F-21 is a 4.5 generation advanced fighter jet from Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin will produce the F-21 in India in collaboration with the Tata Advanced Systems (TASL). Lockheed Martin – TASL plant in Hyderabad already produces components for F-16, C130J Hercules, and Sikorsky S-92 Helicopter.
F-21 combines the capabilities of F-16, F-35, and F-22 in a scalable manner to suit the needs of the Indian Air Force. A significant portion of F-21 supply chains are common with F-16, F-22 and F-35.
F-21 is equipped with Northrop Grumman’s SABR APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) fire control radar. SABR APG-83 adds 5th generation capabilities to F-21. This includes autonomous, all-environment stand-off precision targeting, BIG SAR wide-area high-res maps, high-quality coordinate generation, faster search & target acquisition, smaller target detection, multi-target tracking, robust electronic protection, enhanced combat ID, interleaved mode operations for greater situational awareness, maritime modes, greater availability, and reliability. Capabilities of SABR APG-83 are derived from F-22’s APG-77 and F-35’s APG-81 radar.
Each wing of F-21 supports a triple missile launcher, a single missile launcher, and a side wingtip missile launcher. F-21 can carry ten missiles at any point in time. F-21 is suitable for both Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground combat.
F-21 can carry two jettisonable fuel tanks underwing and two conformal fuel tanks above the wing. This gives extra operational range to the F-21. F-21 has got a retractable aerial refueling probe that allows taking fuel in flight via a hose-and-drogue system. F-21 also has the option of refueling in flights with a traditional boom system.
F-21 has got a wide-angle cockpit display panel similar to F-35.
Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS) helps in preventing deadly crashes. This will be major boost to the Indian Air Force battling with frequent crashes of its jets. Auto GCAS is designed to reduce controlled flight into terrain or CFIT incidents where an airworthy aircraft, under pilot control, is unintentionally flown into the ground, mountain, body of water or obstacle. CFIT incidents are responsible for around 25% of aircraft losses.
F-21 comes with a Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) that provides superior electro-optical targeting capability. Sniper ATP enables precision targeting and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions in land, sea and air domains. Advanced sensor features are passive detection, tracking, ranging, laser spot tracker, HD forward-looking thermal imaging, dual-mode laser, laser energy support for laser-guided weapons against moving targets, two-way full-motion video data link with metadata, digital data recorder, extended-range precision geo-coordinate generation, laser designator with aircrew selectable tactical & eye-safe wavelengths, and Global Scope advanced sensor software suite.
F-21 is equiped with AN/APX-126 Advanced IFF for friend and foe detection.
Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System II helps F-21 pilots with “first look, first shoot” high off-boresight weapons engagement capabilities. The system enables the pilot to accurately cue onboard weapons and sensors against enemy aircraft and ground targets without the need to aggressively turn the aircraft or place the target in the Head-Up Display (HUD) for designation. The system is also available in a night configuration.
F-21 is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 afterburning engine delivering a dry thrust of 17,800 lbf and 29,160 lbf with afterburner. The electronic warfare system is developed to cater to the unique needs of the Indian Air Force. F-21 has got a service life of 12,000 hours.