LCA TEJAS MK1 & MK1A: News and Discussion

[MonaLazy]

IAF dropping Tejas MK2

Must be the phoren lobby at work, sensing the high stakes $30B MRFA game slipping away. Most recently confirmed by Dr Kota himself in Hamara Tejas ep. 3:



Take-aways:

• LCA Mk2 is ready- should come out after final review (which means, as planned, 2022 rollout and early 2023 first flight)
• we have the wherewithal for 5th gen fighter
• One of the few countries in the world to have end to end capability for a good TD for 6th gen unmanned fighter
• When the LCA Mk2 and AMCA (2024 rollout and 2025 first flight) comes the IAF has a plan to replace all its aircraft with LCA and derivatives
  • Su-30 >> AMCA
  • Mig-21 >> LCA Mk1
  • Mig-29, Mirage-2000, Jaguar >> LCA Mk2
• All desi fighters in IAF in the next decade and a half

source of timeline-

LCA-Mk2 to roll out next year, first flight in 2023, says scientist

‘Detailed design has been completed and metal cutting is to start shortly’

www.thehindu.com

tl;dr Mk2 is coming for sure and will be the backbone of the IAF.

Also, if the IAF was unhappy with Mk2- they had the option of backing an AF derivative of TEDBF- that clearly has not happened which can mean only one thing! Besides the IAF is not known to be quiet & would have made their misgivings about the program very public if they wanted to pull the plug on it- again no trace of that anywhere. Have to say this whole controversy is just fake!

 

[Tactical Doge]

Must be the phoren lobby at work, sensing the high stakes $30B MRFA game slipping away. Most recently confirmed by Dr Kota himself in Hamara Tejas ep. 3:



Take-aways:

• LCA Mk2 is ready- should come out after final review (which means, as planned, 2022 rollout and early 2023 first flight)
• we have the wherewithal for 5th gen fighter
• One of the few countries in the world to have end to end capability for a good TD for 6th gen unmanned fighter
• When the LCA Mk2 and AMCA (2024 rollout and 2025 first flight) comes the IAF has a plan to replace all its aircraft with LCA and derivatives
  • Su-30 >> AMCA
  • Mig-21 >> LCA Mk1
  • Mig-29, Mirage-2000, Jaguar >> LCA Mk2
• All desi fighters in IAF in the next decade and a half

source of timeline-

LCA-Mk2 to roll out next year, first flight in 2023, says scientist

‘Detailed design has been completed and metal cutting is to start shortly’

www.thehindu.com

Pakis will have 5G birds in 2031, since it's china we can be sure they'll deliver in time and in numbers, provided pakshitani economy doesn't crumble
And
AMCA won't see service atleast until 2035

 

[vishnugupt]

Must be the phoren lobby at work, sensing the high stakes $30B MRFA game slipping away.

Right, Until unless we appoint an Indian guy as chief of UNAF this foreign lobby keeps skipping the word "Tejas MK2" from their long speeches.

Why any Foreign lobby needs to burn the midnight oil when our own Generals/chiefs are more than enough.

Remember...... 5th and 6th generation technology into a 4th generation plans.

 

[Tang]

Guys don't worry for MK2.

 

[vishnugupt]

People are saying here.....These are mistakes. No ! these are not mistakes. Suppose if IAF is facing low squadrons numbers then you can't skip Tejas mk2 which is immediate in the future.

We have a bad memory... If one can remember, this game was played by previous air chiefs ( mig21+++ ) back in 2011/12 where they said..... Stop Tejas mk1 right now because of blah blah ( all abuses/lies ) we are interested to buy Tejas Mk2 in 240 numbers.

AF wants to cancel Tejas mk2 today and promising 200 AMCA ( same game ) so they will get a 15-year long window of Total import ( Want to destroy everything which India have achieved so far ). When AMCA will come for inductions we will witness the same drama.

Only fools believe that the United Nations Armed forces are supporting local products and are fully committed.

Time aane do, AMCA ko bhi CHAMKA denge garnail saab.

 

[MonaLazy]

AMCA won't see service atleast until 2035

AMCA parts are already being fabricated even as we are 3 years away from rollout!

Even with a lot of enablers (people/tools/components) already in place or alternately catered for (like engines)- it is but natural that a finicky client like IAF will delay induction till they get that .0001m² RCS just right- that is definitely the future- happened to the best of the best (LM on F-35 over time & over budget) & AMCA would be the exception rather than the norm if it arrives in service by strict timelines.

But a 5th gen fighter is never built to take on another 5th gen fighter, is it? So there is no vs competition- only bragging rights at stake and the capability that comes with it. Even if we arrive at that a little late, but with a better product- it should be totally acceptable. As has been famously said, stealth is a game where you either go all in or just don't!

If the IAF was under any pressure for early induction of stealth capability then Su-57 is a readily available option- but there are not even murmurs of that happening so IAF must be confident to take on J-20/31/35 with what they have till AMCA arrives.

 

[MonaLazy]

game was played by previous air chiefs ( mig21+++ ) back in 2011/12

how did that game pan out for the IAF? Said IAF chief(s) out, Tejas in!

 

[Brood Father]

Probably Su 75 lobby at work now ..they are just waiting for SU 75 to fly under the garb of AMCA and when it will fly ..IAF chief will omit AMCA as well
Then 114 MRFA , 150 Su 75 to manage china and paki threat would be the parrot song of IAF

 

[MonaLazy]

Probably

why create confusion where there is none? If IAF wants to pull out of Mk2 they will set the stage for it over the next couple of years- by then the Mk2 will be a flying reality. Too late to pull this stunt methinks!

Besides, stealth will replace the offensive role played by Su-30 in Indian service. Can a single-engine medium weight step into those shoes? A Russian single-engined plane will be the last thing on IAF's shopping list given their maintenance and reliability record. Why is AMCA conceived as dual engined with one of the best western engines setting the baseline for performance? If any Russian stealth ever gets inducted that will be Su-57- if at all & with the better engines.

Su-75 is a lot behind AMCA in the development cycle and Russians are probably wanting to lean on Indian money to develop it's design to full capability- why will they do it for themselves unless Su-57 is really not working out for them? I think it is meant as a cheap upgrade to stealth for nations that fly migs and sukhois and don't have the ambition or resources to pursue their own stealth program.

 

[Blank]

 

[UnderFingy]

I was about to post this.

last fighter from FOC block (SP-36)

What does this mean?

 

[vishnugupt]

What does this mean?

Utter disbelief of Tejas Haters

 

[FalconZero]

I was about to post this.

What does this mean?

he is using the 'old' numerics,
Sp 1-16 : IOC (Tail Number: 5001 to 5016)
SP 17 to 20 : Trainers
SP 21 to 36 : FOC variants (Tail Number : 5017 to 5032)
Sp 37 to 40 : Trainers

Atleast that's what seems to me.

 

[FalconZero]

he is using the 'old' numerics,
Sp 1-16 : IOC (Tail Number: 5001 to 5016)
SP 17 to 20 : Trainers
SP 21 to 36 : FOC variants (Tail Number : 5017 to 5032)
Sp 37 to 40 : Trainers

Atleast that's what seems to me.

Also, it has been mentioned before at one point but just wanted to state clearly that Tejas actually sports two numbers or serial ids whatever you call it.

At the tail you will get the new numbering style where they start the counting of FOC variants from 17 onwards. But at the side ways you will also see the old serial id.
Here's the SP26 (old) or Sp22(new notation),

 

[Vamsi]

Also, it has been mentioned before at one point but just wanted to state clearly that Tejas actually sports two numbers or serial ids whatever you call it.

At the tail you will get the new numbering style where they start the counting of FOC variants from 17 onwards. But at the side ways you will also see the old serial id.
Here's the SP26 (old) or Sp22(new notation),
View attachment 116788
View attachment 116790

Old number SP-26 is used by HAL, so let's called it HAL designation , while new number LA-5022 used by IAF so lets call it IAF designation

 

[Mantospace]

Really one thing missing our engine. I dont thnk govt is serious about that.

 

[AMCA]

 

[Aditya Ballal]

It’s already posted

 

[indiatester]

he is using the 'old' numerics,
Sp 1-16 : IOC (Tail Number: 5001 to 5016)
SP 17 to 20 : Trainers
SP 21 to 36 : FOC variants (Tail Number : 5017 to 5032)
Sp 37 to 40 : Trainers

Atleast that's what seems to me.

That is indeed the case. (I checked with him)

 

[vishnugupt]

I think Tejas MK1a production, Tejas Mk2 first flight, and Uttam AESA Radar integration are going to happen earlier than they promised.