ADA Tejas (LCA) News and Discussions

[power_monger]

Finally some more good news guys.

Bengaluru, June 29: The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is all set undertake critical test flights carrying an array of missiles and bombs to complete its scheduled weapon trials.

Top sources with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed to this Correspondent that the integration of Russian-made Close Combat Missile (CCM) R-73 has been completed.

The ground integration of the Israeli-made CMM Python-5 too has been completed ahead of the flight trials.

The Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile Derby has also been integrated on to the aircraft. Tejas can carry two CCMs with a range of 15 km at the extreme end pods. These missiles can home on to the enemy aircraft based on their heat signature.

The Derby (two missiles) is being integrated on the mid-board-pods of Tejas and they have a range varying between 80 and 100 km. The home-grown fighter carries the laser-guided bomb (LGB) Griffin, which has a range of 5-6 km.
Tejas will also carry LGB Paveway, which according to sources, has already demonstrated its capabilities with an accuracy of 1 meter. "These missiles have demonstrated their capabilities to strike with precision during day and night," says an official. BVR missiles to be tested in July

The laser-designator pod also has been integrated on to the aircraft. "Tejas can carry drop tanks with 1200-litre and 800-725-litre capacity.

The R-73 has completed flight trials in Goa, Jaisalmer and Jamnagar over 10 times. The LGB has been tested for six times now," the official said.

The BVR testes scheduled to be held in May has now been fixed for July at forward bases. "The CCMs and BVRs used on Tejas are capable of SSKP (Single Shot Kill Probability). In a war scenario, the pilot can increase the kill probability by opting for firing both CCMs, or both BVRs together," the official added. The integration of Russian-made gun for Tejas Gsh-23 has been completed. The gun has been already ground tested at a facility in Nasik.

FOC may spill over to March 2016?

When asked whether Tejas would skip the December 2015 deadline for Final Operational Clearance (FOC), the top MoD official said: "There are still some passing clouds hanging around. But the teams from Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) are confident of beating the deadline." However, another official told this Correspondent that the programme might skip the December deadline by maximum three months. "May be(FOC) it will spill over to the last quarter of this FY. The FOC will be in by March 2016," he said. Refueling probe, nose cone radome awaited To complete the FOC points, the air-to-air refueling probe from Cobham hasn't arrived yet. The nose cone quartz radome too is being awaited. There are already some rumours floating around in the corridors of HAL and ADA over the delay in accessing these pending foreign systems. A Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) official says that they are hopeful of thrashing the issue. "Definitely there are concerns. But, we are hoping to get clarity by July. Hopefully, we should have access to all hardware within a month. We don't see any more technology challenges after the integration of these pending items," says the senior DRDO official. ADA says that almost 75 per cent of work related to FOC has been completed. The siblings of Tejas have completed 2971 flights so far logging around 1909 hours, at the time this piece went live on the web.

(The writer is a seasoned aerospace and defence journalist in India. He is the Consultant Editor (Defence) with OneIndia. He tweets @writetake.)

Read more at: http://www.oneindia.com/india/carpe...onstrate-fire-power-ahead-of-foc-1791123.html

 

[power_monger]

I am ok if FOC goes to March 2016. The Learning which goes into LCA tejas is invaluable.

 

[indiandefencefan]

wtf.....is this ???


pls message pls message pls message

Looks like American tejas models will be flying high before our own plane achieves FOC

 

[Abhijeet Dey]

Why is this Cobham company from UK delaying refueling probe and nose cone quartz radome for Tejas? Is it because India didn't purchase Eurofighter Typhoon? India media should investigate this matter.

Is it possible for HAL and ADA to manufacture these components in future?

 

[Pulkit]

I am ok if FOC goes to March 2016. The Learning which goes into LCA tejas is invaluable.

Its not okay but we cannot control it.
Its just preparing yourself upfront for the delay that's gonna happen.

Delay is not due to being stuck with something technical but with unavailability of few products hence there is gonna be no learning during this new delayed tenure you ready to accept.

 

[Khagesh]

I don't quite understand why the FOC should be held up for the Radome and the IFR probe.

The IFR probe especially is a bolt on probe. It would not affect the fuel balance in any unpredictable manner and so can be left for later.

The Radome requires only some Ray tracing studies once it is obtained and that too to calibrate the newly supplied Radome. The radar's ability to work is not dependent on that Radome. Some changes may be required to the software but its not like that would be too much. This new Radome can also be treated as a bolt on.

 

[tejas warrior]

I don't quite understand why the FOC should be held up for the Radome and the IFR probe.

The IFR probe especially is a bolt on probe. It would not affect the fuel balance in any unpredictable manner and so can be left for later.

The Radome requires only some Ray tracing studies once it is obtained and that too to calibrate the newly supplied Radome. The radar's ability to work is not dependent on that Radome. Some changes may be required to the software but its not like that would be too much. This new Radome can also be treated as a bolt on.

Unfortunately these are in IAF's must have list for FOC.

 

[Khagesh]

Unfortunately these are in IAF's must have list for FOC.

These are but should not be.

Come to think of it IAF old foggies, are willing to take a ground attacking HAWK132 but not willing to take a LCA Mk-1. Perhaps IAF honchos are still thinking that their HAWKs will prove excellant fighters like Jaguar did. Co-incidently Jaguar was acquired by IAF as a fighter but Jaguar actually has a development history seeded as a Brit-Frenchie Trainer. I mean that is how Jaguar started. And perhaps they think their Hawks would repeat the same story.

Look if the IFR probe is a bolt on probe than why must it be a must have for FOC? I think this is just a way of saying 'Kutte ko khila denge par LCA nahi lenge'.

Then there is the Radome. For years together IAF slept and slept and slept. Then one fine day thei come up with the Quartz radome is a must have "annyatha pechis ho jayegi". If IAF air staff could change so many things in their specs for LCA Mk-1 then why did the IAF Staff Marshals, kept quite about the Radome. Actually while this radome is a cool piece of work but its not like it is not do-able within India, given - time, money and clear instructions.

 

[The enlightened]

Hey yo suckas. Check this out
https://m.facebook.com/Tarmak007/ph....362679130496085/773817092715618/?type=1&p=80

 

[tejas warrior]

P S Subramanyam is directly saying FOC by March.

 

[tejas warrior]

Well !! This was not true

 

[The enlightened]

View attachment 5382

P S Subramanyam is directly saying FOC by March.

At this point, given the delays we've already faced, somehow I don't care for more delays. But I wish that after all this hulla-loo, after all the time and effort spent..........that we didn't waste it for nothing. If not LCA Mk-I, then LCA Mk-II but at least then we have a product that the Air-Force feels is of use going further into the 21st century and the aviation industry have the orders to............well, to be called an industry.



And for fucks sake, both learn lessons from the delays and not make a joke of our country again.

 

[Khagesh]

Probably I am a darker, more pessimistic fellow and perhaps that is why I oppose so bitterly, but then I don't think IAF can come out of the grips of the cabal that leads it.

Marut, LCA Mk-1, ALH all suggest that these people are merely biding time - "Mantri to panch saal me chale jayenge, hum to saath (60) saal tak chipke rahenge". Biding time for the UPA-3 when again they will get to angle for ambassadorship and HAL advisory posts. Till then they probably feel like - "lets keep quite without cooperating with the new sarkar lest this gets negative points for our wards Visa application".

My guess - the new sarkar will mess up with everyone of these one after the other and this import-pasand cabal will see its demise like Congis. Submarines too were delayed beyond reason but the IN was a cooperative organisation. IAF honchos are like petulant kids asking for some tight slaps right under the kanpatti.

Meantime I suggest you guys do not give up on the LCA Mk-1. It just may come back in the HAL 1P or 2P avatar with probably even an Indian engine to boot. And if you still give up then at least make sure you make the IAF purchase management account for it.

 

[manindra]

These are but should not be.

Come to think of it IAF old foggies, are willing to take a ground attacking HAWK132 but not willing to take a LCA Mk-1. Perhaps IAF honchos are still thinking that their HAWKs will prove excellant fighters like Jaguar did. Co-incidently Jaguar was acquired by IAF as a fighter but Jaguar actually has a development history seeded as a Brit-Frenchie Trainer. I mean that is how Jaguar started. And perhaps they think their Hawks would repeat the same story.

Look if the IFR probe is a bolt on probe than why must it be a must have for FOC? I think this is just a way of saying 'Kutte ko khila denge par LCA nahi lenge'.

Then there is the Radome. For years together IAF slept and slept and slept. Then one fine day thei come up with the Quartz radome is a must have "annyatha pechis ho jayegi". If IAF air staff could change so many things in their specs for LCA Mk-1 then why did the IAF Staff Marshals, kept quite about the Radome. Actually while this radome is a cool piece of work but its not like it is not do-able within India, given - time, money and clear instructions.

You forgot Flankers
We purchased when Su-30 MKI didn't develop fully & get SU-30 MK which later returned to Russia after geting Su-30 MKI.

 

[tejas warrior]

You forgot Flankers
We purchased when Su-30 MKI didn't develop fully & get SU-30 MK which later returned to Russia after geting Su-30 MKI.

Add Mirage 2000 to the list.

So why LCA needs everything in first Block itself.

 

[Khagesh]

Exactly the same with Jaguar also which came in with an INS that would topple over with just a sneeze and cough.

Mig21 too had issues with its guns.

Su-7 had an Afterburner that would kick in only after a gap of 6-7 seconds, unlike the other aircrafts of its time.

For Gnat-Ajeet development these very people used to speak highly of improvement in its ground attack role despite the small size. But when you give them something light years better they delay and dilate. Nirmaljeet Singh Sekhon went down because of a lousy ejection procedure. Do you know we lost more pilots and Gnats before Sept. 1, 1965 when the air war started than in the 1965 war. This fatal problem had to be corrected by HAL only by the Ajeet version. These import pasand IAF honchos simply forced our aviators to keep flying a hazardous aircraft. All those stories you hear of Gnat are actually IAF version of our NCERT Histories. They are not our histories they are British hagiographies of their own product that their chamchas in IAF planted and then the rank and file that could not figure how they were being taken for a ride developed emotional connection with their work tools like the way usually Indian traditions accept and advise. But this old valid tradition was used by hagiographers towards Gnat worship when infact it should have been the worship of the fighter pilots who risked their lives for the country flying this silly import by IAF. Do you know one of the main culprits of the gang that has tried to assassinate LCA was saved by a HAL made improvement in Gnat. I wish.....

But anyhow, all these and the ones you mention, were turned into good operational machines. And in most cases these very IAF cabal had sought the 'help' of indigenous R&D to make them so.

 

[tejas warrior]

Next Month full-fledged weapons trials for Tejas !!

http://idrw.org/gsh-23-cannon-gun-cleared-for-lca-tejas/

Integration of Russian-made Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23 twin-barreled 23 mm auto-cannon which is an important requirement needed for certification on Tejas MK-1 before Full Operational Capability or Final Operational Capability ( FOC) certification can be granted to LCA-Tejas has been completed.

Double-barreled aircraft gun reportedly has cleared all Ground based weapons trials on board LCA Tejas aircraft and will soon start Gun testing while aircraft is in operational flight.

Muzzle calibration has been completed and grounds based tests have achieved desired results said reliable sources. Vibrations levels were at acceptable levels and Gun firing also has taken place while the engine was in power to check any suction of gas generated by gun into the engine .

Ground and Aerial testing of Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23 was one of the crucial systems which needed to be cleared before FOC and air force didn’t want to rely on its long-range air-to-air missiles to defend itself in the air, and remain defenseless in close combat.

Integration of Close Combat Air to Air Missile Python-V and Beyond Visual range missile Derby already have been integrated and Next month full-fledged weapons trials of LCA-Tejas will be conducted which will span over next few months.

 

[Khagesh]

Arre abhi some time back there was another of those 'bright ideas' being floated - why not have a 30 mm gun on LCA. It really beats me how these 'bright ideas' get planted. And some people will actually begin to support these 'bright ideas' without realizing that this is how the support for an indigenous effort is chipped away.

But this is great news.

 

[manindra]

Add Mirage 2000 to the list.

So why LCA needs everything in first Block itself.

Tejas needs to provide some commission & few Eastern European flesh to IAF top brass to get approved.

 

[tejas warrior]

Source - Tarmak007.