Indian Air Force Light Combat Aircraft Tejas India's Second Supersonic Fighter

WolfPack86

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Pvt firms to produce Tejas body, wings; HAL to play integrator
In a path-breaking move, part-production of the Light Combat Aircraft, The Tejas, has been outsourced to Indian private companies, with an aim to speed up production to cover up the dwindling number of Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets.

The IAF is operating with 33 squadrons (16-18 planes each) as against the need for 42 squadrons mandated to effectively fight a simultaneous two-front war with Pakistan and China.

T Suvarna Raju, Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), said, “We are getting fuselage (body) made by private companies and the HAL, in future, will just be an integrator. We have outsourced fuselage and the wing production to three companies and these have to come back with deliveries in two years.”

This was part of a three-pronged plan to speed up Tejas production, Raju said.

There are 123 Tejas jets – in two variants — on order and HAL has an installed capacity of producing only eight planes every year. In the past, a private company made the hull (body) of the nuclear submarine INS Arihant.

Raju said, “The increased production rate will be visible from 2018 when we will be able to provide 16 planes per year under a Rs 1,300-crore expansion project (at the HAL facility in Bangalore).”

The HAL CMD said the second part of the “increase-production plan” is to use the existing facility of the hawk trainer jets and a pilot project has already started.

The third part involves outsourcing to private companies, thus turning HAL into an integrator – a concept adopted by leading foreign manufacturers. This will mean the Tejas fleet of 123 jets can be delivered earlier than planned.

The IAF is operating with 33 squadrons (16-18 planes each) as against the need for 42 squadrons mandated to effectively fight a simultaneous two-front war with Pakistan and China.

http://www.defencenews.in/article/P...as-body,-wings;-HAL-to-play-integrator-251065
 
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WolfPack86

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LCA PRODUCTION : Pvt firms to produce Tejas body, wings ; HAL to play as an integrator
 

WolfPack86

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Air Force likely to get 123 LCA Tejas by 2024-25

If the present development and capacity enhancement plans go as per schedule, the Indian Air Force will have 123 indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fighter jets in its fleet by 2024-25.
To enable this Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is in the process of setting up a new assembly line and is also involving the private sector in a big way, said the Chief Managing Director (CMD) of the public sector aerospace major T. Suvarna Raju in a conversation with The Hindu.
The IAF has placed orders for 40 jets in two batches of which the first 20 are in the Initial Operational Configuration (IOC) while the remaining 20 are in the Final Operational Configuration (FOC). Last July the IAF for operationalised the first Tejas squadron ‘45 flying daggers’ with three aircraft. Two more aircraft will join the squadron shortly.
Last November the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had given initial clearance for 83 aircraft in the Mk-1A configuration with specific improvements sought by the IAF.
Mr. Raju said that about 45 improvements have been implemented in the 1A and HAL has already floated a tender for the Advanced Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and Self-Protection Jammer (SPJ).
On the timeline for the development of the 1A, Mr. Raju said that the tender would be opened by March end after which technical evaluation and commercial negotiations would be held. “We will be able to prove it on the 1A by 2018 and start producing by 2019,” he observed.
Apart from the development, the induction is also delayed by the low production rate of eight aircraft per year. The government has recently given sanction for setting another assembly to increase production rate to 16 per year.
“The IAF will get Mk-1A in 2019 by that time our capacity will also go up to 16 aircraft per year,” Mr. Raju added.
To increase the production of the aircraft HAL has outsourced major parts of the jet. “We are trying to be an integrator rather than a manufacturer, he said.
The IAF is in urgent need of new fighters and the LCAs will replace the Mig fighters that are currently being phased out. IAF is scheduled to phase out all 11 squadrons of Mig-21 and Mig-27 fighters by 2024 on completion of their technical life.
On the issue of spares and supports which has been an area of constant concern from the services, Mr. Raju said they have now signed long term supply contracts with their vendors and stated that the availability of all platforms manufactured by HAL has now gone “above 65 percent.”
http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2017/03/air-force-likely-to-get-123-tejas-by.html
 
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HariPrasad-1

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Tejas SP-4 Completes Maiden Flight

LA-5004 (SP-4), the fourth series produced LCA took to sky for the first time on 3-March-2017. After couple of evaluation sorties, she will become the fourth member of Flying Daggers.

Inching closer to the final operational clearance, Tejas got the In-Flight Refueling Probe flown on 31st Jan 2017 on KH-2018 (LSP-8) for the first time
We take this opportunity to accolade the entire design and integration team for their untiring effort.
X-Wind landing has been one of the toughest task in a fighter aircraft development program. The Control Law, for this task where piloting technique plays a major role, needs to crisp and robust enough to handle all kind of eventualities. We take this opportunity to dedicate this image of KH-2015 to the Tejas Control Law Designers.
With Aero India 2017 now away from the Radar, Team Tejas can get back to the bigger task in hand now. Task of finishing the pending FOC activities like GSH-23 integration, BVR firing with a target, carefree handling, etc. The prototypes will always require special attention in seeing off a flight.
http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2017/03/tejas-sp-4-completes-maiden-flight.html
Look at the significant improvement in fit and finish.
 

WolfPack86

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Final operational Clearance (FOC) Of LCA (Navy) MK 2 To Be Attained By 2023
NEW DELHI: To a question, Bhamre said it is planned to utilize Light Combat Aircraft Tejas as a flying test bed to design and develop a stealthy unmanned combat aerial vehicle. He said the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd has undertaken a feasibility study to convert Chetak helicopter into an unmanned technology demonstrator.
The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has also planned to develop a futuristic stealth combat drone.
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, replying to another query, said the ADA is also developing MK-II version of LCA for the Navy with a higher thrust engine than the one used in MK-I version of Tejas.
"Final Operational Clearance (FOC) of LCA (Navy) MK-II is likely to be obtained by 2023 for induction in Indian Navy and FoC for Air Force MK-II is likely to be obtained by December 2025," he said.
Replying to a separate query, Bhamre said Indian Navy has decommissioned 11 ships since January 2015.
The Minister said no incident of Indian UAV having been shot down by Pakistan has taken place.
A total of 48 military aircraft and 21 helicopters were lost to crashes since 2011 in which 79 people were killed, the government told Lok Sabha today.
Replying to a question, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said all such incidents and accidents are thoroughly investigated and preventive actions taken based on probe reports.
"A total of 48 aircraft and 21 helicopters were lost in crashes by the armed forces since 2011. 79 persons were killed in these crashes," he said.
http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2017/04/final-operational-clearance-foc-of-lca.html
 

WolfPack86

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Tejas To Test Fire Python-5-Air To Air Missile By The End Of April

ADA is reported to test-fire the Close Combat Missile (CCM) Python-5 Air-To-Air missile by the end of this month, informed sources confirmed today.
Air Force Technology website reports the Python-5 as a 5th generation air-to-air missile (AAM) manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It is the newest member in the range of Python AAMs. The missile demonstrates superior target detection and tracking capabilities, involving captive carry evaluation and homing trials. The missile can engage enemy aircraft from very short ranges and near beyond visual range. Python-5 is the most accurate and reliable AAM of the Israeli Air Force and one of the most sophisticated guided missiles in the world.

TEJAS (KH-2017) taking off with Python-5 missiles on-board during a test flight
Earlier, in Feb 2016, Tejas conducted the first test firing of the beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), Derby. Derby initially faced severe vibration issues during firing trials which was subsequently solved by ADA engineers.
In addition to Python and Derby, Tejas is armed with the Russian-made CCM R-73, laser-guided bombs (LGB) Griffin and Paveway and the Russian-made cannon Gsh-23.
The CCM R-73 has been fired over a dozen times now at Goa, Jaisalmer and Jamnagar as part of the weapon trials of Tejas over the years.
It is to be mentioned that India will have to make do with the Israeli Derby BVRM till its own Astra which so far has been fired from Su-30 MKI gets the operational status for Tejas. While India is eyeing export market for light combat aircraft, Tejas has been much awaited by the IAF to replace its dwindling fighter squadrons and obsolete fighter fleet.
This crucial test forms a part of the Final Operational Clearance of the home-grown light fighter.
http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2017/04/tejas-to-test-fire-paython-5-air-to-air.html
 

WolfPack86

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Tejas SP-6 Will Fly First Ahead Of SP-5

DERBY Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) missile mounted on TEJAS SP-4
India's renowned & seasoned aerospace defence journalist Dr. Anantha Krishnan M reported yesterday on his Facebook page that SP-6 will fly first ahead of SP-5, the jet is warming up at the HAL hangars and is expected to have its maiden flight shortly.
Meanwhile, on May 11, 2017, TEJAS NP-2 carried out a touch and go on AGS site, leading to carrier compatibility flight testing phase.
LCA Navy is designed to operate from the deck of aircraft carriers and incorporates stronger landing gear to absorb forces exerted during the ski jump ramp during take-off. A total of 115 flights (as on December 31, 2016) have been completed on the two LCA Navy prototypes. Other trials included ski-jump launch from SBTF, ski jump/night ski-jump from RGS, fuel dumping trials, LEVCON -30˚ sorties, approach trials, hot refueling, short take-off from landing area with deck pressure and high sink rate landing.
Earlier and in a significant development, the Limited Series Production (LSP-4) aircraft from Tejas successfully fired the Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) missile Derby in radar mode on Thursday.
According to sources, the launch was ‘picture-perfect’ with the missile hitting the target bang on. The missile hit a maneuvering aerial target during Tejas’ critical weapon trials held at the interim test range in Chandipur. The aircraft took off from Kalaikunda base in West Bengal.
The missile launch was performed in Lock-On after launch mode for a BVR target in the look down mode and the target was destroyed. The objective of the test was to assess the Derby integration with aircraft systems on-board Tejas including the aircraft avionics, fire-control radar, launchers and Missile Weapon Delivery System and to verify its performance. A safe separation was followed by missile guidance towards the radar-acquired target.
http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2017/05/tejas-sp-6-will-fly-first-ahead-of-sp-5.html
 

WolfPack86

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Video of #Tejas LSP4 firing Derby missile in radar mode during trials conducted at Kalaikunda yesterday. It was a clean hit.
 

WolfPack86

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LCA Tejas likely to be armed with 100-km I-Derby ER BVR Missile

The Hindustan Aeronautics Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and Saab Gripen fighters are likely to be the first foreign aircraft to be armed with the Rafael I-Derby ER air-to-air missile.

Last year Rafael, unveiled the new extended-range version of its beyond-visual-range active radar-guided missile, which is equipped with a new seeker that employs an advanced solid-state software-defined radar.

According to the marketing manager of Rafael’s air superiority systems division, the range of the I-Derby ER is 54nm (100km), and it can be carried on rail launchers or on a "shove" pyrotechnic launcher.

The latter deploys the missile from the aircraft's fuselage, after which the motor ignites, and enables it to carry the missile on centre hard points or those that are located near the fighter's conformal fuel tank.

He said that while the earlier version of the I-Derby is already carried by the Indian air force's LCA and Sukhoi Su-30, an effort is being made to allow the integration of the I-Derby ER on these aircraft.

The Rafael official said the main obstacle is the greater weight of the new version.

Source - Aviation Week.

Photo Credits - Deb Rana
https://www.facebook.com/pg/TejasMrca/photos/?ref=page_internal
 

G10

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Why this duplicate thread. We have another for tejas news and discussions.
 

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