Can add 6 LCA Tejas squadrons in 4-5 years - Parrikar

[thesolar65]

No, we are manufacturing it now. We started with assembling.

But then why only 50% is airworthy...rest are in service condition??

 

[janon]

But then why only 50% is airworthy...rest are in service condition??

For one thing, Russian aircrafts require frequent maintenance. And two, there was unavailability of spares in the past, which has been overcome, which is why serviceability has improved to 65% now. The DM said so recently.

 

[Abingdonboy]

But then why only 50% is airworthy...rest are in service condition??

Actually the reported figure was 60% and this is down to not stockpiling enough spares, the DM has gone on record to say this issue will be addressed by the end of this year and then availability rates of the MKI fleet should touch 75-80%.

 

[thesolar65]

For one thing, Russian aircrafts require frequent maintenance. And two, there was unavailability of spares in the past, which has been overcome, which is why serviceability has improved to 65% now. The DM said so recently.

So the first lot of planes which came from Russia directly is facing the problems?? If yes then what is the total no. was brought directly? Another point, how many engines are required per plane to keep it flying? I mean spare engine.

 

[Abingdonboy]

So the first lot of planes which came from Russia directly is facing the problems?? If yes then what is the total no. was brought directly? Another point, how many engines are required per plane to keep it flying? I mean spare engine.

No, it was the entire MKI fleet that faced issues with spares. The first lot of Su-30MKs bought by the IAF was returned to Russia long ago anyway.

 

[Skull and Bones]

This is a major part of the MK.2 version, it won't be applied to the MK.1.

I'm talking about retrofitting the older MK1s in their midlife upgrade.

 

[Last Samuri]

Servicability of Front line fighters is up and down globally. So su30mki at 50 or 60% is not alarm bells

Luftwaffe Germanys serviability of euro fighter is at 40%

So lets not make a mountain from this.

Re Dontello an d others pointing out Rafale to be capped at 36 or 63 or 72 max I AGREE that is certain to happen.

India is nailing its masts to over 120 Tejas mk1 & 2 FIGHTERS FOR BALANCE of the fleet between today and 2025

 

[janon]

So the first lot of planes which came from Russia directly is facing the problems?? If yes then what is the total no. was brought directly? Another point, how many engines are required per plane to keep it flying? I mean spare engine.

The manufacture of MKIs has been (almost) fully indigenized only recently. Initially HAL was assembling them from semi knocked-down kits, then they progressed to assembling completely knocked down kits, and then for later batches, they began to manufacture parts in house. It was only recently that they have started manufacturing them right from raw material stage. So all the years prior to that, they faced issues of lack of spares from Russia, etc. To give one example, they could not procure the wheels due to delays from Russia - but now MRF is manufacturing that within India.

Besides, there were also clauses in the contract that certain materials (like the titanium for the airframe) could only be purchased from Russia. That may also have been a factor.

 

[HRK]

- Defence minister Manohar Parrikar said "some other single-engine, lighter fighter" other than the home-grown Tejas could also be considered for a "Make in India" project to replace the obsolete MiG-21s.

- a top official dismissed it by clarifying "There could be scope for a single-engine fighter, which would be much cheaper than Rafale, somewhere between the capabilities of Rafale and Tejas," he said.

- The fighter's final operational clearance (FOC), with integration of all weapons like guns, laser-guided bombs and BVR (beyond visual range) missiles as well mid-air refuelling capability, is likely to be delayed beyond the re-revised deadline of December 2015.

- The Tejas Mark-II version which the IAF actually wants — with more powerful engines, airframe changes, weight and drag reduction — will begin to come in only by 2021 or so. So, Parrikar will need to do a lot of pushing if he wants swifter deliveries of the multi-role fighters.

Defence News - Can add 6 LCA Tejas squadrons in 4-5 years - Parrikar

So here comes the Saab JAS 39 Gripen into the picture ......

 

[Luca1]

We are building 10 times more parts of MKI then you can even imagine to built for your indigenous JF17 aka FC1
And thats a fact.

Your country cant even imagine to built engine, radar, airframe but HAL building it for MKIs.

India is a proud assembler of foreign tech.

 

[MilSpec]

Sure you can. Honbl. RM, try not shoot from your hip. Ramping up the production rate in order to equip 6 squadrons in 4-5 years is not doable. Unless of course the last 2 years of this (4-5) year time frame will see HAL building nearly 30 fighters per fiscal. Best of luck with that, unless you are willing to commit resources which will rival the sort sunk in by real aerospace giants in a clinch this will not be possible. At best we will see maybe 3 squadrons by the year 2020.

4-5 is far fetched, but do remember HAL had a production rate of about 30 Mig21 once.

 

[Luca1]

We are building 10 times more parts of MKI then you can even imagine to built for your indigenous JF17 aka FC1
And thats a fact.

Your country cant even imagine to built engine, radar, airframe but HAL building it for MKIs.

your obsessive comparison and pride shows that India is in the same category as Pakistan... Except India can assemble more foreign components. That is about it.

 

[SQ8]

"There could be scope for a single-engine fighter, which would be much cheaper than Rafale, somewhere between the capabilities of Rafale and Tejas," he said.

Whilst the pro-activeness is appreciated, I dont think the over-diversification will be. Does he want or the IAF insist on a logistical headache for itself?
@MilSpec @sancho

 

[Luca1]

He has a point. We didnt develop from scratch. We just assemble it and does not require much assisstance.

You speak the truth. But you may be attacked pretty soon and even labelled a false flagger.

 

[SQ8]

4-5 is far fetched, but do remember HAL had a production rate of about 30 Mig21 once.

Mig -21 << Tejas.