multiple replacement option MIG 21-27 and Chinese J6 or J7 type or older American fighters.
• The price tag of JF-17 Thunder is more reliable than HAL Tejas
• Tejas is supposed to be a very confused aircraft in global market, as it doesn't fit in market segment.
• JF-17 Thunder mostly uses  Pakistan, Chinese and Russian equipment which is clear to re-export to other countries.
• While Tejas integrated American engines, Israeli radar and other foreign equipment which surely not allow to re-export 3rd countries.
• Currently there is no major operator of Tejas even though Indian Air Force which only has a handful of these aircraft in service, while JF-17 Thunder majorly operate in PAF and with that Myanmar and Nigeria also operate JF-17 Thunder.