ADA Tejas Mark-II/Medium Weight Fighter

[Screambowl]

DRDO asks for funds to develop MK2:

LOL!!!
Everything ends up in money.
MMRCA blocked because of money, MMRCA2 blocked because of money, FGFA is lacking fund.

Now Mk2 will get delayed because of funds.

Mark this post.

 

[Bhoot Pishach]

https://www.stratpost.com/drdo-asks-for-lca-mk2-funding/

DRDO asks for LCA Mk2 funding
IAF 'committed' to 201 LCA Mk2 fighters
by Saurabh Joshi • March 14, 2018

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has asked the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence for additional funds to develop the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk2.

In submissions made to the committee, Secretary, Defence Research and Development and Chairman, DRDO, S. Christopher mentioned a request of INR 800 crore for work on the LCA Mk2, also, saying the Indian Air Force (IAF) had committed itself to 201 LCA Mk2, in addition to the 123 LCA Mk1/1A or order or being contemplated at the moment. The naval LCA was also intended to be based on the LCA Mk2.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence cited his remarks in a report released on Tuesday, in which he was quoted as saying, “We have LCA Programme which is coming under grants-in-aid which requires funding. As of now, we have got the orders for about 123 aircraft and also Air Force is committed to take another 201 aircraft which means, Mark-II to be designed and developed, we are in the half way through. There are some expenditures involved. We request another Rs.800 Crore under grants-in-aid. If it could be provided we will be happy.”

Christopher had made a reference to an IAF commitment for 201 LCA Mk2 earlier this month, as well. The Indian Express quoted him as saying in Ahmedabad, “In addition to that (123 LCA Mk1/1A order), the air force has given in writing another 201 aircraft, which is the next version, that we call as Mark-II. We are working on it and by 2022 it will be flying.”

These remarks come during a period of confusion about the intention of the defence ministry and IAF with respect to acquisition of fighter aircraft. After the withdrawal of the IAF tender for 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) in 2015 and the order for 36 Rafale fighter aircraft, the defence ministry under Manohar Parrikar announced its intention to hold a competition for a Make in India single-engine fighter aircraft.

Fighters were also listed as one of four domestic manufacturing priorities in Chapter 07 of the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) on strategic partnerships, released last year.

More recently, reports have emerged suggesting that the defence ministry under Nirmala Sitharaman might be open to throwing the competition open to all manufacturers and fighters, to include twin-engine aircraft, as well.

At the same time, while there is talk of IAF interest in the U.S. fifth generation F-35, the French have also urged India towards a repeat government-to-government order for Rafale fighters.

The IAF’s current order numbers for the LCA:

• LCA Mk1 (IOC standard): 20
• LCA Mk1 (FOC standard): 20
• LCA Mk1A: 83

IOC refers to Initial Operational Clearance; the existing standard of the aircraft, which includes a number of waivers of Staff Qualitative Requirements (SQRs). FOC refers to Final Operational Clearance, which is the next objective for the aircraft; to demonstrate an enhanced capability to meet additional SQRs, including air-to-air refueling, and integration with the Derby and Python missiles. The LCA Mk1A includes four specific capability improvements prescribed by the IAF. These include:

• Digital RWR and External SPJ Pod
• Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar
• Combined Interrogator and Transponder (CIT)
• ASRAM – Close Combat Missile
• Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Missile

Although the defence ministry has approved the acquisition of 83 LCA Mk1A, no order has been placed yet.

The LCA Mk2 requires a more powerful engine than the the current GE F404 powering the LCA Mk1. The GE F414 had been selected for the LCA Mk2. However, there is now speculation a revived indigenous Kaveri engine could power the aircraft with French assistance. This is not the first time such an idea has been considered.

Either way, any engine upgrade would likely require significant changes to the existing airframe. In recent years, both the IAF and the navy had dropped the idea of pursuing an LCA Mk2 model from active consideration.

On its part, the committee recommended the extra cash for the LCA Mk2, but said, “The Committee, while examining the Demands for Grants, discovered that delays in completion of projects is a part and parcel of DRDOs functioning. For instance, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) was supposed to be completed in 2008 but the revised date of completion is June, 2019. In the case of Aero engine, Kaveri, the original date of completion was 1996 but was revised to December, 2009. Further revision of the completion schedule continues to be under process. Similar is the case with LCA-Navy, Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) System, Air to Air Missile system-Astra, Long Range Surface to Air Missile etc. to name a few.”

 

[Sancho]

LOL!!!
Everything ends up in money.
MMRCA blocked because of money, MMRCA2 blocked because of money, FGFA is lacking fund.

Now Mk2 will get delayed because of funds.

Mark this post.

Well, at least we have a new excuse for delays in MK2 development.

 

[Pandeyji]

Bhai itna mat nacho
apko to dekhne tak nahi milega, kabhi tv pe nazar ajaye toh baat alag hai

Apni baat karo. Main T90 ki sawari kar chuka hun

 

[kamaal]

Well, at least we have a new excuse for delays in MK2 development.

I don't think thats an excuse, ADA does have the design ready, they have been working on the concept since 2009.

But the only issue is MK1 itself, once MK1A is cleared then we'll get the complete picture of MK2. The fund is definitely not an excuse for DRDO, fund is actually one of the obstacles as they are not HAL who would fund it from their own coffers. MoD will have to take some tough decisions now and release as much as 1000 Cr for 2 TDs ASAP if we expect MK2 flight by 2025.

 

[Sancho]

But the only issue is MK1 itself, once MK1A is cleared then we'll get the complete picture of MK2.

They have design studies ready for sure, all the ADA graphics on MK2 AF and IN showed what they have in mind. "But", do they have a fully developed and manufactured airframe yet? Have they integrated the engine? Do they know the final specs of the upgraded parts, especially weight and drag?

=> Probably not, because they are still on the way of making the re-designs and integrating the new parts, while systems like Uttam is still in development on it's own and has to prove it's worth.

But the only issue is MK1 itself, once MK1A is cleared then we'll get thecomplete picture of MK2

That's not entirely true. The problem is MK1 yes, but because ADA still haven't achieved FOC. The MK1A compromise is HALs responsibility and DRDO systems hardly play a role in here (one reason why they probably try to get control of MK2).

IOC => leads to FOC => which leads to MK1A
MK2 could be a largely independent standard, "IF" ADA designs and own airframe and LRDE/DARE develop own radar, engine and EW.

 

[Armand2REP]

Digital RWR and External SPJ Pod

The Tejas has limited pylons and weight limits for a DRFM pod, I would suggest integrating Specta as it clears the pylons for more payload and weighs less than a pod while maintaining a self defence suite that is always available.

 

[Babloo Singh]

Very interesting information if true.....
Navy calls it's prototypes as fighter (single seat) & trainer (twin seat)
NP-1 is Trainer & NP-2 is Fighter, so a second Fighter prototype means one more Single seat N-LCA

Now planned prototypes for Navy are.

NP- 3 Fighter (single seat) MK-II config. this is supposed to have GE 414 engine.
NP- 4 again single seat MK-II
NP -5 MK-I config trainer (twin seat)

So this news of N-LCA Fighter Prototype structural assembly of aircraft has been completed and equipping is in final stage and another news of GE delivering few 414 engines..... bodes well for Tejas MK-II

In any case Navy MK-II was supposed to come out before Air Force's Tejas MK-II

 

[lcafanboy]

Naval LCA NP3 was supposed to be naval LCA mk2. So does it means naval LCA mk2 is being equiped. We have already received ge414 engines and this could be the first prototype...
If true good news indeed....

 

[HariPrasad-1]

Mk2 have slightly different airframe i think 1 to 1.5 m longer

Mk1a
Air to air refueling
Aesa radar
Improved avionics ( 7×5 multi functional display current 5x5)
Spj on external hard point ( on targeting pod hard point or near to Central fuselage)
Advanced short range and 3rd gen bvr (derby or Astra) air to air missile ( may be included in foc tejas mk1 )
New buble canopy ( mostly fine tuned from navl mk1 )
Integrated gun ( currently test going on for reduction of vibration caused due to short burst fire and optimized FCS)
And less number of lru( to brig down weights)


Ps: all these are my assumptios based onthe data i received,and also becoz it don't have any structural mod from mk1 it mostly under go sp production more faster end of 2020 or mid 2021)

Airforce Tejas shall be 0.5 m longer in fuselage area. If they opt for newly designed nosecone, Length shall become 0.5 m longer further making Mk2 1 m longer in second case and 0.5 m longer in first case.

 

[HariPrasad-1]

especially weight and drag?

Drag can be simulated if external design is freezed.

 

[lcafanboy]

Airforce Tejas shall be 0.5 m longer in fuselage area. If they opt for newly designed nosecone, Length shall become 0.5 m longer further making Mk2 1 m longer in second case and 0.5 m longer in first case.

If Kaveri engine is used it will liberate another .5mt which will effect in 1 mt of additional space in mk2 which can be used for additional fuel and avionics.....

 

[Steven Rogers]

If Kaveri engine is used it will liberate another .5mt which will effect in 1 mt of additional space in mk2 which can be used for additional fuel and avionics.....

Remember ADA wanted tejas to carry the tag of world's smallest, even if it is made in 2025, it won't be a match to Gripen E.

Sent from my Aqua Ace II using Tapatalk

 

[tsunami]

If Kaveri engine is used it will liberate another .5mt which will effect in 1 mt of additional space in mk2 which can be used for additional fuel and avionics.....

I don't understand much so just asking, even if engine is smaller still the air intakes can not be blocked. So in my opinion smaller engine will just increase air intake length, which can not be used for fuel and avionics.

 

[HariPrasad-1]

If Kaveri engine is used it will liberate another .5mt which will effect in 1 mt of additional space in mk2 which can be used for additional fuel and avionics.....

Actually the avionics are getting compact and compact. this will not reduce much space but it will liberate a lots of space.

 

[WolfPack86]

Tejas MK 2 naval fighter will be equipped INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. I think so?

 

[HariPrasad-1]

• LCA Mk1 (IOC standard): 20

• LCA Mk1 (FOC standard): 20

• LCA Mk1A: 83

Actually when the IOC was achieved, it was estimated that when Tejas will get FOC, 20 aircrafts would have been assembled by then. However, The production rate is very low initially so if FOC is achieved by June 2018 as it is said, the subsequent aircrafts shall be of FOC standard only.

 

[HariPrasad-1]

Tejas MK 2 naval fighter will be equipped INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. I think so?

No, navy has now dropped the plan of single engine fighter on Aircraft carrier.

 

[kamaal]

No, navy has now dropped the plan of single engine fighter on Aircraft carrier.

Who told you that?

LCA Navy MK2 is still on the cards, they only rejected the MK1 in the current specification, which was obvious.

 

[MrPresident]

Tejas MK 2 naval fighter will be equipped INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. I think so?

I feel Navy is not interested in single engine fighter for carrier ops owing to limited range.