Indian Air Force Light Combat Aircraft Tejas India's Second Supersonic Fighter

[WolfPack86]

LSP-05 taxing out for a test flight with heavier stores.
The recent trials has helped in sorting out couple of refinements in the weapon delivery algorithm. We dedicate this image to the team which has been working constantly on this area since a long time.

Seen here, KH-2013 (LSP-03) carrying out a scrambled take-off to showcase the short take-off capability of Tejas.

 

[WolfPack86]

Light Combat Aircraft Tejas

 

[WolfPack86]

Light Combat Aircraft Tejas

 

[WolfPack86]

LCH, Mini Drones, LCA, US-2 Aircraft on Parrikar's $11bn Shopping List

ITEMS ON THE AGENDA ::
Deals worth over `75,000 crore ($11.36bn) are expected to be on the agenda for defence minister Manohar Parrikar-led Defence Acquisition Council including fighter aircraft, combat helicopters and mini-drones for the Army.

During the meeting, the minister, top military brass and senior bureaucrats are also likely to discuss the final version of the policy to decide on blacklisting of firms and individuals indulging in wrongdoings and corruption in defence deals. The biggest item on agenda is expected to be the approval for the procurement of 83 Light Combat Aircraft for the Indian Air Force as part of the government's effort to push Made in India equipment for the armed forces to reduce dependence on imports.

The 83 LCAs, expected to be cleared by the DAC, would be procured from the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and would make for the Mark 1A version of the plane. The project cost is expected to be over `48,000 crore, senior defence ministry sources told Mail Today. The IAF has already placed orders for 20 LCA Mark 1 aircraft which would be more of technology demonstrators but the IAF was more interested in having the LCA Mark 2, which would be a more capable and upgraded version of the indigenous plane in the making for the last over two decades. The HAL would first deliver the Mark 1 aircraft to the IAF and then would produce the Mark 1A in the interim till the time it is ready with the Mark 2 version. The project would give a strong push to the indigenous fighter aircraft industry as this would be the first major bulk production order for the plane.


HELICOPTERS ::

Another major indigenous project likely to be discussed at the meeting is for the indigenously designed and developed Light Combat Helicopter by the HAL. "The Army is planning to place orders for 10 LCH choppers while the IAF would initially buy five of them," the sources said. The LCH is the first Indian attempt to develop a combat chopper for which we have so far relied only on the Russians and Americans. The Mi-25/35 are of the Russian make while the Apache choppers are being procured from America for the IAF. The meeting is also expected to discuss the project for buying 498 mini-drones for the Army which plans to use them for improving situational awareness of the troops while participating in anti-terrorist operations.

The mini-drones relay live pictures of an area to the troop commander and he can know the location of the hiding terrorists or can also see if militants are hiding at some place to ambush an Army platoon. The American forces used such drones extensively in operations in Afghanistan and Iraq to detect and locate militants and avert attacks on its own troops. The Navy's proposal for procuring 12 US-2 amphibious aircraft from Japan is also expected to come up for discussion at the meeting.
http://www.defencenews.in/article.aspx?id=39024

 

[WolfPack86]

Here's everything you need to know about the LCA Tejas Mk1A, of which the MoD has today cleared the purchase of 83.
https://twitter.com/livefist?lang=en

 

[WolfPack86]

Revealed: The LCA Tejas That The IAF Has Chosen
India’s home-built Tejas light fighter will finally be formally in squadron service with its primary customer, the Indian Air Force, starting Friday. On July 1, the Indian Air Force will induct a pair of series production airframes of the Tejas Mk.1 at a planned event there’s a conspicuous lack of noise about. Sure, the number of aircraft being inducted will be a tenth it takes to call itself a real squadron. And sure, the Tejas won’t be zipping off on combat air patrol or air defence duties immediately. But the significance of July 1 has perhaps already been lost in the turbulence of both the programme, as well as the way it has by default been regarded.

In October last year, your site had advocated that the LCA Tejas needs to see service as quickly as possible. That, in a sense, is what will be beginning to happen this Friday. But as you’ve probably heard already, it isn’t the Mk.1 type of the Tejas that has the IAF all lit up, but a configuration it agreed on last year designated the Mk.1A that’ll form the true Tejas backbone in service — 80 aircraft, with the possibility of 40 more have been ordered. In the tumult of operational clearance points and timelines, not very much has been reported on the Mk.1A itself and why the IAF has its sights set on the type, and what has been reported is mostly broad.

The known updates are clear. The Mk.1A will be mid-air refuellable, sport an updated internal Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) — likely in-house kit from the DRDO’s DARE laboratory — an external Self Protection Jammer (SPJ) pod to enhance survivability and an AESA Radar, both of which the Tejas programme is scouting international suppliers for. The IAF has also stipulated that the Tejas Mk.1A needs to be able to fire different types of BVR and close combat air to air missiles. The Tejas has so far fired Vympel R-73 CCMs and a Derby BVR missile. It’ll need to prove itself using the R-77, Python-5 and DRDO Astra too. Those, Livefist learns, are on track.

The meat of the Mk.1A will be a slew of major improvements in the LCA’s squadron-level maintainability contours. It is difficult to overstate just how much importance the IAF has placed on ramped up no-nonsense maintainability, more than a milestone away from the admittedly unwieldy maintenance architecture built into the Mk.1. On maintainability alone, the Tejas Mk.1A will have the 43 improvements out of 57 planned on the bigger, more powerful Tejas Mk.2:

1. Panel interchangeability: In the prototype stage, composite panels were built and matched to specific airframes. For the Mk.1A, tooling will be built up and panels moulded lending themselves to easy interchangeability between airframes, plus spares. The IAF won’t deal with a platform that doesn’t allow at least this level of squadron-level maintainability, so this is priority.
2. Quick access: Several airframe panels that required daily servicing have a large number of screws that need to be removed — a time consuming affair that eats into the platform’s turnaround time. These will be replaced on the Mk.1A by quick release fasteners making it easier and faster for maintainers access, considerably bringing down time required to service aircraft. Importantly, quick release fasteners will remain with the panel and therefore minimise FOD chances.
3. Gromets in composite panels: When fasteners are regularly used for removal and installation, there is a possibility of damage and widening of holes. Mk.1A panels will have to stop this.
4. LRU positions: A number of LRUs will be repositioned for better access. Current configurations make it nuisance to access frequently used LRUs.
5. Additional aids: The Mk.1A package will contain ground handling aids and testers to enable speedier turnaround of aircraft

But what about the Tejas Mk.2? The planned up-engined, beefed up Tejas variant has hit a bit of a vacuum now, with the IAF all but pronouncing that it won’t be pursuing the type. A contest awarded to GE for the the F414-GE-INS6 turbofan engine hasn’t translated into a contract yet. But the Mk.2 programme is still very much on. A top official told Livefist, “As far as ADA and HAL are concerned, we are progressing design and development of Mk.2 as it has been approved by the Govt. There are benefits in continuing with it.”

Improvements planned on the Tejas Mk.2, apart from the more powerful engine and attendant expansion of op envelope, include new sensors, new indigenous actuators, and a new indigenous avionics architecture. The variant will also involve the removal of 250 kg in ballast weight, a further half ton weight reduction through revised design factors, performance improvements by “aerodynamic refinements of geometry”, an internal electronic warfare suite (incorporate in the Mk.1A plan), a brand new suite of indigenous avionics systems currently under development, a new digital flight control computer, OBOGS for mission endurance. Crucially, the Mk.2 will also sport an additional LP bleed port from the engine, a safety feature to ensure crucial backup for flight-critical Bleed Air Shut Off Valve (BASOV) failure for fuel tank pressurisation. In addition, the type will get fuel system improvements, NVG compatible external lighting with LEDs.
http://www.livefistdefence.com/2016/06/revealed-the-lca-tejas-that-the-iaf-has-chosen.html

 

[WolfPack86]

Light Combat Aircraft Tejas

 

[WolfPack86]

Light Combat Aircraft Tejas

 

[WolfPack86]

Light Combat Aircraft Tejas

 

[WolfPack86]

Light Combat Aircraft Tejas

 

[Tejas_Champ]

There's lots of visual similarities with Tejas and the Gripen and also the Mirage. We should quickly make the Mark 2 version of LCA Tejas though!

 

[WolfPack86]

IDN TAKE: Tejas To Test Fire Phython-5 Air-To -Air Missile Next Week

TEJAS is reported to test-fire the Close Combat Missile (CCM) Python-5 Air-To-Air missile for the first time next week, informed sources confirmed today.
Air Force Technology website reports the Python-5 as a 5th generation air-to-air missile (AAM) manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It is the newest member in the range of Python AAMs. The missile demonstrates superior target detection and tracking capabilities, involving captive carry evaluation and homing trials. The missile can engage enemy aircraft from very short ranges and near beyond visual range. Python-5 is the most accurate and reliable AAM of the Israeli Air Force and one of the most sophisticated guided missiles in the world.

TEJAS (KH-2017) taking off with Python-5 missiles for a test flight
Earlier, in Feb 2016, Tejas conducted the first test firing of the beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), Derby.
In addition to Python and Derby, Tejas is armed with the Russian-made CCM R-73, laser-guided bombs (LGB) Griffin and Paveway and the Russian-made cannon Gsh-23.
The CCM R-73 has been fired over a dozen times now at Goa, Jaisalmer and Jamnagar as part of the weapon trials of Tejas over the years.
http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/11/idn-take-tejas-to-test-fire-paython-5.html

 

[WolfPack86]

Could @GEAviation & @SafranEngines face off over a potential Kaveri rescue bid? @DRDO_India hints at possibility.
https://twitter.com/livefist?lang=en

 

[WolfPack86]

Great news. Also very baffling. The DRDO says it plans to test-fly Kaveri-powered LCA Tejas in the next 18 months.
https://twitter.com/livefist?lang=en

 

[WolfPack86]

Renewed activity on Kaveri front heartening. But needs a clear way forward. Tech tie-up to deliver full-specs turbofan for LCA & AURA.
https://twitter.com/livefist?lang=en

 

[WolfPack86]

Testing Kaveri on a Tejas will be the FULL deal. Single-engine config. No back-up. Not slung on a Gromov Il-76's test-pylon.
https://twitter.com/livefist?lang=en

 

[Chinmoy]

Then if Livefist to be believed, Snecma has been arm twisted to invest in Kaveri for sure with the Rafale deal. But I wonder what GE would be upto to save their F414 deal? Although no firm order has yet been placed for 414, but this would be a major blow to them.

 

[republic_roi97]

Then if Livefist to be believed, Snecma has been arm twisted to invest in Kaveri for sure with the Rafale deal. But I wonder what GE would be upto to save their F414 deal? Although no firm order has yet been placed for 414, but this would be a major blow to them.

The little we depend on americans, the better it would be

 

[WolfPack86]

LCA Advances with Orders for 83 Jets from the IAF with American Engines

India’s Ministry of Defense has cleared an order for 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), designated Mk1A, from government-owned defense manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). HAL currently has in hand an order for 40 GE F404-engined LCAs for the IAF. Of the 20 to be produced with an initial operational clearance, three have been delivered and the fourth is scheduled to be handed over by early next year. Twenty more will be supplied once they receive the final operational clearance (FOC) by end of 2017.

HAL says it will increase production from eight to 16 a year “once a formal order is received for the 83 Mk1As.” IAF Air Chief Marshall Arup Raha said last year: “We want the LCA Mk1A with an improved radar [Elta's ELM-2052 AESA or active electronically scanned array], electronic warfare, in-flight refueling and better missiles.” But a privately owned OEM said: “While there is to be joint work between HAL and Elta, we don’t know how much of the Elta AESA will be indigenous.” Other OEMs are interested. For instance, Saab confirmed recently to AIN that it is offering its Gallium Nitride technology, developed in Gothenberg, Sweden, for the LCA, rather than part of its Gripen proposal to India.

The LCA Mk2 version, expected to be re-engined from the GE F404 to the F414, is planned for production by 2025. The Indian Navy has expressed its firm requirement for 46 LCA Mk2s that will require a weight reduction of one ton over the Mk1A. Delays to the naval LCA have been attributed in the past to technical complexities; non-availability of infrastructure and critical components and technology denial regimes; extended user trials; and the failure of some of the components during testing.

Meanwhile, an indigenous AESA Fire Control Radar is being developed for the Mk2 by Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), for which Bangalore-based Centum Electronics has designed and developed the Vibration Hardened OCXO (oven controlled crystal oscillators). “The function of OCXO is to generate the clock frequency of 120 MHz, which is in turn fed to a synthesizer that generates the required X-Band frequency for AESA,” said Vinod S. Chippalkatti, vice-president, Centum Electronics, to AIN. “The company was initially challenged three years ago to develop this product, since international companies were not able to meet the specifications and part with the technology. Centum is able to develop and deliver the product, which is lightweight, low-g-sensitive and its phase noise performance is excellent under vibration,” added Chippalkatti.

Meanwhile, under the offset contract not yet signed for India’s buy of 36 Rafales, Dassault Aviation is believed to have agreed to transfer special spray paint and coating technology of benefit to programs such as the LCA.
http://www.defencenews.in/article.aspx?id=139365

 

[WolfPack86]

#Boeing #Lockheed #SAAB have 12-months to close #MakeInIndia deal After that #GE #F414 starts playing! #Tejas tests results flow! Khattam!
https://twitter.com/stptbarnum?lang=en