India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft has added the Israeli
5th generation Python-5 Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) in its weapons capability.
An official having knowledge about this stated, "Python-5 missile live firing was
conducted to validate target engagement from all aspects as well as beyond visual ranges.
In all the live firings, missiles hit the aerial target".
Viewers may note that India is inducting the Tejas in considerable numbers.
The Cabinet Committee on Security led by Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi approved the purchase of 73 Tejas LCA or Light Combat Aircraft
fighter jets and 10 trainer aircraft for a cost of around ₹ 45,700 crores.
In this video Defense Updates analyzes how Israeli Python-5 would significantly
increase the combat effectiveness of India's Tejas Light Combat Aircraft?
Let's get into the details.
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Tejas is the first fighter jet India has developed. It has been the center of
considerable attention in India as well as around the world. It has received lots of criticism also,
due to the extended development timeline of more than 30 years.
The Tejas is a single-engine, fourth-generation, multirole light fighter designed by the
Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with Aircraft Research and Design
Centre (ARDC) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.
It originated from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program, which began in the 1980s to replace
India's aging fleet of Russian MiG-21 fighters. In 2003, the LCA was officially named "Tejas"
It is powered by a single GE
404F2/J-IN20 turbofan, which offers 53.9 kN dry thrust and 90 kN with an afterburner.
The maximum payload capability of Tejas is 5,300 kg or 11,684 lb.
All weapons are carried on one or more of seven hardpoints
-three stations under each wing and one on the under-fuselage centreline.
Importantly Mark-1A variant is equipped with an Israeli Elta Active Electronically Scanned Array
(AESA) radar. An AESA radar has a longer range and better resistance to jamming.
The Python is a family of air-to-air missiles (AAMs) built by the Israeli weapons manufacturer
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Currently, the missiles are in
service with the armed forces of over fifteen countries from around the world.
Python-5 is the newest member in the range of Python AAMs.
It is the most accurate and reliable AAM
of the Israeli Air Force and one of the most sophisticated guided missiles in the world.
The development of Python-5 began in the 1990s. The missile was unveiled for the first time
during the Paris Air Show in June 2003. The first operational kill by Python-5
was in August 2006 during the Lebanon War. The missile was fired from an F-16 Fighting Falcon
and destroyed an Iranian-made Ababil-T UAV launched by Hezbollah.
Python-5 has a length of 3.1m, wingspan of 64 cm and diameter of
16 cm. The weight of the missile is 105 kg or 231 lbs and it carries an 11 kg or
24 lbs high explosive fragmentation warhead equipped with an active laser proximity fuse.
The missile has a range of 20 km or 12 miles and a max speed of Mach 4.
Python-5 incorporates the aerodynamic airframe of the Python-4 missile. It also retains the
inertial navigation system (INS), rocket motor, warhead and proximity fuse of its predecessor.
The Python-5 is said to have full sphere launch ability that is it is an all-aspect missile,
meaning it can be launched at a target regardless of the target's location
relative to the direction of the launching aircraft. It can lock onto targets after launch,
even when they are up to 100 degrees off the boresight of the launching aircraft.
The missile has excellent imaging IR seeker that allow the missile to ‘create’ an Infrared image
of the target rather than just pick up points of infra-red radiation.
This kind of advanced imaging infrared enables a missile to detect
and avoid infra-red countermeasures such as flares launched by an enemy aircraft.
Also, the presence of imaging infrared seeker and 'state of art' algorithms onboard Python-5 enables
it to acquire small and low-signature targets, which includes even the UAVs and cruise missiles.
Tejas is now equipped or tested with at least four air-to-air missiles, which includes Python-5,
R-73E, Derby and I-Derby.
It is also being integrated with India's indigenously developed
Astra Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile.
The Russian R-73 heat-seeking missile deployed for decades by the Indian Air Force aircraft
lacked an Imaging IR seeker, which makes it susceptible to modern countermeasures.
The weapon is no longer viable in modern warfare and India needed an alternative.
This is where Python-5 comes into the picture.
What sets Python-5 apart is that it has been battle-tested in wars around the world
and has turned out to be a reliable weapon against strong adversaries.
Interestingly Israeli Air Force plans to arm the
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighters with Python-5 missiles
Python-5 will be a great asset for Tejas and give it a potent punch.
Indo- Israeli tie, especially in the defense sector,
is growing stronger and this will further consolidate it.