Al Tariq Confirms Feasibility Of Munitions On Tejas

DUBAI—A United Arab Emirates-South African joint venture has completed a round of feasibility studies to integrate Al-Tariq precision-guided bombs on Hindustran Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) Tejas Mk. 1 light combat aircraft, UAE defense conglomerate Edge Group announced Nov. 14.

Al Tariq, a joint venture between Edge and South Africa’s Denel, launched the studies in February as part of a campaign to jointly market the Tejas in the Middle East and North Africa with UAE-developed weapons.

“We are proud to be associated with HAL in this strategic campaign to offer high-technology solutions to the Tejas customers in the region,” said Theunis Botha, CEO of Al Tariq.

The joint venture plans to complete integration and qualification of Al Tariq’s Long-Range Precision Guided Munitions (LR-PGMs) on the Tejas fighter in the third quarter of 2024, Edge said in an announcement.

HAL displayed the Tejas Mk 1 alongside the Al Tariq-LR in the static display of the Dubai Airshow here this week.

By adding a wing kit to the standard-range version, the Al Tariq-LR triples the range of the weapon to 120 km (75 mi.) from 40 km.

So far, only the Indian Air Force has ordered the single-engine Tejas, but HAL is marketing the light combat aircraft around the world. The Al Tariq munitions could offer the Tejas another option for armament alongside an already qualified mix of U.S., Russian, Israeli and homegrown Indian bombs.