HAL Tejas | Updates, News & Discussions

[Flintlock]

Tejas to be launched by 2010

Posted at Friday, 30 May 2008 17:05 IST
Chennai, May 30: Tejas, the Light Combat Aircraft being developed by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), is in the final stages of testing and expected to be launched by 2010, the organisation's Chief Controller W Selvaraj said today.

"It is in the final stages of testing and by 2010 it is expected to be launched," he said here while speaking at a review meeting of the DRDO Anna University and Sri Ramachandra University which jointly collaborated to set up an R&D Centre in Medical Technology.

"After LCAs are launched, the MiG-21 fighters will be gradually phased out," the Chief Controller said.

The Defence Ministry has allotted Rs 105,600 crore as the annual budget and out of that, six per cent has been allotted to DRDO, he said. From the allotted six per cent (around Rs 6,000 crore) 35 per cent goes to strategic defence, 15 per cent goes to human resource department of DRDO, 15 per cent goes to equipment and maintenance while the remaining 35 per cent goes to R&D, he said.

News From Sahara Samay:: Tejas to be launched by 2010

 

[nitesh]

The Hindu News Update Service

Light combat aircraft hot weather trial successful

Nagpur (PTI): The much-awaited hot weather trial phase of prestigious Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme went off successful between Bangalore and Nagpur, defence sources said on Friday.

The progarmme got underway on Thursday with a flawless ferry flight of prototype vehicle-3(PV-3) and this was the first operation ferry flight of Tejas with external drop tanks which are intended to enhance the range/radius of action of aircraft, a defence release said.

In the event, the fuel system functioned perfectly, paving the way for more such long range ferry flight and out station trials. The LCA was ferried from Bangalore to Nagpur in about an hour's flying time and reached the destination with more than adequate fuel.

Over the next one week, the aircraft would be subjected to hot soaks on the ground followed by representative flight profiles at low and medium attitudes to check proper functioning of all on board systems under conditions of extreme heat which prevails in Nagpur.

The successful completion of these trials would thus mark a significant step towards attainment of all important initials operational clearence(IOC)and subsequent induction into the squadron service with the Indian Air Force, the release added.

 

[nitesh]

Radar-fitted Tejas this year-Nagpur-Cities-The Times of India

Radar-fitted Tejas this year

1 Jun 2008, 0454 hrs IST,Shishir Arya,TNN

NAGPUR: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is producing the indigenously developed light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas, will soon be coming with a new radar-fitted version of this fighter aircraft.

Currently in the production stage, the radar-fitted Tejas is expected to roll out this year itself, say sources. So far, the HAL has developed five prototypes and two technology demonstrators of the aircraft. This is now being followed by the limited series production (LSP). A prototype is similar to a laboratory version while and LSP comes straight from the production lines in the factory. Making LSPs is the next stage in aircraft production.

At present, the first under the LSP series, LSP-1, has already rolled out and LSP-2 is expected to be flying within less than a month. LSP-3 is expected to come out within this year and would be fitted with the radar mechanism. The radar will help in making precise hits.

"With a radar, the pilot can identify the target with more accuracy and also determine the range before it hits. Moreover, the present aircraft have already been fitted with laser-powered pods (LDPs) to drop bombs with accuracy," said a source. This makes it among one of the best aircraft of its kind in the world, added the source.

Tejas, which is being built jointly by HAL and Aeronautics Development Agency - an arm of the defence research and development organisation (DRDO) - is in Nagpur since two days. The prototype aircraft, PV-3, was flown from Bangalore on Thursday while the PV-2 was flown on Saturday.

The prototypes are undergoing various tests before aircraft of the final make is inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF). This will be followed by tests on LSPs, after which Tejas will get the much awaited initial operational clearance (IOC) followed by a final operational clearance. Once the configuration is finalised, regular production would begin.

There are plans to make eight aircraft in the LSP series which will also undergo certain tests too, and the final version to be used by the IAF will be based on the LSPs. Tejas is expected to be inducted into the IAF by 2010.

 

[TALWAR]

It looks like LCA will be much more formiddable fighter than jf-17, when launched.

Few comparisons:


LCA

Maximum speed: Mach 1.8
Engine 80Kn
Hard points 9
Empty weight: 5,000 kg (11,200 lb)
Loaded weight: 12,500 kg (29,700 lb)
Max takeoff weight: >15,500 kg (>32,558 lb)
Thrust/weight: 1.07


jf-17

Maximum speed: Mach 1.6
jf-17-50kn
Hard points-7
Empty weight: 6,441 kg [42] (14,200 lb)
Loaded weight: 9,100 kg (20,062 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 12,700 kg (28,000 lb)
Thrust/weight: 0.95

All this despite JF-17 being the frontline fighter of PAF, and LCA is just to replace Mig-21. Su-30MKI and MRCA will be the frontline fighters of IAF.

Its time to compete with China. Pakistan is just way to behind.
Its the beginning of a new era.

 

[nitesh]

It looks like LCA will be much more formiddable fighter than jf-17, when launched.

Few comparisons:


LCA

Maximum speed: Mach 1.8
Engine 80Kn
Hard points 9
Empty weight: 5,000 kg (11,200 lb)
Loaded weight: 12,500 kg (29,700 lb)
Max takeoff weight: >15,500 kg (>32,558 lb)
Thrust/weight: 1.07


jf-17

Maximum speed: Mach 1.6
jf-17-50kn
Hard points-7
Empty weight: 6,441 kg [42] (14,200 lb)
Loaded weight: 9,100 kg (20,062 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 12,700 kg (28,000 lb)
Thrust/weight: 0.95

All this despite JF-17 being the frontline fighter of PAF, and LCA is just to replace Mig-21. Su-30MKI and MRCA will be the frontline fighters of IAF.

Its time to compete with China. Pakistan is just way to behind.
Its the beginning of a new era.

Hey nice info, can you please provide the link also from where you got these points

 

[TALWAR]

Hey nice info, can you please provide the link also from where you got these points

Wikipedia, and some googling.
If you have been tracking LCA and JF-17 for some time, you will know which site is right and which is wrong.

 

[blain2]

It looks like LCA will be much more formiddable fighter than jf-17, when launched.

Few comparisons:


LCA

Maximum speed: Mach 1.8
Engine 80Kn
Hard points 9
Empty weight: 5,000 kg (11,200 lb)
Loaded weight: 12,500 kg (29,700 lb)
Max takeoff weight: >15,500 kg (>32,558 lb)
Thrust/weight: 1.07


jf-17

Maximum speed: Mach 1.6
jf-17-50kn
Hard points-7
Empty weight: 6,441 kg [42] (14,200 lb)
Loaded weight: 9,100 kg (20,062 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 12,700 kg (28,000 lb)
Thrust/weight: 0.95

All this despite JF-17 being the frontline fighter of PAF, and LCA is just to replace Mig-21. Su-30MKI and MRCA will be the frontline fighters of IAF.

Its time to compete with China. Pakistan is just way to behind.
Its the beginning of a new era.

Lets talk when LCA gets IOC and induction starts. Comparing values and those too from open sources is not a real comparison.

Secondly, JF-17 will be the backbone and not the hi-tech edge of the PAF. It is meant to replace Mirages, F-7s and A-5s in PAF service, very similar to what your mighty LCA is for.

As far as competing, why was Pakistan even in the picture? India is 10x Pakistan in every metric you look at...rather shameful to be comparing the 800 lbs gorilla in the neighborhood with a smaller neighbor. Had India's focus been on China, US and EU, it would have made much greater progress by now.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Talwar:

The RD-33 (basic) has a thrust of 50 KN and a afterburner thrust of 81KN - pretty close to that of the LCA.

The JF-17 is also not the "frontline fighter" of the PAF - that role will continue to be filled by the F-16's and J-10's.

But India is welcome to compete with whomever,and believe whatever.

 

[Imran Khan]

wikipedia is not a good info place man

 

[Energon]

Weren't they looking for another engine since the GE F404 wasn't powerful enough? If that is the case, would the ambient temp trials have to be repeated to see how the new engine holds up?

 

[EagleEyes]

Most of the specifications provided above are of the old prototypes. Even the speed has exceeded to more than Mach 1.8. Plus.. the specifications take no consideration to the inclusion of DSI and the other design changes.

 

[Keysersoze]

Wikipedia, and some googling.
If you have been tracking LCA and JF-17 for some time, you will know which site is right and which is wrong.

Yup well heres some more of interest to you.....

Number of LCA's ordered by the IAF 20 + 20.......WOW!!!!!! After all those years of toil and stress they have ordered 20 with a follow on order of 20!!!!!!

 

[Keysersoze]

Questions over Tejas’ induction

Ravi Sharma

Data indicates that the LCA will not be able to meet Air Staff Requirements

Bangalore: With empirical data indicating that indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, in its present form, will not be able to meet the Air Staff Requirements (ASRs), the Indian Air Force (IAF) has raised serious questions over the future of the aircraft’s long term induction into the squadron service.

Not willing to be presented with a fait accompli at a later date, the IAF’s clear message is that as the end user it must be given what it wants and “what was repeatedly promised to it”; and an underpowered Tejas, which has also seen an increase in its basic all up weight, would not meet their requirements.

The IAF has communicated that the Tejas’ performance, both in terms of thrust and its airframe qualities, was still a long way from what was desirable. While the IAF had placed a firm order for 20 of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) designed and developed Tejas, it has been assumed that the IAF would eventually buy over 200 of the aircraft.

Designed to have capabilities that fit it into the lower end of the combat aircraft spectrum, the Tejas was developed with the intention of replacing the MiG-21s, the ageing warhorse of the IAF which were inducted over 40 years ago and are of a design technology that has long been surpassed.

The Tejas, as per the IAF drawn up ASR, had to be “much, much better” than the MiG-21s. Though the fly-by-wire Tejas has its plus points, data, including from the aircraft’s recent low altitude tests at INS Rajali in Arakonam, showed that this might not be possible with the present configuration.

An Air Force officer said: “We have been given a mandate by the government and with this in mind drawn up an ASR. It has to be met. There is no point in the ADA pressuring us to accept a lower ASR at this stage. For years, at every meeting, the ADA has been saying that the Tejas will comply with the ASR.”

The Tejas, which has so far completed almost 800 test flights, is now powered by the General Electric manufactured GE F404 engine, which will eventually be replaced by the long-delayed Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) designed and developed Kaveri.

Having been unable to come up with an engine even after 17 years, the GTRE since 2005 been in talks with the Russians and the French, attempting to decide who among the two engine houses will help them bring out an engine. A co-developed engine will optimistically take four years to fructify.
Issues over thrust

But sources say that that neither the GE F404 nor the Kaveri will be able to provide the kind of thrust that can power the Tejas to ASR standards. Foreseeing this, the IAF had suggested that the Tejas could be powered by the more powerful GE F414 engine.

The ADA set up an internal committee to study the possibility, but since using the heavier and larger F414 would need modifications on the Tejas’ air intakes and the fuselage, further delaying the delayed project, the suggestion was ignored.

Official sources said that besides lack of installed thrust there were also niggles with the Tejas airframe, which would come up when the ADA expanded the Tejas’ flight test programme and went in for high angle of attack/ high alpha testing, very low speed trails, carefree manoeuvres and other combat related flying. “The Tejas requires aerodynamic fixes.” But this could further increase its all up weight.
Equal partners

Even as the IAF is unhappy with the Tejas’ performance, it is insisting that they are equal partners in the over Rs. 5,500 crore programme. “The ADA can work on a derivative of the Tejas. This is what aircraft design and development is all about. You can’t just thrust the first product down the customer’s throat.”

The Hindu : National : Questions over Tejas’ induction

 

[Keysersoze]

At the end of the day the plane was supposed to have been inducted in 2006 and its not here yet. The LSP only flew last year!!!! Last time I checked The fellows across the border are starting induction of their "lower class" aircraft

 

[TALWAR]

Yes, Wikipedia is not always correct. But we can co-related with our knowledge about the product.

The IAF expressed its reservations about the thrust of the existing GE-F404 engines, after the weight of the plane went up from 8,000 kg to10,000 kg. The weight increase and other factors had contributed to the trial flight performances not coming up to IAF’s expectations.

GE404 produces 81 kN, but Air Staff Requirement is now close to 100kN.

GE F404 IN20 — 85 kilo Newtons (kN)
GE414 — 97.5 kN
EJ200 — of 90 kN