ADA Tejas (LCA) News and Discussions

[mehrotraprince]

Six LCA Tejas Squadrons for IAF by 2022

Indian Air Force (IAF) will get six squadrons of India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas by 2022.

"It is planned to induct six LCA squadrons by the end of 13th Plan (2017-2022)," the parliament has been informed.

However, the government admitted that there has been a delay in the manufacturing of the LCA.

Tejas is a design and development project and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is the nodal organization for the development of the LCA.

The government said Tejas achieved the Initial Operational Clearance-1 on January 10, 2011. "Presently, LCA development activities leading to final operational clearance are in progress," it said.

Initial Operational Clearance allows IAF pilots to use the LCA, a single engine combat plane that has already completed over 1,800 flight tests. The deliveries of the LCA, first 40 to be powered by 80 KiloNewton GE F404 engines and the rest 100 by GE F414 engines that provide 90 KiloNewton power, are scheduled to begin in the 12th plan period.

The first LCA squadron will be raised after the plane gets its final operational clearance that has been delayed by a year till December 2013. The first squadron will be based in Sulur air base near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu sometime in early 2014.

The naval variant of LCA too has achieved a milestone by carrying out its first flight on April 27 this year, almost two years after it was first rolled out in Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, the government also informed parliament that the review of the Multi-Role Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme by the government is an ongoing process.

After signing of the inter-governmental agreement in November 2007 for design, development and production of MTA, the government's approval was conveyed for signing the shareholders agreement between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and the Russian partners on August 30, 2010 and it was signed on September 9, 2010.

The memorandum of association and articles of association was signed on November 25, 2010.

For implementing the programme, a joint venture company has been incorporated between Indian and Russian partners on 50:50 funding basis in December 2010.

The investment for the MTA programme has been worked out to be $771 million at 2012 price level.

The joint venture has since appointed a chief executive officer for the company and for implementing the programme.

India intends to get about 45 to 50 MTAs in its service in a decade.

Six LCA Tejas Squadrons for IAF by 2022 - Defence Now

 

[ersakthivel]

Six LCA Tejas Squadrons for IAF by 2022

Indian Air Force (IAF) will get six squadrons of India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas by 2022.

"It is planned to induct six LCA squadrons by the end of 13th Plan (2017-2022)," the parliament has been informed.

However, the government admitted that there has been a delay in the manufacturing of the LCA.

Tejas is a design and development project and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is the nodal organization for the development of the LCA.

The government said Tejas achieved the Initial Operational Clearance-1 on January 10, 2011. "Presently, LCA development activities leading to final operational clearance are in progress," it said.

Initial Operational Clearance allows IAF pilots to use the LCA, a single engine combat plane that has already completed over 1,800 flight tests. The deliveries of the LCA, first 40 to be powered by 80 KiloNewton GE F404 engines and the rest 100 by GE F414 engines that provide 90 KiloNewton power, are scheduled to begin in the 12th plan period.

The first LCA squadron will be raised after the plane gets its final operational clearance that has been delayed by a year till December 2013. The first squadron will be based in Sulur air base near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu sometime in early 2014.

The naval variant of LCA too has achieved a milestone by carrying out its first flight on April 27 this year, almost two years after it was first rolled out in Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, the government also informed parliament that the review of the Multi-Role Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme by the government is an ongoing process.

After signing of the inter-governmental agreement in November 2007 for design, development and production of MTA, the government's approval was conveyed for signing the shareholders agreement between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and the Russian partners on August 30, 2010 and it was signed on September 9, 2010.

The memorandum of association and articles of association was signed on November 25, 2010.

For implementing the programme, a joint venture company has been incorporated between Indian and Russian partners on 50:50 funding basis in December 2010.

The investment for the MTA programme has been worked out to be $771 million at 2012 price level.

The joint venture has since appointed a chief executive officer for the company and for implementing the programme.

India intends to get about 45 to 50 MTAs in its service in a decade.

Six LCA Tejas Squadrons for IAF by 2022 - Defence Now

looks like an old article.

 

[Patriot]

The SP-1 and SP-2 were supposed to have been delivered in July 2011, so the 2 jets are quite old in that respect.

Can you enlighten me please whichare the standards won't be met? HAL suppose to provide the ACs as per IOC-2. What difference does it make if the metal has been cut before the IOC-2 date & some hardware. I do not think SP-1 & SP-2 will be any different on design aspect. it is just girlish tantrums and induction delaying tactics of IAF brats.

My intuition is that there may even be crashes as Tejas comes in the hand of IAF brats.

 

[ersakthivel]

Sad , our Tv channels that hang on to the coat tails of politicians for every meaningless world they speak decided to give Tejas IOC-2 such a disinterested treatment,

No feature of it was explained in detail to show how modern it is,

If you look at the tone and tenor of the interviews It is as if ADA and DRDO guys are arguing against criminal cases filed on them by the court!

IF you compare the mangalyan mission coverage, coverage on this tejas IOC-2 which is ten times more strategically important is so ordinary,


For the much less significant JF-17 block-2 ceremony PAK PM comes to the manufacturing facility,

People don't even comprehend what sort of mile stone this is,

 

[mehrotraprince]

looks like an old article.

yes but important point I wanted to make is that our IAF chief is just repeating same line which has been said in Parliament, that means the number can increase if production goes beyond 2022. Induction of minimum 6 squadron is the target for 13th plan.

 

[rvjpheonix]

लड़ाकू विमान 'तेजस' वायुसेना में शामिल होने को तैयार Video: NDTV.com
Here is the interview of the air chief to an NDTV correspondent

 

[ersakthivel]

 

[p2prada]

Can you enlighten me please whichare the standards won't be met? HAL suppose to provide the ACs as per IOC-2. What difference does it make if the metal has been cut before the IOC-2 date & some hardware. I do not think SP-1 & SP-2 will be any different on design aspect. it is just girlish tantrums and induction delaying tactics of IAF brats.

LSP-8 standards cannot be replicated on aircraft that are older than it. I don't know the specifics of all the changes, but LSP-8 has a better chance of being inducted over SP-1 and 2.

My intuition is that there may even be crashes as Tejas comes in the hand of IAF brats.

Ha ha.

 

[Defcon 1]

In squadron formation there is nothing like 1 in servicing, or 1 in standby mode, its purely on the basis of single seaters + trainers.

If you go by IAF's definition which they are following for Su-30's or Mig-21's then its 16+2=18 aircraft's. But then why the hell they ordered 40 MK 1?
They should have ordered 32 + 4 = just 36 aircraft's, but that's not true. Its too confusing

This is what we have from IAF

IAF begins establishing first LCA squadron

A senior retired IAF Official said that a squadron would, generally comprise of 18 pilots and will have a service aircraft, a standby platform and a trainer. However, he added that the number could vary depending on the aircraft and other variables.

members are free to believe whatever they want to.

 

[ersakthivel]

First news about IOC-2 ceremony along with the photo of Tejas taking off on IOC-2 today,

The Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas, takes to sky in Bengaluru on Friday, 20 December 2013. LCA Tejas received Initial Operational Clearance for Induction into Indian Air Force

India's Homegrown Light Combat Aircraft - LCA Tejas - achieves initial clearance

So much more useful info on this link a few excerpts are below,
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"The IAF pilots together with our Engineers have evolved an excellent PVI System, which the Pilot themselves claim to be one of the best"¦ The Team Tejas will have to now sprint the last lap towards FOC.

The FOC will equip Tejas with In-flight refueling, Beyond Visual Range Missiles, New Close Combat Missile, Gun GSH2, additional weapons and new drop tanks for supersonic flight.

The teams are also working on a higher variant of Tejas, viz., Tejas Mk-2 with a higher thrust engine. Tejas Mk-2 will have improved performance and upgraded avionics," said SA TO RM. and DRDO Chief Avinash Chander.

The salient features which have been achieved in IOC-2 include Safe flying up to High angle of Attack as mandated by the users. This has considerably enhanced the combat performance of the aircraft. The Flight control system evaluation has also been completed.

The time for initial built-in test has been reduced considerably which enables faster turn around and enhanced operational readiness of aircraft. The Brake system has been improved significantly in terms of energy absorption capability during landing, thus ensuring prompt turn-around of the aircraft.

Significant improvement in Cockpit ergonomic and lighting system has been accomplished for improved night flying. In-flight re-light capability was demonstrated to ensure enhanced safety and reliability of the aircraft. This is a major achievement.

Avionics and Weapon system of the aircraft have been revamped for effective mission superiority. Helmet Mounted Display Sight (HMDS) has been fully integrated in Tejas and R73E missile firing has been successfully demonstrated using HMDS.

Aircraft readiness for missions in terms of its readiness and Operational Readiness Platform (ORP) and Turn Round Service (TRS) and easier maintainability has been achieved as per requirement thus enhancing operational readiness of the aircraft. Tejas has passed all the tests for "All Weather Clearance" of the aircraft. The Aircraft has been cleared for fly without any telemetry support.


IOC-2 shall enable Air Force to carry out air superiority and offensive air support missions, forward air field operations, all weather multi role operations, Electronic counter measures and night flying operations.

LCA Tejas is capable of flying non- stop to destinations over 1700 km away (Ferry Range). It's Radius of Action is upto 500 km depending upon the nature and duration of actual combat.


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So all the BS about maintenance nightmare goes out of the window,

night flying finished,

all weather clearance done,

In-flight re-light capability demonstrated

wake penetration done,

AOA cleared to 24 deg and IAF wants it to be enhanced to 28 deg for FOC as per Suneet Krishna's report,

A 40 km tracking range for 2 sq meter target means for a loaded fighter sized target it can track at close to 70 Km even with the defective composite radome,

When replaced with Quartz nose cone the ranges will more than double for the same RCS target is confirmed by DG himself,

And it has a turnaround time of 1 hour

it is ready for combat right now,

So why is rajat Padit still crying crocodile tears in Times of india that tejas mk-1 is not yet combat ready and will be ready only in the middle of 2015?

 

[makmohan]

Does anyone have the link for live video feed from the IOC 2 ceremony, previous it was told that during the fly past ceremony they will display the live video feed from the tejas cockpit. ??

 

[AVERAGE INDIAN]

COURTESY Bharat-rakshak PratikDas

 

[ersakthivel]

The historic first flight on Jan 4 2001.

Just have a look at all the happy smiling faces of the defence minister and the then air chief, and pilot,

Some how most of the smiles are missing today.

 

[Austin]

IAF to induct six squadrons of Tejas, says Defence Minister Antony

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will induct six squadrons of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas after the multirole supersonic fighter gets the final operational clearance (FOC) by 2014-end, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said on Friday.

"The IAF will induct the first squadron of LCA Mark-1 from 2015 and second squadron from 2017. Production of Mark-1 will start soon.

"Later, IAF will accept four squadrons of Mark-II, while the Indian Navy will induct 40 of the aircraft's naval variant," Antony told reporters here after a function where Tejas received the initial operational clearance (IOC) for flight tests by the air force pilots.

Each squadron will have 20 aircraft and will replace the ageing Russian-made MiG-21 fleet the IAF will phase out gradually. The squadrons will be based at Sulur Air Force Base near Coimbatore in southern Tamil Nadu.

"The IAF requirement will go up to 200. The Mark-1 will be fitted with GE-404 engines and Mark-II GE-414 engine. As this aircraft meets the staff requirement of the IAF, it has accepted it. Improvements to the aircraft have enhanced its flight envelope and its weapon delivery capability," Antony said.

Indian Air Force chief N.A.K. Browne said the IAF pilots will start flying Tejas from Saturday over the next 12 months for its FOC by December 2014.

Noting LCA has become a reality, Antony said that the next 12 months will be critical for all the stakeholders for the FOC.

"They (defence agencies) have to do a lot. If they can do up this, they are capable of producing the most modern fighting aircraft, as only five-six countries have such a capability," he said.

The state-run Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (Cemilac) are the defence agencies which have designed, developed, manufactured and certified the world's lightest and smallest combat jet.

"As we don't have an LCA simulator, our senior and very experienced pilots will fly Tejas over the next 12 months to assess its flying and combat capabilities for FOC and induction into the fleet," said Air Chief Marshal Browne, adding that an LCA simulator was on cards.

As the indigenous Kaveri engine of the state-run Gas Turbine and Research Establishment (GTRE) of the DRDO, which is yet to qualify for certification, HAL, the lead manufacturer of the LCA, will source the GE-404 and GE-414 aero-engines from the US-based General Electric (GE) for Mark-1 and Mark-II aircraft.

"The Kaveri engine is under development. It will take time. At the moment, we are using GE engines. Kaveri project is not abandoned. We can make it. Indigenisation of an aero-engine takes time. We have plan for that. If we can make aircraft like the LCA, warships, tanks and missiles, we can also make aero-engines," Antony said.

 

[ersakthivel]

A.K. Antony has clearly stated in today's function that after the completion of six squadrons Tejas numbers in IAF will go above 200.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/...-says-antony/1/332119.html?source=homerntnews

"The IAF requirement will go up to 200. The Mark-1 will be fitted with GE-404 engines and Mark-II GE-414 engine. As this aircraft meets the staff requirement of the IAF, it has accepted it. Improvements to the aircraft have enhanced its flight envelope and its weapon delivery capability," Antony said.

The IAF will have more than 400 old fighters hundred fighters (including upgraded MIG-29s and Mirage-2000s )well below the close combat specs and BVR missile specs of Tejas mk-2 by the time Tejas mk-2 debuts.

As mk-2 will be closer to grippen NG specs(which pips RAFALE in every competition till date for the cost effectiveness and specs combo) there is no reason to restrict it's number to 80.

If mk-2 is not inducted in large numbers there is no way IAF can reach parity with combined PAF and PLAF fleet in the immediate future.

Especially if tejas mk-2 is designed with long term goals of further low RCS and stealth compliant external weapon bay it's effectiveness to IAF in the immediate future can not be overstated,

And developmental time for tejas mk-2 will be very short considering this year alone Tejas has seen 500 flight tests.

SInce we already have a established tejas mk-1 production line tejas mk-2 prototypes can be turned out much faster than MK-1 LSPs and PVs

If the same tempo is maintained with IAF participation right from the word go it can debut in five years as most of the BVR and WVR missile integration along with wake penetration and all weather trials would have been sorted out in Tejas mk-1 itself.

 

[sayareakd]

wonder what IAF chief has in mind.............

 

[sayareakd]

wonder what IAF chief has in mind.............

here is another image which make me remind of this image with same kind of expressions

 

[sayareakd]

Advantage India:
For Chander, the potential to tweak the existing Tejas and produce variants, along with the confidence in the Indian aviation industry, that the LCA has generated, are the biggest two fundamental advantages of the project.

"Given that there was no developed aviation industry in India back then, the Tejas is an excellent achievement," Chander told Economictimes.com. Not only that, Chander also said that the lifecycle cost of the LCA will be around 50% lower than any acquired aircraft. "Once an aircraft is acquired, the maintenance costs tend to spiral. In case of Tejas, we now have the capability of stocking up the parts and being ready in advance, in case the need arises," Chander substantiated.

Amidst much cynicism about the eventual success of Tejas for the IAF and Navy, one positive outcome is that the design and development of the LCA has helped establish an entire ecosystem that will work as a platform for future aircraft manufacturing in the country. Having built Tejas from the scratch, the DRDO now claims has the right combination of trained manpower and manufacturing base to establish India's defence prowess on a global scale. At a conceptual level, the DRDO is already working o ..

Advantage India: Why DRDO claims that LCA Tejas is the 'best in its class' - Page2 - The Economic Times

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Hilarious find ..

But equally unfortunate as these people at that level, lack understanding or dont want to for personal means ..

here is another image which make me remind of this image with same kind of expressions

 

[pankaj nema]

Guys please take it easy and please control this
Adrenaline Rush

We should be pleased with IOC 2
BUT A lot of work remains to be done

I will pop the Champagne AFTER FOC