ADA Tejas (LCA) News and Discussions

[Rahul Singh]

Liked the way AKM brought it. Made my day. I am loving it.

Waiting for pics.

 

[tejas warrior]

Tejas SP-2 takes to skies; HAL says plans on track

Bengaluru: The second series production (SP-2) aircraft from the hangars of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) had its maiden flight on Tuesday.

Military sources confirmed to Mathrubhumi that the SP-2 fighter was piloted by Group Capt K K Venugopal of National Flight Test Centre.

“The SP-2 took off at 02:06 pm and stuck to the text-book flight-plan as mandated during the first couple of test sorties. The flight lasted for 37 minutes and the pilot landed back at 2:43 pm,” an official said.

HAL is yet to officially announce the details of the maiden flight.

The first series production variant SP-1 had its first flight on September 30, 2014 and it flew for 25-minutes, touching a maximum speed of 0.6 Mach, then.

Top officials from HAL, DRDO and Aeronautical Development Agency were in New Delhi on Tuesday for a meeting called by Ministry of Defence.

“We are on track. The production plans will scale up now,” says an official from HAL.

During a recent visit to the HAL’s Tejas Division in Bengaluru, Mathrubhumi had witnessed hectic activities ahead of SP-2’s first flight.

HAL has to produce another 18 more Tejas fighters in the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) standard, so that the Indian Air Force (IAF) can begin formation of initial squadrons.

Another order for 100 aircraft (Tejas MK1-A) too will have to be taken up by HAL in future.

HAL officials now say that the SP-3 would fly by July and from then on the production rate would pick up. A separate plan to ramp up the production schedule of Tejas is in the pipeline.

Interestingly, the Tejas SP-2 had its maiden flight on a day when the fighter was drawn into yet another controversy over a failed Laser Guided Bomb (LGB) that missed the target during Iron Fist.

 

[Rahul Singh]

It was earlier reported that IAF will induct SP-3 onward only, because SP-1,2 are based on old design and was produced before a corrected design was implemented. I don't know how true this report is but since SP-2 took a year long than anticipated date i guess new design has been implemented with change of Radome too.

 

[tejas warrior]

It was earlier reported that IAF will induct SP-3 onward only, because SP-1,2 are based on old design and was produced before a corrected design was implemented. I don't know how true this report is but since SP-2 took a year long than anticipated date i guess new design has been implemented with change of Radome too.

I believe they will take all including SP1.

What I know, it's just that they will take over when at least 4 fighters are ready.. means when SP4 is ready.Till that time SP1-3 will remain with HAL.

 

[Rahul Singh]

I think with two Tejas ready,a formal induction can take place at HAL itself. FOC ceremony could be the preferred date. It is however other thing that formal training of IAF officer and airmen is already undergoing at HAL.

 

[garg_bharat]

I think IAF wants four Sp1-Sp4 for induction.

 

[Rahul Singh]

Plz share if you guys have information on IOC of Tejas Trainer version. And how many of first 20 is two seater, if any? A proper IAF fighter squadron constitutes 18 single seat fighter and 2 dual seat fighter conversion trainer.

 

[Narasimh]

I believe they will take all including SP1.

What I know, it's just that they will take over when at least 4 fighters are ready.. means when SP4 is ready.Till that time SP1-3 will remain with HAL.

When is SP-4 planned to be rolled out?

 

[Rahul Singh]

They say SP-3 will fly in July and production will pace up after that. So good guess is this year itself. Since this year is to see roll out of 4 SP Tejas, optimistically SP-5 will also roll out this year, may be-- good willing-- even SP-6.

Recently HAL tried to outsource much of Tejas sub assembly production to private entity. L&T is already doing complete wing assembly and fins. Last i read HAL was in process of outsourcing fuselage assembly too. Hope it has materialized. Bharat forge should undertake production of landing gear as it has produced landing gear of Naval LCA. Samtel is already doing displays of MKI, so it is obvious destination for Tejas.

I hope in couple of years HAL should outsource so much so that its role in production shall remain only as a final assembler. This will also benefit other HAL products.

 

[tejas warrior]

Tejas not singled out during post-Iron Fist briefing: IAF

Bengaluru: The Indian Air Force (IAF) clarified that it never portrayed India’s home-grown fighter jet Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas in ‘poor light’ after a section of media reported on a probe into ‘failed bombing missions’ during Iron Fist exercise held in Pokhran ranges recently.

The IAF also clarified that its post-Iron Fist briefing did not single out Tejas, instead presented an overall review of the Fire Power Demonstration (FPD) held on March 18.

The negative publicity for Tejas, which is on course towards fulfilling the Final Operational Clearance (FOC), is said to have caught the attention of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday, who was chairing a top-level review meeting on the fighter programme in Delhi.

Missed target figures in Tejas review meeting

During the meeting, the progress of Tejas was reviewed by Parrikar, who has now emerged as the strongest supporter for the home-grown project. Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and a host of top Defence Research and Development Organisation officials were present during the review.

“The failed mission of Tejas came for a discussion. The negative publicity for the programme for no fault of the machine was a concern. Many felt that the media should have been briefed adequately so that any misconceptions could have been ironed out,” an official who attended the meeting said.

On Tejas, the official said that the IAF was in agreement with the current plans of DRDO.

“Ultimately, the IAF wants Tejas in large numbers and at a faster rate to form the squadron. Hopefully they (HAL-ADA) combine should be able to complete the remaining tasks without any delays. Unlike his predecessor (A K Antony), the RM (Parrikar) has a better hold on the project,” says the official.

106 bombs hit targets, only 2 malfunctioned

While Parrikar was chairing the meeting, social media was abuzz with the ‘failed mission’ of Tejas.

Speaking to Mathrubhumi, Air Vice Marshal Vikram Singh, Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Operations (Space) said that all through his briefing he hailed the role of Tejas and its pilots.

“First of all, the briefing was not restricted to Tejas alone. We dropped 108 bombs during Iron Fist and 106 hit bang on the target. Only two had an issue and we are investigating the matter,” AVM Vikram Singh said.

Only Jaguar LGB had a clean strike

According to him, the IAF had planned four LGB (Laser Guided Bomb) missions, including Tejas, Sukhoi-30 MKI, Mirage and Jaguar.

“Jaguar had a clean strike and Mirage did not drop the bomb at all due to poor visibility. The LGBs dropped by Sukhoi and Tejas missed the targets. We are looking into the malfunction of the bombs,” the official said.

The IAF claimed that a total of 577 rockets were fired during the exercise and all were declared as hits. He said all the missiles fired were also on target.

“The Tejas and Sukhoi carry complex bombs. The pilots had visibility concerns owing to the clouds and smoke in the area. We are finding out what went wrong,” he said.

Tejas and Sukhoi had carried Griffin and Paveway LGBs during Iron First, both capable of pint-point precision-strike capabilities.

Everything can’t be spectacular; it’s not a movie

With the media ‘highlighting’ only Tejas missing the target, the issue seems to have demoralised a young team of engineers and designers at HAL and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).

“During the FDR (Full Dress Rehearsal) on March 15, Tejas hit all the targets as mandated by the mission. The pilots could lock on within 20 meters of the target. On March 18, it was cloudy and there were visibility issues as well. The R-73 pierced through the flare, something that was not visible for the spectators. It was not probably that spectacular as expected,” says an HAL official, who was part of the Tejas detachment.

Lack of awareness on fighter’s abilities

According to a scientist with ADA, Tejas performed the most critical ‘swing role’ on March 18.

“There’s absolutely a lack of awareness among a large section of people on the abilities of a fighter plane. Everything cannot be spectacular. This is not a movie. Unfortunately Iron First was publicized as FPD and there’s more than what meet your eyes. In swing role, from an A-to-G (air-to-ground) attack mission, Tejas got on to an A-to-A (air-to-air) mode, which is significant. The pilot swiftly moves to 6G to 8G during this phase,” says the official.

Interestingly, on a day when Tejas was hit by the ‘media missile,’ back in Bengaluru, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd rolled out the second series production (SP-2) fighter for this maiden flight.

Tejas SP-2 takes to skies; HAL says plans on track

(The writer is an author, blogger and seasoned aerospace and defence journalist in India. His upcoming book ‘Precious Souls’ captures the inspiring lives of special children and their families. He is currently a Content Consultant with Mathrubhumi (English) Online and tweets @writetake.)

 

[tejas warrior]

During the meeting, the progress of Tejas was reviewed by Parrikar, who has now emerged as the strongest supporter for the home-grown project.

I'm sure he must have instructed IAF to find that UNKNOWN OFFICER who gave false news to NDTV

Face of Raha must have clicked during that meeting who only wants Rafael

 

[Rahul Singh]

“During the FDR (Full Dress Rehearsal) on March 15, Tejas hit all the targets as mandated by the mission. The pilots could lock on within 20 meters of the target. On March 18, it was cloudy and there were visibility issues as well. The R-73 pierced through the flare, something that was not visible for the spectators. It was not probably that spectacular as expected,”

That should lay rest to all speculation.

 

[PaliwalWarrior]

I'ts nice - for a change to see - iaf trying to save it's skin and trying to say that tejas was not singles out for failure because lifafa article was trying to do just that

How much pressure parikkar had applied on few iaf toes ?

 

[tejas warrior]

If parikkar stays as RM for 10 years, IAF will be accepting no less than 500 LCAs.

 

[Gessler]

106 bombs hit targets, only 2 malfunctioned

This one line should be enough to shut up all those loonies harping about IAF's performance in IF16.

 

[Superdefender]

If parikkar stays as RM for 10 years, IAF will be accepting no less than 500 LCAs.

No more Mk.1A. First flight of Mk.II will happen in 2018. We will buy those in more quantities when it gets FOC.

 

[tejas warrior]

No more Mk.1A. First flight of Mk.II will happen in 2018. We will buy those in more quantities when it gets FOC.

Mk2 for IAF is not being worked upon as of now. It's only MK1-A for IAF as of now..So IAF will continue to induct MK1-A till minimum 2022.

Naval LCA mk2 is under development with GE 414, which later form the base of IAF MK2.

 

[Anupu]

No more Mk.1A. First flight of Mk.II will happen in 2018. We will buy those in more quantities when it gets FOC.

Any source for 2018 if there is any, I just want to know?

 

[Anupu]

Mk2 for IAF is not being worked upon as of now. It's only MK1-A for IAF as of now.

Naval LCA mk2 is under development with GE 414, which later form the base of IAF MK2.

Any sources on that? Update about the status?

 

[Superdefender]

Any source for 2018 if there is any, I just want to know?

I had just contacted Bharat Karnad some 2hrs ago. He told so confidently.