HAL Tejas | Updates, News & Discussions

[sancho]

The reason is we dont have the CAD design structure to do that.. Rafale and LCA are now both in same category... If MK2 gets AESA it will be as good as Rafale in capabilities... the advantage of LCA is we can design or modify structure using computer design which would reduce lot of efforts(remember we have developed our own world class software to do that), sadly that is not available with MKI or rafale..

First of all, even with an AESA, LCA will not even be close the Rafale in terms of capability. That's just a dream, since the AESA puts it only technically in the same generation that a Rafale is (also with similar avionics and EW capabilities), but it doesn't make it equal in flight performance, weapon carrying, range...
Secondly, we don't need CAD designs of the fighter to develop a weapon pod, that will be added on an external hardpoint.
And at last you didn't understand what the problem with LCA is in this regard:

As you can see, the Silent Eagle has attached the weapon pods to the side of the airframe, next to the air intakes. That is not possible with the LCA, since the gears and gear bays are extracting to the sides. Similarly, since the gears are housed directly next to the centerline station, there are lenght and width restrictions, once reason the centerline fuel tank is smaller than those at the wings. These size restrictions makes it not possible it add a weapon pod similar to the Silent Hornet, that could house any useful weaponload internally. So to add a weapon pod alone, we would have to re-model the gears, gear bays and fuselage, which at least could increase the width but still will limit the lenght.
LCA is simply designed to be very small and light and not to offer a lot of space in and around the airframe, that's why it's future potential for such RCS reductions is very limited, unlike with bigger medium or heavy class fighters. We even have difficulties to add more avionics and systems to the small airframe for the MK2, to make it 4.5th gen ready, so no matter what software we might have, it's no use when the platform don't offer the size and potential for such upgrades.
ADA/DRDO might aim on shaping the airframe a bit, but that only brings the clean RCS down and not the loaded / operational one, so no matter what they claim, that hardly will have an effect and has nothing to do with stealth at all.

 

[adwityagrata]

No it can't. As I said before, DRDO is not in the business of assembling foreign radars, or anything else. It is a research and development agency, not a manufacturing agency. It designs missiles, which are then manufactured by BDL. It designs tanks, which are then manufactured by HVF. It (through ADA) designed LCA, which will be manufactured by HAL, and so on. Since DRDO does not manufacture or assemble anything, there is no way that assembling a foreign radar can make it a "DRDO made radar", when DRDO would have nothing to do in that process. It won't be DRDO that assembles a radar, if that is what we will end up doing. It will be HAL. A "DRDO made radar" can only mean one thing, and you might want to stop arguing for the sake of arguing.

About the timeline - you are right that this particular article does not mention it, but it is common knowledge that the mk2 is supposed to have its first slight by end 2014 and be ready for induction by 2017. Many articles are available if you want to know the timeline, and most people commenting here are aware of the proposed timeline, which is why we are all expressing incredulity about DRDO's claims. Just because this particular article doesn't mention the timeleine does not mean that a timeline has not been given at all. The same time that this article was posted, a few others were posted as well, all of which gave proposed timelines. Those threads were moved into the LCA sticky.

When DRDO "assembles" Agni 6 for the first time, it will not magically transform itself into a manufacturing agency. It will continue to remain a R&D org. Same holds true for assembling a Radar.

Are you deliberately being stupid about misunderstanding what assembling a Radar in a R&D organization mean ? I am not interested in your strawman defense.

So you agree that nowhere in the article does Mk-II time line appear NOR does timeline for developing AESA radar appear. So it appears all your argument was a strawman too. (so much for skepticism) LOL.

You just assumed a timeline for LCA MK-II and a DRDO timeline for AESA Radar and proclaimed it will never be met. I do not think I need to waste any more time with this nonsense.

 

[janon]

When DRDO "assembles" Agni 6 for the first time, it will not magically transform itself into a manufacturing agency. It will continue to remain a R&D org. Same holds true for assembling a Radar.

Are you deliberately being stupid about misunderstanding what assembling a Radar in a R&D organization mean ? I am not interested in your strawman defense.

So you agree that nowhere in the article does Mk-II time line appear NOR does timeline for developing AESA radar appear. So it appears all your argument was a strawman too. (so much for skepticism) LOL.

You just assumed a timeline for LCA MK-II and a DRDO timeline for AESA Radar and proclaimed it will never be met. I do not think I need to waste any more time with this nonsense.

OK, you win. Happy?

(Sigh!)

 

[Robinhood Pandey]

today MIG 21 FLs of our air force were retired ! is it because of the tejas IOC 2 ( as reports are there that it will be inducted on 20th of this month) or it was pre planned irrespective of this IOC ?

 

[SR-91]

As you can see, the Silent Eagle has attached the weapon pods to the side of the airframe, next to the air intakes. That is not possible with the LCA, since the gears and gear bays are extracting to the sides. Similarly, since the gears are housed directly next to the centerline station, there are lenght and width restrictions, once reason the centerline fuel tank is smaller than those at the wings. These size restrictions makes it not possible it add a weapon pod similar to the Silent Hornet, that could house any useful weaponload internally. So to add a weapon pod alone, we would have to re-model the gears, gear bays and fuselage, which at least could increase the width but still will limit the lenght.
LCA is simply designed to be very small and light and not to offer a lot of space in and around the airframe, that's why it's future potential for such RCS reductions is very limited, unlike with bigger medium or heavy class fighters. We even have difficulties to add more avionics and systems to the small airframe for the MK2, to make it 4.5th gen ready, so no matter what software we might have, it's no use when the platform don't offer the size and potential for such upgrades.
ADA/DRDO might aim on shaping the airframe a bit, but that only brings the clean RCS down and not the loaded / operational one, so no matter what they claim, that hardly will have an effect and has nothing to do with stealth at all.

You are a 100% right(boppin my head like a southy ).Today.

What seems impossible today, might make it look like a joke tomorrow.

 

[faithfulguy]

They have already built a AESA Radar for our AEW&C program and AESA swordfish radar for our ABM system. So I have no reason to doubt their ability or their claim.

Are you saying that @AUSTERLITZ never thought of putting a aew&c radar on top of a LCA and you thought of that.

That it has taken them so long just to get IOC-2 is enough for me to doubt them.

Its always better to be cautious and reserved that brag too much. I applaud you for that.

That exactly is the point! IF DRDO would be remotly as capable as they claim, we would not need to buy an Israeli radar for 40 x LCA MK1s and around 100 x Jags during the upgrade. The Jags require even very basic radar capabilities for a 4th gen MMR and if IAF still needs to import techs, it says a lot about DRDOs fighter radar capabilities.
Btw, even ADA officials had stated doubts on DRDOs claims of LCA MK2 coming with their AESA at the begining. If we insist on DRDO radars on LCA, the most likely scenario might be EL 2032 for MK1, indigenous puls doppler MMR for early MK2s and as soon as the indigenous AESA is ready and mature enough, it will be added to the MK2 production line and as upgrades for the earlier LCAs.

Base you what you say, a DRDO AESA radar would not be ready until MKIV is ready.

LOL. You are wrong about what define Skepticism. Skepticism requires one to disregard ANY claim that is not backed by evidence.

When MK-2 timeline itself if not set and clearly defined, it is ridiculous for someone to claim DRDO cannot meet that mythical time line. That itself is a logical fallacy.

DRDO has not even claimed they will build the entire AESA radar on their own, they could very well seek a ToT and modify it to suite LCA. They have already demonstrated that ability in developing swordfish. DRDO could also have a tie up with a foreign agency for a joint development for AESA radar. Barak 8 and Brahmos is a classic example.

Hence the conclusion that the expressed opinion was cynicism disguised as skepticism.

Sounds like you are ready for a repeat experience of LCA MKI for LCA MKII.

 

[Tshering22]

Well they better hurry. It is not like Tejas was completed on time. 16 a year is optimum, but looking at the sarkari lazy-@$$ mentality when it comes to working, I doubt they will be able to make even 10 a year. Especially at the current pace.

 

[shree835]

Well they better hurry. It is not like Tejas was completed on time. 16 a year is optimum, but looking at the sarkari lazy-@$$ mentality when it comes to working, I doubt they will be able to make even 10 a year. Especially at the current pace.

I had an opportunity to visit there... As HCL says 16 in a year, trust me...there is nothing wrong in that.

 

[RPK]

LCA set to join IAF - The Hindu


The tail-less little wonder is set to earn its initial operational clearance
Even as the workhorse of the Indian Air Force, MiG-21, bowed out on Wednesday, indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas, is just a formality away from passing into the hands of the force.

Dubbed the world’s lightest fighter, the tail-less little wonder is due to ceremonially earn its initial operational clearance (IOC) and move closer to joining the IAF at its birthplace, Bangalore, on December 20.

The event will see its creator and developer, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the DRDO, hand over an aircraft, along with the user manuals, in as good as battle-ready state to the IAF.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne, and DRDO Director-General Avinash Chander are slated to be present at the ceremony along with the “who’s who” of the military set-up.

After obtaining the IOC, the ADA’s production partner, state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., will start producing 20 of them in the IOC version, said an official involved in the 25-year-old LCA programme.

Yet, the LCA will be considered fully battle-ready only around end-2014, after it clears firing more lethal armaments and missiles.

HAL says it plans to initially produce eight LCA for the IAF a year from 2014-15, and raise the delivery rate to 12-16 a year subsequently. Its production centre in Bangalore has built up nearly 28,000 sq m of space to house the LCA’s hangar and engineering sections. A repair and overhaul unit is to follow later.

Two squadrons (each having 18-20 aircraft) are expected to be delivered in five years, that is, around 2019. The IAF is expected to eventually station the LCA fleet at the Sulur Air Force Station near Coimbatore.

In the next decade, the IAF is estimated to need 200-220 LCAs as per past statements. HAL has supplied a limited series of eight aircraft leading to the IOC and has orders for 40 LCA from the IAF: of them, 20 are to be in the IOC mode for an order worth Rs. 4,000 crore and another 20 in the FOC mode. The Navy, too, it is said, needs 40 of them to replace the Sea Harriers.On December 7, the LCA made another mark after it released an air-to-air missile that also ‘killed’ a moving practice target.

Tejas is a fourth-generation fighter with contemporary technologies.

 

[vivINDIAN]

Even as the workhorse of the Indian Air Force, MiG-21, bowed out on Wednesday, indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas, is just a formality away from passing into the hands of the force.

Dubbed the world’s lightest fighter, the tail-less little wonder is due to ceremonially earn its initial operational clearance 2 (IOC-2) and move closer to joining the IAF at its birthplace, Bangalore, on December 20.

The event will see its creator and developer, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the DRDO, hand over an aircraft, along with the user manuals, in as good as battle-ready state to the IAF.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne, and DRDO Director-General Avinash Chander are slated to be present at the ceremony along with the “who’s who” of the military set-up.

After obtaining the IOC, the ADA’s production partner, state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., will start producing 20 of them in the IOC version, said an official involved in the 25-year-old LCA programme.

Yet, the LCA will be considered fully battle-ready only around end-2014, after it clears firing more lethal armaments and missiles.

HAL says it plans to initially produce eight LCA for the IAF a year from 2014-15, and raise the delivery rate to 12-16 a year subsequently. Its production centre in Bangalore has built up nearly 28,000 sq m of space to house the LCA’s hangar and engineering sections. A repair and overhaul unit is to follow later.

Two squadrons (each having 18-20 aircraft) are expected to be delivered in five years, that is, around 2019. The IAF is expected to eventually station the LCA fleet at the Sulur Air Force Station near Coimbatore.

In the next decade, the IAF is estimated to need 200-220 LCAs as per past statements. HAL has supplied a limited series of eight aircraft leading to the IOC and has orders for 40 LCA from the IAF: of them, 20 are to be in the IOC mode for an order worth Rs. 4,000 crore and another 20 in the FOC mode. The Navy, too, it is said, needs 40 of them to replace the Sea Harriers.On December 7, the LCA made another mark after it released an air-to-air missile that also ‘killed’ a moving practice target.

Tejas is a fourth-generation fighter with contemporary technologies.

LCA set to join IAF - The Hindu

HAL says it plans to initially produce eight LCA for the IAF a year from 2014-15, and raise the delivery rate to 12-16 a year subsequently.

Two squadrons (each having 18-20 aircraft) are expected to be delivered in five years, that is, around 2019--- private sectors would have done better i think.they should give TOT to manufacture the jets after the development of mark 2 or hand over the HAL production facility to pvt sectors.

 

[MilSpec]

How many more articles on the same subject are going to be published...

 

[Tshering22]

iF

I had an opportunity to visit there... As HCL says 16 in a year, trust me...there is nothing wrong in that.

They often say a lot of things and history is testimony to it.

 

[Tshering22]

Let's hope my kid (whenever due) doesn't have to read another ''Tejas to join....'' article.

 

[Bang Galore]

I have work with Indian engineer. They don't know what is schcdule. If I date a meeting on 4:00, they will appear when 4:30.

Obviously they doesn't think much of you then, no reason we should.

 

[Srinivas]

I have work with Indian engineer. They don't know what is schcdule. If I date a meeting on 4:00, they will appear when 4:30.

I interact with chinese often and people do not understand what they are saying, accent and all. Some times the technical terms they pronounce is very funny.