Defence: Strategic plans, tech snags
Sunday April 20 2008 11:24 IST
Manoj K. Das
KOCHI: The Indian Air Force has a serious problem with the lightness of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the country’s flagship indigenous aviation programme.
A list of issues has recently been raised by the IAF about the project, already flying through a bad patch of technological factors and time and cost overruns.
Engine-related issues continue to plague the project and the Air Force is not happy with the thrust values generated by the new GE404 engine powering the aircraft.
In fact, one factor that threw the project out of gear was the delay in developing the Kaveri engines.With no option in sight, HAL decided to go ahead with the developmental trials with the GE 404 till an indigenous engine was ready.
The IAF experts now say that the thrust generated by the GE404 is not adequate for all the manoeuvres expected of the LCA,which will be replacing the ageing MiG 21 fleet.
“It’s no longer light. The aircraft was supposed to weigh only 8,000 kg after all the changes effected on it. But today it has put on another 2,000 kg and weighs 10,000 kg. And it is but natural that the engine is unable to support it to the maximum,” IAF sources told this website’s newspaper.
This leaves HAL in a dilemma. The builder now has to either subject the aircraft to some design planning with a view to reducing the drag or reduce the weight of the aircraft.
“There is hardly any flab on its body. We will take a look at the design to reduce drag,” sources said. But that is easier said than done.
HAL will have to go in for a design consultancy to fine-tune an already tested aircraft, which will further delay the full-fledged commissioning of the project.
“Another solution, and probably the best, will be to use a new engine with better thrust levels. The new engine can be selected with the weight-thrust ratio in mind. This will take care of all manoeuvres expected of the aircraft even if its weight were to go up slightly again,” sources said.
The IAF and HAL have formed a committee to look into the issues, including the selection of a new engine. A high-level meeting is scheduled this month end to finalise the action plan.
“But HAL will build 20 LCA-Tejas aircraft for the IAF as planned. This squadron will be inducted and the base is getting ready at Sulur in Tamil Nadu,” sources said.
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