sancho
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LCA with super cruise?? Come on guys??? hey is that true?? LCA cannot supercruise. We will need to redesign the air intakes... I dunno if am right, but can it?? really?
i thought just more powerful engine and a little alteration in air intakes would do the job....waiting foe experts like sancho to clear the matter..
I didn't say LCA already have, or would have SC for sure, nor am I an expert, but lets compare the facts and try to figure it out:
We know that the Eurofighter can SC with the EJ 200 engine, as well as the Gripen NG with the GE 414G engine and both engines are on offer for LCA MK2.
If I'm not wrong, the Gripen NG has a weight of 7,1t for the single seat and 7,4t for the twin seat which proved SC. The engine has a dry thrust of 62,3kN.
LCA MK1 has a weight of 5,7t (not sure if single, or twin seat) and all reports regarding LCA MK2 says nothing about airframe changes for more internal fuel, weapon stations, or payload similar to Gripen NG. The difference most likely will only be new techs like a new engine, or AESA radar, which means even if we take the same GE 414 engine, LCA MK2 still should be around 1t lighter than the Gripen NG.
Not to forget that the LCA also has a modern delta wing design, just like the EF and the Gripen NG.
So if the design and thrust is similar, but LCA MK2 will be clearly lighter, what could limit the it from SC?
Possibly the air intakes, if they are not big, or good designed enough. Maybe even the hot climate in India, we know that the MMRCA trials will be held in different areas in India, to see how the performance of the fighters will differ. UAE wants higher thrust engines for Rafale, because they wasn't satisfied with the engine performance in such hot conditions.
Imo, the better the thrust to weight ratio and the air intake design, the higher are the chances for SC capabilities.
Once again:
Gripen NG with GE414 engine- 62,3kN dry @ 7,1t weight
LCA MK2 with same engine - 62,3kN dry @ ~6,1t weight
LCA MK2 with EJ 200 engine - 60+kN dry @ less than 6t weight
But as I said, I am not an expert so please feel free to disagree, or comment on this!