# Tejas Transformed Into Stealth Fighter: DRDO’s ‘Swayam Raksha Kavach’ Makes Indigenous Jet a Ghost to Enemy Radar
**November 6, 2025** – In a skies-high leap for India's self-reliance, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is shedding its underdog skin. No more just a nimble homegrown fighter zipping through drills—thanks to DRDO's latest wizardry, the "Swayam Raksha Kavach" (SRK), it's evolving into a radar-evading phantom. Announced amid the buzz of the Samanvay 2025 summit in Bangalore, this indigenous electronic warfare (EW) suite turns enemy radars into blind spots, jamming signals and spoofing threats like a digital sleight-of-hand. As border tensions simmer and global arms races accelerate, this upgrade isn't just tech—it's a game-changer for the Indian Air Force (IAF), proving Atmanirbhar Bharat can outfox adversaries without begging for foreign imports. Buckle up; we're diving into how Tejas went from visible target to invisible ace.
## The Spark: Why Tejas Needed a 'Self-Protection Shield'
The Tejas Mk 1A, HAL's pride and the IAF's workhorse-in-waiting, has always punched above its weight—supersonic speeds, delta-wing agility, and a price tag friendlier than Rafales. But in modern dogfights, raw speed isn't enough; survival hinges on staying off radar scopes. Enter SRK: Born from DRDO's labs in 2021, it's an airborne EW powerhouse designed to cloak the jet in electronic fog. Flight tests kicked off last week on a Tejas prototype, signaling India's push to indigenize even the invisible armor of aerial combat. Think of it as Tejas' invisibility cloak— not true stealth like the F-35's radar-absorbent skin, but a smart disruptor that makes the jet "ghost" to foes.
This comes at a pivotal moment: With China flexing J-20 stealth jets along the LAC and Pakistan eyeing JF-17 upgrades, the IAF's 83 ordered Tejas Mk 1As (deliveries ramping up) need every edge. SRK isn't a bolt-on gimmick; it's the evolution of legacy systems, ensuring Tejas doesn't just fight—it outsmarts.
## Decoding SRK: The Tech That Turns Radars to Mush
At its core, Swayam Raksha Kavach is a self-contained EW ecosystem, blending detection, deception, and denial. Here's the breakdown:
- **Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)**: Seamlessly integrated into the Tejas' fuselage, it sniffs out incoming radar locks from miles away—be it ground-based SAMs or enemy fighters. Real-time alerts feed the pilot's heads-up display, turning passive flying into proactive evasion.
- **Jammer Pod**: Slung under a wing hardpoint, this bad boy blasts broadband noise and targeted pulses to drown enemy signals. It doesn't just jam; it deceives—faking decoy echoes to lure missiles astray, much like a magician's misdirection.
- **Upgrades Over Legacy**: SRK builds on the D-29 suite from the MiG-29 era (a decade-old DRDO vet), but with AI-driven smarts for faster threat ID and lower power draw. No more bulky foreign pods; this is lean, mean, and 100% desi.
In layman's terms? If an enemy radar pings Tejas, SRK hits back with electronic static, making the jet vanish like a ghost in the machine. Early tests show it slashing detection ranges by up to 70%, per DRDO whispers—enough to flip the script in contested airspace.
## Flight Path to Frontline: Timeline and Tejas Tango
SRK's journey from blueprint to battlefield is a masterclass in DRDO efficiency:
| Milestone | Details | ETA/Status |
|------------------------|-------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|
| **Development Kickoff**| Lab work starts post-2021, focusing on MiG-29 lineage upgrades | Completed (2021–2024) |
| **Ground Trials** | Integration with Tejas avionics; software sims for jamming algos | Wrapped (Early 2025) |
| **Flight Tests** | Live runs on Mk 1A prototype at Bangalore; threat emulation via ground radars | Ongoing (Oct 2025–Mid 2026)|
| **Full Certification**| IAF greenlight after 100+ sorties; pod tweaks for extreme ops | Mid-2026 |
| **Operational Deployment** | Retrofit on first 40 Tejas Mk 1As; squadrons at Sulur, Nal | End-2026 |
Integration's a breeze: SRK hooks into Tejas' Uttam AESA radar backbone, creating a symbiotic setup where detection feeds jamming in milliseconds. Cost? A fraction of imported EW gear (est. ₹50–100 crore per squadron), keeping the Mk 1A's flyaway at under $50M.
## Sky-High Stakes: What SRK Means for India's Air Edge
This isn't hype—SRK supercharges Tejas' survivability, bridging the gap to fifth-gen dreams like the AMCA (stealth jet slated for 2030s). In a hot war scenario:
- **Against China**: J-10Cs lose lock-ons faster, buying Tejas precious seconds for beyond-visual-range strikes with Astra missiles.
- **Pakistan Frontier**: JF-17s' radars get spoofed, neutralizing AMRAAM threats mid-flight.
- **Broader IAF Boost**: Scalable to Su-30MKI or Rafale, SRK cuts import dependency (India still buys 60% EW from Israel/Russia). It's a stealth-lite multiplier, extending Tejas' legs in SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) roles.
Critics nitpick: True low-observability needs airframe redesign, not just EW. Fair, but SRK's a pragmatic win—affordable armor for now, while AMCA brews. Globally, it puts India in elite company: Like Israel's EW on F-16s or Russia's Khibiny on Su-35s, but homegrown.
## Verdict: From Spark to Shield—Tejas Takes Flight
DRDO's Swayam Raksha Kavach isn't turning Tejas into a full-blown F-22 clone overnight, but it's damn close to making it untouchable. In 2025's powder-keg skies, this EW edge is the difference between dogfight glory and debris. As one defense watcher tweeted, "India’s skies are getting smarter—Electronic Defence, Made in India." With trials humming, expect Tejas squadrons ghosting threats by Diwali 2026.
Aero-enthusiasts, what's your take—does SRK seal Tejas as a frontline star, or just a stopgap? Drop your hot takes below, and if you're geeking out on more desi defense wins, hit subscribe. Jai Hind!
*Disclaimer: Based on public reports as of Nov 6, 2025. Defense tech evolves fast; official DRDO/IAF updates may vary. Not investment or tactical advice.*
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force may receive stealth-capable indigenous fighter jets nearly a decade ahead of schedule. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has reportedly begun flight trials of its advanced electronic warfare system on the Tejas Mk1A light combat aircraft.Known as ‘Swayam Raksha Kavach’ (Self-Defense Shield), the system is designed to make the jet almost impossible to detect on enemy radar. The aircraft is manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s public sector aerospace company.
Tejas Becomes India’s Stealth Warrior
India’s first fifth-generation fighter, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), is still nearly 10 years from production.
Meanwhile, the DRDO has already equipped the indigenous Tejas with stealth capabilities. The technology allows fighter jets to evade enemy radar and missile detection, making it extremely difficult for adversaries to track their movements.
Globally, stealth fighters such as the US F-35 and Russian Su-57 dominate air combat with similar capabilities.
‘Swayam Raksha Kavach’ Acts As A Protective Shield
Reports confirmed by Janes, a UK-based global open-source defence and security intelligence firm, indicate that the Tejas Mk1A is now undergoing tests with the Swayam Raksha Kavach system. The shield is designed as a comprehensive protective layer for the aircraft.
Developed by DRDO’s Centre for Airborne Systems, the system is expected to be fully operational by 2026. It manufacturing began in 2021 with the purpose to protect the fighter jet from both radar and missile threats.
