For the first time, made-in-India fighter jet ‘Tejas’ will demonstrate its electronic warfare (EW) capability besides firing missiles to destroy targets in the air and on the ground at Pokhran firing range during the Indian Air Force (IAF)’s exercise titled “Iron Fist” on Friday.
The electronic warfare (EW) suite, designed by Defence Avionics & Research Establishment (DARE) and Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), both Bengaluru-based enterprises, is effective against modern radar-guided weapon systems. These systems are designed to enhance the survivability of the fighter by suppressing radar systems.
Sources in IAF told this newspaper that three ‘Tejas’ fighters were flown from Bengaluru to the western sector by a crew led by Commodore Jaideep Maolonkar, chief test pilot at National Flight Test Centre (NFTC), Bengaluru. The fighters would also demonstrate their fire power during the event.
The sources said the fighters would shoot down aerial targets dropped by other aircraft with the help of R-73 close combat air-to-air missiles. The Vympel R-73, the most modern Russian short-range air-to-air missile, has been test-fired by ‘Tejas’ several times during exercises off the west coast, and over the Pokhran firing range. It is an all-aspect short-range missile with cooled infra-red homing. The missile can intercept targets at altitudes between 0.02km and 20km, with target speeds of up to 2,500 km per hour. The sources said targets on the ground would be decimated by the fighters with laser-guided bombs.