ADA Tejas (LCA) News and Discussions

[ace009]

To ppgj - thanks for the T/W ratio calculations - in view of that I cannot fathom all the Tejas hate speech that P2prada has been giving out. I guess someone NOT being a part of a R&D environment cannot appreciate what it takes to - 1. Develop new technology and 2. Develop a new product.
I work in the R&D industry (civilian) in the USA, even there we know what financial pinch means, what lack of resources can do to you. How deadlines can get stretched. And we work on something not even remotely as complicated as a full combat aircraft development. Nowadays people compare LCA development with established combat aircraft developments (like Migs of F-16) But these were started in an established technological environment, where the basics have been established for 50 years or more. In our country, the infrastructure, the supporting industries, the companies and manpower, everything is co-developing. Be patient and stop whining and criticizing. The LCA is a wonderful program and we should induct the mk1 into IAF and develop this line furhter. I personally think we should not stop at mk2 but go on to make mk3 with stealth features.

 

[RPK]

AERO INDIA: First Impressions Of The Tejas Mk.2

 

[RPK]

 

[bharadwaj]

^^^^^^^^The intakes are of the same dimensions???(sorry for the ignorance).The guys at ADA were also talking about changing the intakes to square ones(Like the ones on the F/A-18 and Gripen IN)which would help in reducing the suffocation that the engine is suffering while performing high 'G' maneuvers on the current platform(mark-1).
The current intakes also seem adequate for a trainer ala hawk AJT[my personal opinion!!] and not a fighter.......

 

[nitesh]

IAF will have 20 aircraft. That's 16 fighters and 4 trainers. They will form an active squadron by 2014. By 2012, IAF will be given 4 fighters. By 2014, after FOC, IAF will be given 16 fighters.

The development prototypes are 8 in number and ADA will use them for wake, lightning tests, flight tests like AOA etc and also system integration.

Then we will have 6 or 8 prototypes for the Navy followed by 4 or 6 twin seat trainers.

So, only 20 aircraft will be under direct IAF command. The rest 20 will be between ADA and Navy. The 8 LSPs will fly from IAF bases, but those are needed for development.

I thought IAF will be getting 2 active squadrons over the Prototypes and trainers.

I guess you are jumping to conclusion too early this statement was contradicted by the same group, posted on post 136.

 

[nitesh]

By seeing the pics posted on live fist, Seems no LAVCONS for mark 2 and .5m length addition (as opposed to 1m said by HAL chairman), retractable fueling probe, more fuel. Also no mention of intake changes.

 

[ace009]

No mention of RCS reduction or steath feautres - I was hopeful they will do something in those lines like the Rafael/ Gripen did.

 

[p2prada]

I guess you are jumping to conclusion too early this statement was contradicted by the same group, posted on post 136.

I was just following Dr Subramanyam's post. Nothing else. All other posts have not quoted their sources as directly as the ADA directors quote in the article.

@ MK2 pics.

It seems like we have modified and ironed out the Mk1 issues on the Mk2. Perhaps less drag and more aerodynamic. I can see increased height and length of the fuselage. A slightly elongated nose and I am guessing the single piece ailerons have been modified to 1 aileron and 1 flap. I could be wrong there. The inlet is slightly larger too.

@GK and Ace

I cannot get into an emotion filled dribble on why I want to kill my enemy with a better weapon with you guys unless you have something more sensible to add.

I have actual friends in Military R&D who tell me we are a waste of time.

The Light Combat Aircraft is history. It no longer fills requirements of capable air forces in the world. Perhaps we can sell it to some African country.

 

[Pintu]

New mock up of ASTRA missile , glad to see this with LCA:

Image: Livefist

Are the model being changed ? I am for opinion.

Regards

 

[ppgj]

so no levcons, no LERX afterall, increase in length by 1/2 a metre (expect some weight penalty), IFR, improved avionics!!!

LCA mark 2 is a welcome improvement from any angle. if they can put dual rack pylons like this -

you can have more armament with no extra hard points!!! besides the internal fuel increase and the IFR gives this bird long legs and wow, how mean it will be!!! true multi role with good power to kick!!!

i did some calculations based on an internal fuel volume @3000kg (514 kg improvement over mark 1, this i did some time back too in one of my earlier posts) of the LCA mark 2 and also i am assuming the weight increase due to the increase in the length is being offset by the weight reduction and hence taking 6500kg as the empty weight.

T/W ratios here -

in clean config with only the pilot and full internal fuel - LCA mark 2 @115kn GE414INA6 engine :

LCA MARK 2.....MIG 27.....M2000.....JAGUAR.....MIG29.....SU 30MKI.....MIG 21

1.22................0.72........0.89.........0.62........1.10........1.12............0.91

AND all @910kg payload. *Mig 21 @560kg -

LCA MARK 2.....MIG 27.....M2000.....JAGUAR.....MIG29.....SU 30MKI.....MIG 21*

1.12................0.68........0.82.........0.57.......1.04............1.08.........0.85

amazing, LCA mark 2 will have the highest T/W compared to any existing bird in the IAF!!!

it is a remarkable achievement. well done ADA/DRDO/HAL team. you deserve all the credit and rewards.

 

[Parthy]

As per ADA, they're suppose to reduce RCA and add some stealth features in MKII.. But i don't see much change in the airframe..

Air intakes has become comparatively large when compared to mk1.. And also, wingspan has not increased for more payload.. I think just for time being they would have placed this mock model.. May expect little change in coming months..

 

[RPK]

 

[RPK]

India indigenises facility to test Light Combat Aircraft; to be commissioned in 2012
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/repor...t-aircraft-to-be-commissioned-in-2012_1505807


Published: Thursday, Feb 10, 2011, 11:58 IST
By Arun Jayan | Place: Pune | Agency: DNA

Adding one more feather in the cap of defence research and development, India will soon set up a short-based test facility (SBTF) to check Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) prior to their induction on naval aircraft carriers.

At present, only the United States and Ukraine have developed this facility.

Indigenously developed, the facility is being set up in Goa by Research and Development Establishment (Engineers), Pune, to support the Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in the development of naval version of the LCA.

Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of golden
jubilee at R&DE here on Wednesday, S Sundaresh, chief controller of armament and combat engineering of the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation), said it consists of development of a short runway and other equipment that would enable to test LCAs on naval ships.

"R&DE indigenously developed this facility to support ADA. It will be set up in Goa Shipyard Ltd and will be commissioned in 2012,'' he said.

Sundaresh said R&DE has to its credit an impressive list of important contributions in various fields, ranging from military bridging to micro-electro-mechanical systems.

"In the field of combat engineering, defence and paramilitary forces don't need to look for imports in order to meet their requirements.

"Similarly, in the area of field defence, R&DE contributions have been acknowledged by all sister labs and end users,'' he said.
He said one of the areas that the country is lagging behind is that of sensors.

"To overcome this, the DRDO has invested around Rs1,000 crore to set up the requisite infrastructure in Bangalore and other DRDO institutes in the country. Soon we will be able to develop it in the country,'' he said.

S Guruprasad, director of R&DE, said with the development of remotely operated vehicle Daksh, the platform is ready for future robotic projects and bomb disposing and gun mounted robots are in the pipeline.

 

[thecoolone]

The Tejas Mk.2 Shape

http://livefist.blogspot.com/2011/02/tejas-mk2-shape.html

 

[Rage]

As per ADA, they're suppose to reduce RCA and add some stealth features in MKII.. But i don't see much change in the airframe..

Air intakes has become comparatively large when compared to mk1.. And also, wingspan has not increased for more payload.. I think just for time being they would have placed this mock model.. May expect little change in coming months..

There are quite a few changes: it's length is longer, the top of the empennage has been contoured, the wing body fuselage has been lengthened; and I'm also hearing that the pylons will be made more aerodynamic with their leading edges to reduce drag and improve airflow.

The air intakes are obviously bigger because of the relatively higher net and specific thrust requirements; and consequently low-bypass ratio, particularly in less dense air environments, where the falling density of the air entering the intake causes the net thrust to decrease with increasing altitude. These intakes seem capable of increasing pressure recovery by exploiting more efficiently, shock waves in the intake system at supersonic speeds. You can clearly see the "ramp" in the air intakes.

A change in airframe and suprastructure would require even more regression testing and analyses, and cause even more procedural delays. Hopefully, the DRDO has avoided these with minor modifications.

The main change is of course the avionics package. To say nothing of the engine.

 

[black eagle]

NLCA MK2.

 

[black eagle]

I just looooooooove this LCA shot.....

 

[Parthy]

There are quite a few changes: it's length is longer, the top of the empennage has been contoured, the wing body fuselage has been lengthened; and I'm also hearing that the pylons will be made more aerodynamic with their leading edges to reduce drag and improve airflow.

The air intakes are obviously bigger because of the relatively higher net and specific thrust requirements; and consequently low-bypass ratio, particularly in less dense air environments, where the falling density of the air entering the intake causes the net thrust to decrease with increasing altitude. These intakes seem capable of increasing pressure recovery by exploiting more efficiently, shock waves in the intake system at supersonic speeds. You can clearly see the "ramp" in the air intakes.

A change in airframe and suprastructure would require even more regression testing and analyses, and cause even more procedural delays. Hopefully, the DRDO has avoided these with minor modifications.

The main change is of course the avionics package. To say nothing of the engine.

Thanks for the information Rage!! Any idea about avionics package decided for MkII.. Will AESA radar be ready by that time?? I heard sometime back that pylons are to be made little wider for two extra hard points!!..


Adding:

Why can't ADA think of having a 'Canard' to improve the lift!. As the fuselage is extended a bit will it be effective to have a control-canard in MkII?? Will that add better maneuverability for the bird??

 

[ppgj]

I just looooooooove this LCA shot.....

spot on. stunning and breathtaking!! it looks real mean on the dive!!! oh..it took away my old avtar!!! :tongue1:

thanks rahul devnath for serving a great picture.

 

[black eagle]

spot on. stunning and breathtaking!! it looks real mean on the dive!!! oh..it took away my old avtar!!! :tongue1:

thanks rahul devnath for serving a great picture.

i must say this guy, rahul devnath, although young but filled with loads of talent as far as aviation photography is concerned.... All his clicks are amazingly good...