ADA Tejas (LCA) News and Discussions

[ersakthivel]

Tarmak007 -- A bold blog on Indian defence

HAL chairman R K Tyagi refuses to drawn into any controversies of the past and points out at the record number of flights Tejas achieved in 2013 as a reaffirmation of company's commitment. "I do not want to go on a rewind mode. This year Tejas variants have logged 484 flights, compared to the average 280-odd flights it logged every year. This is an increase of 75 per cent. This has been achieved by closely monitoring the aircraft readiness, reducing turnaround time and an emphasis on snag-free flights," Tyagi told Express on Sunday.
In the design phase, HAL generated over 9000 structural drawings, which were validated and converted into the fighter. HAL also built an 'Iron Bird' facility for testing the fly-by-wire system in addition to setting up manufacturing facilities which rolled out 14 aircraft till date. The company also designed and developed indigenous LRUs, including jet fuel starter for the engine. "Our focus is to set the base for an aerospace eco system in India from the experience we gained from the Tejas project. Self reliance in defence production is a matter of state security and national pride. We will have a lot to offer towards the mission of indigenization," Tyagi said.

The project had its major share of challenges in the last two years with a series of outstation weapon and system trials. HAL had to ensure flight readiness of Tejas along with its partners the Aeronautical Development Agency and certification agencies.


During this period, HAL also had to shift its focus on quality and maintainability aspects of the aircraft. Critical issues including fuel leaks had to be resolved on priority which could have slowed down the project further.

Insiders point towards the latest Tejas aircraft (LSP-8) as a testimony to the level of perfection the team achieved. "It has completed 40 flights without any major snag. Post IOC-2, the IAF pilots will continue with their testing and takeover of Tejas, which will eventually replace the MiGs," a senior official from HAL said.

 

[ersakthivel]

LCA Competes With India's Current and Future Foreign-Made Aircraft | idrw.org

 

[Punya Pratap]

It is very heartening to see IAF has stopped the stepped motherly treatment towards Tejas!

Somehow and somewhere the realisation has dawned that the draw down of our economy (warned by PM himself) has made IAF realise that they will have to accept Tejas instead of acting like a child who wants only foreign made toys.

I look forward to the day Tejas flies in IAF grey/blue colour and atleast 10 squadron strong. IT is not lacking in capability and the more IAF gets involved in the developing of Tejas MK II the more they will appreciate it...now I just wish they manage to shave off 500 kgs weight and add an AESA along with the required fuselage and air intakes for GE414.

Any news on the Naval Tejas??

 

[makmohan]

30 years in making, Tejas finally ready for production | idrw.org

Three decades after the project started, India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is all set for initial operational clearance and production, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief Avinash Chander said Sunday
The DRDO got permission to start the programme to design and develop an indigenous Light Combat Aircraft way back in 1983.
The ten-tonne category indigenous Tejas has gone through the full operational envelop of its speed, angle of attack, different manoeuvres it can make, different types of loads it can carry, weather conditions and high altitude operations, Chander, who also serves as scientific advisor to the defence minister, said in an interview to the 'War and Peace' programme of state-run TV channel Doordarshan News
It gives us the confidence that the aircraft is now ready for production (at the facilities of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd). HAL has been chosen as its production agency he said
Chander made it clear that Tejas would continue its production cycles with imported American GE engines.
If you see the world, aircraft are built around a proven engine and once it is a flying aircraft, we seldom change the engine. he said.
Asked whether there could be any hurdles in production because of the imported American engines, he said: Given our relationship with different countries in the world, we don't anticipate any problems
Chander said the indigenous Kaveri engine project would continue for future unmanned aerial vehicles.
It will be possible for unmanned aerial vehicles to take off from naval platforms like the INS Jalashwa he said.
For the next round of indigenous 20-tonne category medium combat aircraft project, India will go for some technology partnership to develop some new engine of that class of aircraft said the DRDO chief.


--------------

Looks like Tejas has no plans to fly with kaveri engine even in future..

 

[Defcon 1]

What is the range of the derby missile? Wikipedia lists it as 50 km?

http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/...-vs-israeli-derby-em-python-5-ir-missile.html

Post #1 second article. 63 km at 25000 ft at head on engagement. max range classified.

 

[happy]

HAL Gears Up For Tejas Series Rollout | idrw.org

 

[ersakthivel]

30 years in making, Tejas finally ready for production | idrw.org

Three decades after the project started, India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is all set for initial operational clearance and production, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief Avinash Chander said Sunday
The DRDO got permission to start the programme to design and develop an indigenous Light Combat Aircraft way back in 1983.
The ten-tonne category indigenous Tejas has gone through the full operational envelop of its speed, angle of attack, different manoeuvres it can make, different types of loads it can carry, weather conditions and high altitude operations, Chander, who also serves as scientific advisor to the defence minister, said in an interview to the 'War and Peace' programme of state-run TV channel Doordarshan News
It gives us the confidence that the aircraft is now ready for production (at the facilities of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd). HAL has been chosen as its production agency he said
Chander made it clear that Tejas would continue its production cycles with imported American GE engines.
If you see the world, aircraft are built around a proven engine and once it is a flying aircraft, we seldom change the engine. he said.
Asked whether there could be any hurdles in production because of the imported American engines, he said: Given our relationship with different countries in the world, we don't anticipate any problems
Chander said the indigenous Kaveri engine project would continue for future unmanned aerial vehicles.
It will be possible for unmanned aerial vehicles to take off from naval platforms like the INS Jalashwa he said.
For the next round of indigenous 20-tonne category medium combat aircraft project, India will go for some technology partnership to develop some new engine of that class of aircraft said the DRDO chief.


--------------

Looks like Tejas has no plans to fly with kaveri engine even in future..

Depends upon what tech level we will reach in a decade's time on SCB tech,

we have to master requisite tech flight test in a future Kaveri engine which has identical TWR of GE-414 IN S 6,

IF we don't achieve the 414 level then Tejas mk-2 will be with GE engines only.

 

[Abhi9]

Beauty

 

[Kyubi]

:romantic:

Beauty

:romantic:

Wow ain't this a beauty !!!!!!!!!!!!:cheer2:

 

[rvjpheonix]

Tarmak007 -- A bold blog on Indian defence: CEMILAC says certifying Tejas test parameters was a challenge | 2445 incident-free flights | 500-odd page RSD ready
By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service
Bangalore: Scientists attached to the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) are giving the final touches to the 500-plus pages Release to Service Document (RSD) – which will be handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) as an assurance of the test points completed by Tejas variants ahead of its second initial operational clearance (IOC-2). Every since the first IOC-1 event held on January 10, 2011, the CEMILAC team had their task cut out to go through a series of complex certification processes to ensure the supreme safety of the aircraft.
In an interview to Express on Tuesday, Dr K Tamil Mani, Director-General (Aeronautical Systems), DRDO and Chief Executive CEMILAC, admitted that the certification process of Tejas was the most challenging task his team has undertaken so far. "All the aspects what we have handled are directly related to the safety of the aircraft. In the initial days the term certification and the nuances involved were alien to many but today we are the final word. There are no compromises ever made," Tamil Mani said. The CEMILAC officials had on many occasions rejected the inputs provided by various stakeholders of Tejas.
The fact that Tejas had no major incidents reported since its maiden flight on January 4, 2001, is seen as the strict flight clearance mechanisms put in place by CEMILAC and other certifying agencies. "Regulatory bodies, no longer isolate themselves to the rule book. Their concurrent participation in all development activities has enhanced better understanding of the safety implications of the aircraft and eventually leading to a smoother certification," Tamil Mani said.
During the IOC-2 period, the stores integration and release (including missile firing) were undertaken on several occasions, clearing crucial test points. "The multi mode radar (Elta from Israel) was integrated and completely tested. The operational capabilities of Tejas at high altitude and low temperature was tested at Leh, in addition to expanding the flight envelope to 6 G," says P R Baghel, Group Director (Systems), CEMILAC.
The IOC-2 period also saw the AoA (Angle of Attack) of the aircraft being increased from 17 to 22 degrees. The aircraft also demonstrated its capability to touch the AoA of 24 degrees as well. (Higher AoA is not a regular phenomenon and it happens only during carefree manouvering.) Among other critical parameters cleared by Tejas include: emergency jettisoning of all stores at one go (ensuring they don't collide with each other after the release), engine relight, wake penetration, night flying and all weather clearance.
The aircraft has touched a maximum speed of 1.4 Mach and a maximum height of 50,000 feet so far. Barring minor snags like tyre burst, increase in brake temperature, wrong indication of fuel quantity and non-deployment of brake parachute, the 2445 flights logged by Tejas have been incident-free.

 

[TrueSpirit1]

Catch live action from Tejas cockpit on Friday

BANGALORE: For the first time, agencies involved in designing and developing light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas will display to the country what a pilot can do in its cockpit while the aircraft is in the sky.

Dedicating the aircraft to the nation, National Flight Testing Centre (NFTC) pilots will take it to the skies during an official flypast this Friday, marking the second Initial Operational Clearance (IOC-2) of Tejas.

Following this, the aircraft will be tested by IAF pilots and finally deemed fit for induction. This will happen after the Final Operational Clearance (FOC), expected to be achieved in 2015.

"On Friday, giant screens at the HAL airport will stream live videos of action from the cockpit," a senior DRDO official said, adding that the media will be allowed to telecast the same.

This will be the first time that the actual functioning of a pilot from a fighter aircraft will be streamed live to people. "We have come a long way since 1983, when the project was conceived. And we thought the people of the country must know the kind of technology we can boast of today," another official said.

The in-built cameras will provide visuals for the streaming. "We already have images taken during flight tests and other routine sorties in the past decade, but we are attempting to stream it live and show it to people on Friday," he said.

Speaking to TOI from Delhi, a senior official said, "Tejas now meets all the parameters prescribed by the IAF and is ready to be handed over."

Former IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, had on January 10, 2011 during IOC-1 said that LCA was not yet a fourth generation aircraft and that there was a long time before he would allow his men to fly it. The IAF had taken several objections to the aircraft and made it clear that it would not take the aircraft without it meeting all service quality requirements (SQRs).

Today, the LCA stands with a better angle of attack, which was only 17-19 degree in 2011. It has been integrated with electronic warfare systems and has met many other requirements the IAF had sought.

* Aug 1983: Rs 560-crore sanctioned for Project Definition

* June 16, 1984: Establishment of ADA

* Mid-1985: ADA begins full-fledged functioning

* 1988: Project Definition completed & proposal sent for project clearance

* 23 June 1993: Rs 2,188-crore including Rs 560-cr sanctioned earlier

* Jan 10, 2001: First Flight of LCA-Tejas

* 25 April, 2007: First flight of Limited Series Production (LSP) aircraft

* Jan 10, 2011: First Initial Operational Clearance ( IOC)

* Dec 20, 2013: Second IOC; laying foundation for Final Operational Clearance expected in 2015

Rs 7kcr spent so far

A total of about Rs 7,000 crore has been spent of the project definition, design and development of the Tejas MK-I. Overall, the government has sanctioned close to Rs 24,000 crore for the project. But this will comprise the complete project, including the design, development of LCA MK-II, the cost of the 40 aircraft ordered by the IAF, development of LCA-Navy MK-I and Mk-II.

************************************************************************************************************************************************

Please delete if it is a repost.

Dream coming true for us. Can't help posting this.

 

[arnabmit]

2 days to go!!!
:dancemasti::santa:

 

[ersakthivel]

Tarmak007 -- A bold blog on Indian defence: CEMILAC says certifying Tejas test parameters was a challenge | 2445 incident-free flights | 500-odd page RSD ready
By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service
Bangalore: Scientists attached to the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) are giving the final touches to the 500-plus pages Release to Service Document (RSD) – which will be handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) as an assurance of the test points completed by Tejas variants ahead of its second initial operational clearance (IOC-2). Every since the first IOC-1 event held on January 10, 2011, the CEMILAC team had their task cut out to go through a series of complex certification processes to ensure the supreme safety of the aircraft.
In an interview to Express on Tuesday, Dr K Tamil Mani, Director-General (Aeronautical Systems), DRDO and Chief Executive CEMILAC, admitted that the certification process of Tejas was the most challenging task his team has undertaken so far. "All the aspects what we have handled are directly related to the safety of the aircraft. In the initial days the term certification and the nuances involved were alien to many but today we are the final word. There are no compromises ever made," Tamil Mani said. The CEMILAC officials had on many occasions rejected the inputs provided by various stakeholders of Tejas.
The fact that Tejas had no major incidents reported since its maiden flight on January 4, 2001, is seen as the strict flight clearance mechanisms put in place by CEMILAC and other certifying agencies. "Regulatory bodies, no longer isolate themselves to the rule book. Their concurrent participation in all development activities has enhanced better understanding of the safety implications of the aircraft and eventually leading to a smoother certification," Tamil Mani said.
During the IOC-2 period, the stores integration and release (including missile firing) were undertaken on several occasions, clearing crucial test points. "The multi mode radar (Elta from Israel) was integrated and completely tested. The operational capabilities of Tejas at high altitude and low temperature was tested at Leh, in addition to expanding the flight envelope to 6 G," says P R Baghel, Group Director (Systems), CEMILAC.
The IOC-2 period also saw the AoA (Angle of Attack) of the aircraft being increased from 17 to 22 degrees. The aircraft also demonstrated its capability to touch the AoA of 24 degrees as well. (Higher AoA is not a regular phenomenon and it happens only during carefree manouvering.) Among other critical parameters cleared by Tejas include: emergency jettisoning of all stores at one go (ensuring they don't collide with each other after the release), engine relight, wake penetration, night flying and all weather clearance.
The aircraft has touched a maximum speed of 1.4 Mach and a maximum height of 50,000 feet so far. Barring minor snags like tyre burst, increase in brake temperature, wrong indication of fuel quantity and non-deployment of brake parachute, the 2445 flights logged by Tejas have been incident-free.

ADA site already says it has reached reached mach 1.6

http://www.tejas.gov.in/specifications/variants.html

certification for IOC-2 may be done with mach 1.4 as per CEMILAC report.

The design top speed for mk-1 is supposed to be mach 1.8.

We will know how much is the achievable top speed after FOC.

It has already reached 50000 ft after FOC we may know the top altitude ceiling for the fighter.

http://www.tejas.gov.in/specifications/weapons.html

Any modern fighter is only as good as the weapons she can deliver on target. The Tejas is designed to carry a veritable plethora of air to air, air to surface, precision guided and standoff weaponry. In the air to air arena, the Tejas carries long range beyond visual range weapons, with highly agile high off-boresight missiles to tackle any close combat threat.

A wide variety of air to ground munitions and an extremely accurate navigation and attack system allow it to prosecute surface targets over land or at sea with unparalleled accuracy, giving the Tejas true multi/swing role capability.

It can carry four long and medium range BVR missiles on its weapon stations 2.4 and 1,3

two short range WVR missiles at stations-5,6 exclusively reserved for that,

External fuel tanks on three stations 1,2,7,

Bombs and LGBs on weapon stations-1,2,3,4.

So besides weapon stations 5,6 which are exclusive for WVR missiles and weapon stations -L for Litening pod all other four stations are versatile and can be loaded out with PGMs , dumb bombs of Long and medium range Air to air missiles as required for mission.

So in air to air load out it can carry 4 Long range and 2 short range air to air missiles along with one heavy center line fuel tank disproving the persistent misinformation dished out by one particular member here that it can carry only two long range BVR and two short range WVR missiles in air to air load out. .

 

[rvjpheonix]

ADA site already says it has reached reached mach 1.6

LCA Tejas - Specifications: Variants

certification for IOC-2 may be done with mach 1.4 as per CEMILAC report.

The design top speed for mk-1 is supposed to be mach 1.8.

We will know how much is the achievable top speed after FOC.

It has already reached 50000 ft after FOC we may know the top altitude ceiling for the fighter.

LCA Tejas - Specifications: Weapons


It can carry four long and medium range BVR missiles on its weapon stations 2.4 and 1,3

two short range WVR missiles at stations-5,6 exclusively reserved for that,

External fuel tanks on three stations 1,2,7,

Bombs and LGBs on weapon stations-1,2,3,4.

So besides weapon stations 5,6 which are exclusive for WVR missiles and weapon stations -L for Litening pod all other four stations are versatile and can be loaded out with PGMs , dumb bombs of Long and medium range Air to air missiles as required for mission.

So in air to air load out it can carry 4 Long range and 2 short range air to air missiles along with one heavy center line fuel tank disproving the persistent misinformation dished out by one particular member here that it can carry only two long range BVR and two short range WVR missiles in air to air load out. .

Another important point given in the article is Angle of attack achieced. An AoA og 24 degrees has already been achieved.

 

[Neil]

Tejas SP-1 aircraft being made...

assembly facility...

 

[Neil]

 

[roma]

please consider switching away from GE engine to something from another nation

not critical if thrust to weight ratio goes down a wee bit

shouldnt rely on usa for any critical item

russians slightly better - but ultimately learn to reverse-engineer

but not make the mistake as china did of putting out on international market
keep reverse-engineered products only for home-use defence

 

[ersakthivel]

Tejas Hangar Goes Live; First Aircraft in 3 Months - The New Indian Express

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has set up a state-of-the-art facility equipped with some of the best aerospace manufacturing technologies to take up the Tejas series production. With a built-up area of 28,000 sq m, the Light Combat Aircraft (Production Group) has already started the series production of Tejas with the mandate of delivering the first aircraft (SP-1) to the Indian Air Force (IAF) by March 2014.

The new facility has LCA structural assembly hangar, two flights hangars and machine shops to augment the Tejas production. Backed with a workforce of over 700 personnel, with 80 per cent being in the average age group of 30 years, the set-up has come up with a sanction of approximately Rs. 400 crore.

Each Tejas platform should cost the IAF around Rs. 200 crore. The equipment fitting on SP-1 began this year and 75 per cent of the aircraft structure is already ready.

First 20 aircraft will be rolled out in the initial operational clearance configuration, while the next 20 will be in the final operational clearance format.

Just around 30 million dollar per piece, it is a steal considering

it's low clean config RCS,

long range BVR capability,

good radar that can detect 2 sq meter target at 120 Km range with a radome dia of 650 mm even better than the ones present in service RAFALE and Grippen MMR radars that can be fully exploited with Akash mk-1 and mk-2 missiles at 80 Km and 120 Km ranges ,

the deadly close comabt high off bore WVR missiles like R-73 with combined with HMDS from day one in service(not present in Grippen and RAFALEs in service now),

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/cobra-hmd-for-swedish-gripens-03914/

Heads-up displays (HUD) are all well and good, but displays that move with the pilot's head are even better. Our JHMCS articles have covered the way helmet-mounted displays (HMD) change the game in close air combat, especially when they're paired with modern missiles and their wide seeker cones.

Sweden's JAS-39 Gripen fighter has performed well in exercises, but to date most have lacked helmet-mounted displays. Now a SEK 345 million ($54 million) deal between Sweden's FMV and Saab promises to equip Swedish Gripens with the Cobra HMD. Saab Group release external link.

"The strong points of the Rafale were the quality of its sensors, such as the PESA (passive electronically scanned array) radar; the frontal optronics; and the EW (electronic warfare) suite, Spectra," the report on the 2008 fly-off noted. "

The good data fusion of all its sensors allowed to provide the pilot a very good situational awareness," it continued. "The weak point of the Rafale was the lack of a helmet-mounted sight system," the evaluators remarked.

a refueling probe giving it extended range,

can take off and land in Leh from day one.

a long lasting fully composite fuselage better protected against indian climatic conditions compared to metal,

A full relaxed stability RSS aerodynamic profile,

Fully integrated Ew suit,

no forex bleed in Mid life upgrades and routine maintenance leading to very low operating cost for it's whole service life,

 

[sayareakd]

 

[sayareakd]

Tejas SP-1 aircraft being made...

assembly facility...

by sarkari standards it looks ok, but they need to do better paint job on floor. Hate that stupid L1 bit rule of Govt.