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HAL Tejas | Updates, News & Discussions-[Thread 2]

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20-November, 2019 17:43 IST
Delhi
PIB - PTI

Union of India's Establishment's Agreement on Manufacturing of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)

The Elected Union Government of India has not signed any MoU for Manufacturing of Either Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Aircraft or SS-30 MKI Aircraft with Union of India's Establishment, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

However, for Procurement of Total 40 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) 20 in Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and 20 in Final Operational Clearance (FOC) Configuration], Two Production Line Contracts have been Signed between Union of India's Establishment and Union of India's Establishment, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

For Procurement of total 222 SS-30 MKI Aircraft under License Production for Indian Air Force (IAF), Six Contracts have been Signed by the Union of India's Establishment and Union of India's Establishment, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) based on the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) Inked between Union of India and Republic of Malaysia.
 
I believe that generally LCA is a maintenance headache ? What is the airframe life btw ?
General knowledge question
If we ignore a hitman article on behalf of Saab & LM with some atrocious laughable data, what we know is this:

  • In Gaganashakthi-'18, Tejas did six sorties per day on all airframes in service, totalling 9000 sorties.
  • The Tejas employs CFC materials for up to 45% of its airframe. The use of composites in the LCA resulted in a 40% reduction in the total number of parts compared to using a metallic frame. Furthermore, the number of fasteners has been reduced by half in the composite structure from the 10,000 that would have been required in a metallic frame design. The composite design also helped to avoid about 2,000 holes being drilled into the airframe.
  • The naval prototype based on the same airframe is able to withstand the tremendous loads that come with ski-arrested trials.
 
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Reportedly,
  • Mk1A price fixed at ~$44 million.
  • If the order is placed at the start of 2020, Mk1A deliveries will start in 2023. 16/year, complete 83 by 2028.
  • UTTAM AESA has done 11 test flights on Tejas so far. May feature on Mk1A later.
  • Already developed Mk2 DFCC is bigger and not a fit on Mk1A, but the upgraded Mk2 cards have been installed in Mk1A DFCC chassis.
  • Reason for canards on Mk2: Increased fuel capacity (3300 kg from 2400 kg) made the aircraft excessively stable. Canards bring back the unstability.
  • Mk2 first flight by 2023.
 

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