Clearly one thing I want to mention here is that, no one here, knows what's really happening inside the ADA, HAL and IAF combo..
they've crossed the stages of whatever you boys discuss here..IOC/FOC parameters have already been achieved almost upto the level of satisfaction..whatever is going on right now, is the final set of equipments to be Incorporated for the first MK1 sqn and the incorporations and assembly lines required..The official declaration of FOC could very well be in the initial months of next year..But then By the time, it would have been already in the production lines of HAL facilities..
The reason why so many new talks about MK2, Stealth version etc is that, the works are simultaneously progressing for each of them..HAL came out of the old decision making methods and they are very much eager to see this done..
The delusions and forecastings about MK2 coming after 2022 or something like that is absolutely bullshit hence, out of 1400 parameters to be checked and tested in MK2, more than 1200 have been concluded in MK1 prototypes itself..that is why it is taking much time..
One more reason for delay is also due to the IAF not yet finalising the final set of equipments and electronics on board MK1..
it is expected anytime from them officially..
Guys think of a very complicated new system you want to acquire and phase out an old system which primarily dictated your whole war philosophy. The LCA Mk 1 is like that to the Mig 21's.
Not just the war planes but pilots, ground crew and engineers will need to be trained and made ready. TETRA's will be set up and with the LCA MK I, IAF will settle in for the long haul. Here the OEM will be next door. Expect a lot of feedback, alterations, complaints, heart burns initially. We may not like it but any new system will see this kind of feedback.
The IAF is prudent in not placing too many orders before line pilots fly the machine. Please understand, Test Pilots are like those 'technologists' who will play with a new system but line pilots will mostly be like the 'late majority'. Of course, this will be a slightly more experimental 'late majority'.
There is no point pushing in a system in large numbers since we have an 'at home' build capability. The changes will come thick 'n fast once the line sqns begin their work. A significant part of the feedback will be from the maintenance crew, the people who will have to get the bird ready quickly. I say there is a need to focus on making the LCA succeed and it may not necessarily lie in the large initial order. Let us prepare for this deluge of feedback and be ready with a mechanism to handle it.""--These where not my words but that of someone trustworthy..
Also I've came across a question, which could be a very nice debate point here for all those who think HAL is nut job..
"IAF has to explain why Mig21s etc needed to be replaced with 30 Bil $ 126 Rafales, AC against ****'s and from where it expects the nation to fund all its "requirements". Perhaps IAF needed to be told that they need to make their demands based among others on the resultant cost to the nation. A reasonable size of the order unlike the 20plus 20 AC order as of now will make building of capabilities and a rewarding enterprise for Private Sector.
Finding a Tejas Limited with all the tech, men and facilities transferred to it will be a very good idea..
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