The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft: A Technical Analysis

[migflug]

To Be very blunt, after reading and analysing the whole tech details there seems to be a big gap which is very visible
1. The present project LCA is still not at the top of the fingers type capability for HAL-ADA
2. With FGFA work share down to mere percentages, the ability to understand and comprehend the actual concept of sensor fusion and 5th gen tech is overwhelmingly low.
3. The engines to power AMCA are bound to be 140KN plus in thrust and wet thrust got to be much higher.
4. Need for supercruise at supersonic speed means higher fuel consumption as compared to subsonic supercruise implying fuel load vs range will come to a compromise
5. The AMCA dream project is somewhere a mix of F35, F22, PAKFA, J20 and J31.. all mixed together to form aplane saying its best and will mett Inida's requirement
6. Lack of Military Industrial Complex which can get a private company to partner HAL (who alone cannot do this project) in terms of capability as well as tech absorption

Personal view:
AMCA should be envisioned after maturity of developing a MKI version of t50 or operating 2 advanced djets like PAKFA (off the shelfs version) and perhaps Rafale (sensor fusion and top of the line tech for 4.5+ Gen). With proper understanding, we should first develop sub systems one by one. Let the 5th gen new engines roll out for Pakfa and see it reach first the maturity stage. When we gather substantial experience and has already put in place the proper Military industrial complex which will automatically come up if we do even kit based assembling for Pakfa/rafale and slowly incorporation tech from Israel/France for customizations and closely studying the components/sub systems and getting the supply chain localised. Plus our LCA program maturity with private party participation reaping benefits then i think the AMCA program will make mores sense. So my own timeline for starting this project is at least 10-12 years from now and will look at delivering results credibly by 2040 (15 years from start at 2025).

If we start now with nothing in hand, we will end up wasting resources and also stalling modernisation of existing fleet like MKIs and procuring new fighters like LCAs, PAKFAs and rafales

I don't think 120kn is going to be enough. It will require 140kn as most possibly it will wt about 30ton. No 5th gen is below that , I'm worried the same tejas saga will repeat

 

[PARIKRAMA]

I don't think 120kn is going to be enough. It will require 140kn as most possibly it will wt about 30ton. No 5th gen is below that , I'm worried the same tejas saga will repeat

True, and i said the same 140Kn+
and agin i fully agree with you that Tejas like story will repeat in AMCA if we start now.
We have to bite the bullet and understand first that LCA program maturity leading to MIC is the first stepping stone, second is sensor fusion capability, third is 5th gen tech, 4th is local supply line for all these critical tech or inhouse development.
With nothing of such things, AMCA program will be a baby in womb for too long without the required nourishment needed to be developed for on time delivery

 

[Omega007]

To Be very blunt, after reading and analysing the whole tech details there seems to be a big gap which is very visible
1. The present project LCA is still not at the top of the fingers type capability for HAL-ADA
2. With FGFA work share down to mere percentages, the ability to understand and comprehend the actual concept of sensor fusion and 5th gen tech is overwhelmingly low.
3. The engines to power AMCA are bound to be 140KN plus in thrust and wet thrust got to be much higher.
4. Need for supercruise at supersonic speed means higher fuel consumption as compared to subsonic supercruise implying fuel load vs range will come to a compromise
5. The AMCA dream project is somewhere a mix of F35, F22, PAKFA, J20 and J31.. all mixed together to form aplane saying its best and will mett Inida's requirement
6. Lack of Military Industrial Complex which can get a private company to partner HAL (who alone cannot do this project) in terms of capability as well as tech absorption

Personal view:
AMCA should be envisioned after maturity of developing a MKI version of t50 or operating 2 advanced djets like PAKFA (off the shelfs version) and perhaps Rafale (sensor fusion and top of the line tech for 4.5+ Gen). With proper understanding, we should first develop sub systems one by one. Let the 5th gen new engines roll out for Pakfa and see it reach first the maturity stage. When we gather substantial experience and has already put in place the proper Military industrial complex which will automatically come up if we do even kit based assembling for Pakfa/rafale and slowly incorporation tech from Israel/France for customizations and closely studying the components/sub systems and getting the supply chain localised. Plus our LCA program maturity with private party participation reaping benefits then i think the AMCA program will make mores sense. So my own timeline for starting this project is at least 10-12 years from now and will look at delivering results credibly by 2040 (15 years from start at 2025).

If we start now with nothing in hand, we will end up wasting resources and also stalling modernisation of existing fleet like MKIs and procuring new fighters like LCAs, PAKFAs and rafales

This whole idea of a 'medium' category fifth gen fighter is flawed to its very core!!I think the ADA should design a 30-32 ton class MTOW fighter,built around the NPO Saturn Al 41F1 power-plants,with an internal fuel load of no less than 6 ton.........if they want to achieve anything close to a 1000km combat radius.

 

[Luca1]

Somewhere between 2019-2022.

I thought that would be LCA make II prototype would be out?

 

[1ndy]

Sensor fusion of level 1 shall be the easiest development amongst all stated requirements.
Sensor fusion is compensating one type of sensor's weakness with other's strength.

Radar-Radar fusion(Fusing two different radar e.g PakFA's L-band and X-band)
Radar-FLIR fusion(Radar + FLIR)