ADA Tejas (LCA) News and Discussions

[asdfa]

Indian Light Combat Aircraft could be converted as UCAV

Indian Light Combat Aircraft could be converted as UCAV | Frontier India Defense News

Indian Light Combat Aircraft could be converted as a Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV). The second edition of Manas Defence year book 2101 – 2011 reveals that in addition to converting LCA into UCAV, there are tentative plans of weaponising Indian UAV's.

Indian is currently working on medium and high altitude UAV's. DRDO's Lakshya and Nishant UAV's are under various stages of testing and deployment by the users. The High Altitude Long Endurance UAV (HALE) has features like SATCOM links which will allow it to be operated beyond the line of sight.

The Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV (MALE) called Rustom draws upon the experience gained via the Nishant Tactical UAV program. MALE Rustom will feature canards and carry a range of payloads like ESM, Laser designators, optronic and radar. Rustom program will have a new engine and conventional take off and landing capability (CTOL). DRDO is carrying on with the developmental work unaffected by the recent crash of Rustom prototype. Rustom is expected to supplement or replace the Israeli made Heron UAV in Indian service.

 

[mirage2000]

thats right i agree to the fact

 

[mirage2000]

Can anybody tell us what will be the difference between Tejas MK I and MK II.

The Mark 2 will have a more powerful engine, refined aerodynamics and replacing other parts to reduce obsolescence according to an IAF spokesman

 

[EagleOne]

i think it from Manas Defence year book 2010– 2011 not 2101-2011

 

[pavanvenkatesh]

when is this UCAV project set to fly? i mean the first prototype with full weapon load

 

[EagleOne]

may be after 2-3 years

 

[pavanvenkatesh]

may be after 2-3 years

well i guess considering the track record of our agencies then it may be 4-5 years =heheh

 

[s_bman]

some may call me short sighted but i would rather see lca as decent manned fighter rather than UCAV . dont want to see efforts and r&d going waste.

 

[gogbot]

well i guess considering the track record of our agencies then it may be 4-5 years =heheh

I think that it is more likely, yes

 

[gogbot]

some may call me short sighted but i would rather see lca as decent manned fighter rather than UCAV . dont want to see efforts and r&d going waste.

You can use tejas as both UCAV's and Manned fighter .
this is something we will see more often as UAV technology improves.

A UCAV tejas will make a decent and cheap A2G strike aircraft.

 

[nandu]

Tejas test flight update

LCA-Tejas has completed total 1354 test flights successfully (TD1-233,TD2-305,PV1-242,PV2-140,PV3-213,LSP1-59,LSP2-148,PV5-12,LSP3-02)

http://www.ada.gov.in/

 

[neo29]

just one question? spending rs 35k crores and waiting for years for LCA project and compromising the fleet depletion level of IAF. Say it gets an IOC in a years time, was it worth the wait, money and compromise? will it match against paf jf-17 and chinese j-10 ?

 

[SATISH]

just one question? spending rs 35k crores and waiting for years for LCA project and compromising the fleet depletion level of IAF. Say it gets an IOC in a years time, was it worth the wait, money and compromise? will it match against paf jf-17 and chinese j-10 ?

Yes it is. It is worth every paisa invested in it. We built a whole design bureau and knew all the nuances of building a modern fighter. The JF 17 and LCA are comparable but the LCA helped us to know what all can go wrong and what happens because of what. The whole ADA was renovated for the LCA. The GTRE also learnt a lot from Kaveri. The HAL learnt from all the mistakes. The IAF got a Mirage in a Gnat..and everyone is happy. It is comparable to J 10 and the JF 17 in every possibile way.

 

[Agantrope]

Unmanned combat Tejas: Step forward or Backward?

History of Unmanned combat air vehicles can be traced back to 1960's when US developed unmanned Helicopters which were capable of launching Torpedoes were deployed in US Naval Destroyers, since then lot of new technological changes and development of Nano technology with small amount of success in Artificial intelligent have forced many in Aviation circle to think head of time, in fact F-35 fighter aircraft is already called has "Last Manned Fighter Aircraft" to be inducted in US Forces.
Recently development of unmanned combat air vehicle based on Tejas combat aircraft has been a buzz in Indian media circle, DRDO wants to work on this concept 10 years down the line when R&D of Tejas MK-II is finished and it hits production. While the concept seems to be a really new and challenging but Defence forces around the world are not moving in that direction, Technology is not new and in past many fighter jets mostly for testing purpose have been flown remotely. But mostly these manned fighters where never turned into unmanned fighter aircrafts in large numbers due to limitations which Aircraft designers have already put into the airframe while developing them keep humans in mind.
Countries like United States, Israel and many in Europe and Asia are developing Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAV) based on Stealthier Airframe design and with high level of Artificial intelligence in them. Where these Combat air vehicles will be able to stay in air for longer time and complete their missions autonomously with little Human inputs. Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAV) will have better weapons payload, better range and better maneuverability since Human physical limits will not be a factor in aircrafts airframe design.
DRDO lately started development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) which will be used for Reconnaissance, Target accusations and for spying activity which mostly will be remotely piloted Drones, but if DRDO wants to work on Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAV) 10 years down the line then they better shift their focus on new concept and design and work to develop a new Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAV) completely from start and not be based on an existing manned fighter. R&D can be based on a Tejas platform but it cannot be considered as a UCAV platform itself. Russian Mig Corporation has been working on Mig-skat concept of their Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAV) and china has already materialized some concepts of their UCAV which have been displayed in recently held Air shows in china.
DRDO and Indian Air force might have not Abandoned manned fighter aircrafts yet and are still going on and developing Manned 5th Generation fighter aircraft called AMCA but Indian air force can ill afford to ignore UCAV platforms for long time and small development on this concept should also initiated in India.

http://idrw.org/?p=1668

 

[nitesh]

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gene...ne=U.S. Industry Hit By LCA Clearance Problem

India selected Lockheed Martin as the winner of a bid for consultancy work on its naval LCA, but failure to secure U.S. State Department licensing approvals — at least in a timely fashion — now has resulted in EADS being in negotiation for the work.

In April 2009 EADS picked up flight test work on the air force LCA as result of Boeing being forced to withdraw. The U.S. manufacturer had been tapped for the project in 2008, but an inability to gain the required approvals from the U.S. administration forced it to pull its bid.

The naval LCA is being designed for short take-off, but arrested recovery (Stobar), with a first flight of the naval variant by December.

Neither EADS nor Lockheed are willing to offer comment beyond general statements. The U.S. company says it "continues to work with the U.S. government to support the LCA program. EADS, beyond confirming it has a consultancy contact (for the air force aircraft), says "both sides have agreed they will not disclose any details."

In March, the Indian government told Parliament that "deficiencies have been detected in the airframe and other associated equipment of the naval LCA [Navy]. The Defense Research and Development Organization [DRDO] is working out [approaches] with various organizations for rectifying these deficiencies by suitable modifications to the engine/airframe design." The consultancy is intended to support this effort.

The consultancy on the naval LCA involves auditing the aircraft's current configuration and optimizing the aircraft's landing gear and arrestor hook design. The intent is also to reduce the aircraft's all-up weight by around 1,000 lb.

The sources also said that with almost all of the LCA's equipping and cabling complete, the first prototype is scheduled to roll out of its hangar by mid-July. Three months of integration tests will follow, including ground vibration tests, structural coupling tests and other test routines before a first ground run and taxi test scheduled for October. If all goes well, the first prototype will fly in December. The front fuselage of the first naval prototype is identical to the fighter trainer (PV-5) that began tests in November 2009. The only part of the front fuselage in the naval prototype that will require a full routine of tests is a small additional control surface near the wing roots that is absent on the air force version. The naval variant will also have auxiliary air intakes.

Program officials admit that there have been multiple challenges in the design and configuration of the landing gear and arrestor hook assembly, especially in optimizing the aircraft's sink rate, but were confident that it would prove itself during flight tests.

 

[BunBunCake]

Guys, the era of 4th generation aircraft is about to end...... and the Tejas is still in development. I'd like to suggest, instead of finishing development and starting from scratch (a new plane! (MCA project)). Why not make the LCA stealthy?

It's small. It's agile.
Now make it stealthy.

We wouldn't need to incorporate as many technologies as the PAK FA or F-22. (firstly, we don't have that tech, and secondly too costly). The LCA is very SMALL compared to these 2 aircraft. Imagine a stealthy one. The pilots will have to turn their heads and SEE the LCA right behind them.

MCA = Waste of more money.

 

[nitesh]

Guys, the era of 4th generation aircraft is about to end...... and the Tejas is still in development. I'd like to suggest, instead of finishing development and starting from scratch (a new plane! (MCA project)). Why not make the LCA stealthy?

the bold part u got it completely wrong here

 

[BunBunCake]

the bold part u got it completely wrong here

Is it not?
Explain to me what the US will have in another 20 years that's 4th gen?
EU?
Japan?

Talk about the world powers that COUNT. Pakistan is going to be stuck with JF-17's for another 50 years I wouldn't be surprised.

If India wants to mach China, we can't keep buying 200 new 4th gen TEJAS.

 

[nitesh]

Is it not?
Explain to me what the US will have in another 20 years that's 4th gen?
EU?
Japan?

Except US who will stop using F 16 and F 15 but they will continue with F 18 till 2030 may be more you think the Europeans completely abandon there Typhoons in 20 years France with rafale they don't have there 5th gen plan yet. It can be safely assumed that the current planes will be in service till 2040 or beyond.

Talk about the world powers that COUNT. Pakistan is going to be stuck with JF-17's for another 50 years I wouldn't be surprised.

If India wants to mach China, we can't keep buying 200 new 4th gen TEJAS.

Who cares about Pakistan here and with China what exactly you expect them to come with they are still continuing with there J 10 and J 11 for them we need to have a good fighter which is LCA to defend the home turf

 

[nrj]

Guys, the era of 4th generation aircraft is about to end...... and the Tejas is still in development. I'd like to suggest, instead of finishing development and starting from scratch (a new plane! (MCA project)). Why not make the LCA stealthy?

It's small. It's agile.
Now make it stealthy.

We wouldn't need to incorporate as many technologies as the PAK FA or F-22. (firstly, we don't have that tech, and secondly too costly). The LCA is very SMALL compared to these 2 aircraft. Imagine a stealthy one. The pilots will have to turn their heads and SEE the LCA right behind them.

MCA = Waste of more money.

LCA is must for IAF. LCA will be in substantial numbers forming the second line & regular mission use. LCA cost, maintenance, spares will be cheapest & desi so operating cost will be the best advantage over firangi fighters.

Its not that simple to convert LCA into Stealthy. The airframe of LCA won't allow it to be a stealthy fighter. Internal bay accommodation will bring fundamental changes. LCA can surely benefit from PAK FA in incorporation of newer technologies.

We will able to justify the exact Generation category of LCA once MK-2 takes sky. LCA will be the backbone of IAF consisting high numbers.
We might see extended variants of LCA if MK-2 impresses all & shows space to develop further.

Moreover, apart from a fighter, LCA is the technology which we developed. This tech will be used to design next generation fighters. Once the nation learns the technology from scratch, it can confidently face future challenges. so I won't call LCA just another 4th Gen fighter. Fighter Generation can extinct but not the learning. Unless you mature the basics of technology you can not move ahead.

MCA = Waste of more money

MCA not awarded any money yet. We'll get the details when final approval comes in & funds are actually allotted.