ADA Tejas (LCA) News and Discussions

[pankaj nema]

Are the problems mentioned in the Ajai shukla's report solvable. Will they affect the war fighting capabilities of the plane.
Gurus and experts PLEASE clarify.

Or the old Air Marshals are just Imitating the army Generals who were opposed to the induction of Arjun.
and kept Misleading the nation and many people ( including ME ) BELIEVED them that Arjun is inferior

The Import addicted "oldies" should be given premature retirement

 

[san]

The ground team takes charge of LSP-4 at the end of its 40-minute inaugural flight

Anyone notice the air intakes. Intake Cross Section Area is look larger than earlier version

 

[Anshu Attri]

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: LCA Tejas Night Flying!- LIVEFIST............

 

[Anshu Attri]

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: LCA Tejas At Leh- LIVEFIST

 

[JAISWAL]

sir
from above pic it seams lsp-4 is flying with full load. so why it said often lca is under performing in full load

 

[ppgj]

The ground team takes charge of LSP-4 at the end of its 40-minute inaugural flight

Anyone notice the air intakes. Intake Cross Section Area is look larger than earlier version

no San. if you look at this picture from post # 104 -

they look the same.

however what is interesting is the nose cone which seems bigger than Mig 29 nose cones!! for a tiny aircraft it is really an interesting one for it will allow a bigger radar - may be a 1k T/R module AESA in future IMO.

BTW, nice pictures Anshu Atri.

@praveendd007,

it is not LSP 4 which is shown in post # 103/104. they are older pictures of 2008 leh trials. and what they are carrying are extra fuel tanks. hardly any load!!

 

[AJSINGH]

why dont they reshape the air intake to more rectangular ( if you see the difference between F-18 and F-18 Super hornet ) , it will not only increase the amount of air it takes in but also reduces frontal RCS of the aircraft

 

[vijay jagannathan]

Senior IAF brass closely monitoring the LCA induction are just going through the motions as if their hands are tied on this issue - The LCA CURRENTLY IS NOT LIVING UPTO ITS EARLIER PROJECTED SPEED -?MACH 1.8 AND FAILINg TO ACCELERATE AS DESIRED. OUTCOME OF FULLY WEAPONS LOADED PERFORMANCE IS DEEMED TO BE disappointing. Having followed the progress of LCA keenly this far these developments are really very disappointing.I sincerely hope these are hearsay and LCA proves itself beyond any doubts once the full flight nvelope is opened. I hope its not yet been fully opened or has it?.

 

[Agantrope]

why dont they reshape the air intake to more rectangular ( if you see the difference between F-18 and F-18 Super hornet ) , it will not only increase the amount of air it takes in but also reduces frontal RCS of the aircraft

HAL, ADA havent perfected that technology yet. Gripen, MiG-35, Super Hornet, EF uses this technology

 

[vijay jagannathan]

generations apart the LCA currently at best is a MIG 21 minus its deficiences plus some advancements on materials and digital control. But perhaps the bison flies and acceerates and turns 360 degrees faster. So I can understand the IAF's frustration. hope LCA mark 2 comes in by 2012. I have given up on Mark 1.

 

[plugwater]

Tejas LSP-3/4/5 will spearhead Weapons testing

Successful test flights of Tejas LSP-3 and LSP-4 recently and soon to be test flown LSP-5 ,will give major boost to the Tejas Weaponization program , LSP-3 which was the first aircraft to carry a Active Radar on board Tejas , earlier weapons testing were limited to dropping of free gliding (Light) bombs and single firing of un-guided R-73 BVR missile .

Now with MMR radar been successfully integrated with aircraft first phase of Weapon testing will start from September-October onwards , Most challenging will be testing of Air to Air BVR missiles , since the missile needs to be successfully synchronized with radar and other equipment on board , Tejas will be carrying three different types of BVR missiles from different countries , Indian Astra Bvr , Israeli Python-5 , Derby along With Russian R-73 and R-77 .

Initially Russian BVR will be used in the aircraft , while Russian have not provided Source code for their BVR missiles to work smoothly with new radar and the aircraft but Indian air force which has years of experience on this missiles seems to have been successful in integrating them with MMR radar , while Israeli missiles will not be having such problems since MMR HYBRID is partially based on Israeli Elta 2032 radar and will have source code of Israeli bvr missiles , MMR Hybrid's major chuck of testing was done on board Israeli modified Boeing aircraft in Israel.

once first phase is completed IOC will be granted to the aircraft ,and second phase of weapon testing will start which will involve firing of Air to surface missiles on ground target still and moving , Rocket pods , dropping of GPS guided/laser guided /cluster bombs on land targets , and also of free falling bombs , after which aircraft will be given FOC , which is expected by 2011-12.

http://idrw.org/?p=1912

 

[gb009]

guys,
what is the maximum speed that the LCA has reached in trials (official figure). All i could find was the 1.1 mach that LSP2 did but I guess that was a low altitude flight. Any figures on what LCA has reached when flying high.
If gripen can get to 2.0 mach with a similar engine (and weight) why is the LCA not reaching similar speeds?

 

[vijay jagannathan]

i would be interested in someone explaining the gross factors that control aircraft speed. for example the MIG 21 could muster upto 1.5 mach with an outdated engine by current standards. of course weight would be one major issue but LCA is supposed to be the smallest and lightest in its class.

 

[Patriot]

In addition 1.1 Mach speed was with out weapon payload. I am waiting to see how much speed LCA can achieve with weapon load. Any thing beyond 1.5 mach should be sufficient but Mach 2.0 will be very effective with the high manuoverability of LCA.
Moreover , we need to address the engine issue more quikly, as GE 404 is just stopgap arrangment, hence affecting the actual potential of LCA.

 

[nitesh]

http://www.asianage.com/india/first-iaf-fighter-base-tn-573

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will soon have its first fighter air base and a squadron of combat jets in the peninsular region at Sulur in Tamil Nadu. The base will protect strategic installations and maintain Indian air superiority over the Indian Ocean.

Work is apace at Sulur on an extended runway, test bays for the flight control system, avionics, radar, special hangars and modern radio and navigation aids. These facilities are being built for fighter jets which will embark on patrol missions over the peninsular region and the Indian Ocean. Such a full-fledged fighter air base and the decision to position a squadron of combat jets has been prompted by "enhanced capabilities of adversaries" in recent days, top sources in IAF told this newspaper. "There is definitely a need to protect strategic assets in the south given the fact that our adversaries have long range missiles and ship-launched cruise missiles," the sources said. Besides, a combat squadron would help maintain superiority over the Indian Ocean and protect sea routes in that region. "From Sulur it will be easy to do the aerial equivalent of a flag march over Sri Lanka and the Maldives, should the need arise," the sources added.
The IAF has chosen indigenous Tejas fighters to be positioned at Sulur. These fighter jets are due for induction into the air strike wing in December 2010 and have a flying range of 500 km.
"With mid-air refuelling, the range can be stretched up to 1,000 km for enhanced security cover over the region," sources said. With the airspace south of Sulur being relatively free and far from the prying eyes of neighbours, the squadron of Tejas fighters will be able to work up to operational readiness in peace.
These fighters will also be close to the manufacturing facility, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), here, as well as Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which co-ordinated the indigenous programme, to help tackle maintenance problems. The IAF has ordered 20 Tejas fighters.

 

[AJSINGH]

India May Use Russian Engines For LCA
India is seriously considering to use the Russian 33/RD-33MK engines for the homegrown Light Combat Aircraft, as it already used the Indian Air Force [IAF] fleet of MiG-29 aircraft.

A high level Indian military delegation comprising of Defence Production secretary and Chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Ashok Nayak recently visited a Russian 'Chernyshev' plant where RD-33/RD-33MK engines for MiG-29K and MiG-35 are being manufactured.

As per an agreement signed between India and Russia, the license production of RD-33 Se.3 engine will happen in India as well as transfer of technology. Officials said that only the first 20 to 40 aircraft will be manufactured with imported of-the-shelf GE-404 engines.

The RD-33 MK engine has been deemed unique since it operates well on any AoA (angle of attack).

"India would benefit if it chooses the RD-33MK engine", said a senior Indian Air force official, adding that this is because of the unification it will receive because of the common engine logistics it will achieve in the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), MiG-29, MiG-29 MK and possibly the MiG-35. The serial production line for RD-33 class engine is already under construction in India. And after India pays transfer of technology amount for the RD-33 ser. 3 engine, it will not have to pay a double sum for the RD-33 MK engine.

The RD-33 series 3 is an upgraded version of the RD-33 powerful RD-33 turbofan engine with thrust vectoring for MiG family fighters. The engine provides superior maneuverability and enhances the fighter's performance in close air engagements.

In 2005, Russia signed a $250 million deal with India to modernize engines for the MiG-29 fighters of the Indian Air Force. According to the terms of the deal, HAL will make 120 RD-33 series 3 jet engines at its Koraput plant for the upgrade of MiG-29 fighters. The contract will enable HAL to master the assembly of the RD-33 jet engines and use the experience in the assembly of next generation jet engines.

As for the delays in the development of fully indigenous 'Kaveri' engine for HAL's LCA fighter and other IAF aircraft, it is only forcing India to keep an eye out for a powerful engine for upgrading LCA. The currently installed GE404 doesn't fulfill the IAF specification and is not powerful enough for Navy LCA variant. The other engines in the market that fit the bill are the American GE414, British-EU EJ200 and Russian RD-33MK who stand a chance to be chosen as the LCA mark 2 engine solution till the indigenous 'Kaveri' engine is ready.
http://indiadefenceonline.com/1217/india-may-use-russian-engines-for-lca/

 

[ppgj]

http://indiadefenceonline.com/1217/india-may-use-russian-engines-for-lca/

RD 33 MK has a AB thrust of about 86KN which is same as GE 404 IN 20 which presently powers LCA mark 1 (85KN). for Mark 2 they are looking for an engine with a minimum thrust of 90KN+. that is why the contest between EJ 200 and F 414.

so, what makes people think LCA's will have RD 33MK's?? particularly when more re engineering of LCA is required for the same??

 

[Rahul Singh]

If gripen can get to 2.0 mach with a similar engine (and weight) why is the LCA not reaching similar speeds?

LCA's wing is mounted high on fuselage compared to mid fuselage mounted Gripen, main wing of LCA is larger than Gripen and LCA lengths 1m smaller than Gripen, each thing in combination and in isolation affects drag phenomenon, hence affecting acceleration and speed...

 

[nitesh]

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/repor...es-second-phase-of-hot-weather-trials_1394923
Light combat aircraft Tejas undergoes second phase of hot weather trials

NAGPUR: Light combat aircraft (LCA) 'Tejas' which is scheduled to attain Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) by this year-end has undergone the second phase of hot weather trials in the past one week at the AirForce station in Nagpur.

The objective of the current phase of hot weather trials is to prove that the aircraft is in IOC configuration with the weapon system and sensors integrated.

During the trials, the two Tejas aircraft have undertaken trial sorties especially to check out the aircraft systems such as Digital Flight Control Computer, Avionics Systems, Multi Mode Radar, RWR and the Electrical and Environment Control Systems under extremely high ambient temperature conditions up to 45 degree Celsius.

The trial team was able to achieve all the objectives during the week long hectic trials.

 

[nitesh]

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article453058.ece

Eager to join hands with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and its associates in the development of India's Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas-Mark II,' the Eurojet consortium is offering its engine that could be tweaked to work on its naval version.

"We are offering two variants of the EJ200, bidding for the India's LCA Mark-II which can be altered through a software change to suit the requirements for the naval version of the LCA," Eurojet Vice-President Sales Paul Hermann told a group of journalists here.

The Aeronautical Defence Agency (ADA), the nodal agency for the design and development of the LCA under the overall supervision of the DRDO, had sought a proposal from the EJ200 and the American GE414 engine. The order will be initially for 99 engines with 10 of these in ready-to-use condition. There is an option for additional 49 engines order.

Eurojet Chief Engineer Wolfgang Sterr said there were over 1,500 EJ200 engines for the 700-plus Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft under contract to six nations. He said the engine was suitable for the LCA and could be used for the naval variant that the ADA was working on.

The Eurofighter is in the race for the 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft that the IAF is acquiring.

The naval version requirement of greater thrust for take-off from an aircraft carrier can be met without altering the hardware of the engine. With a switch of software the EJ200 can be used for the naval variant and vice-versa.

While the company preferred not to make any direct comment on the price tag, EJ Sales Director Adrian Johnson, said it would be competitive in many aspects through low life cycle costs, transfer of technology and offering partnership to India for future development and enhancement of the engine and its systems.

The officials said, "If the Eurojet makes the grade, the organisation could also share its expertise in India's quest to develop indigenous Kaveri engine. We have experienced the challenge India is facing, At Rolls-Royce, it took us 100 years to get where we are"¦,"Mr. Johnson said.

The Eurojet consortium includes Rolls-Royce (England), MTU (German), ITP (Spain) and Avio (Italy).