LCA TEJAS MK1 & MK1A: News and Discussion

[binayak95]

Wont drogue and chute be easier with drone? SInce it will be able to hold perfectly still flight path for pilot to line up with?

Perfectly still flight path is good for 75% of typical A2A refuelling, its the adverse weather refuelling that I am worried about.

There was this wonderful podcast episode about the SEAD mission on FPP. The guy describes a tanker hauling over a sandstorm to save his ass. Imagine a drone doing that, in sandstorm conditions.

 

[NutCracker]

Perfectly still flight path is good for 75% of typical A2A refuelling, its the adverse weather refuelling that I am worried about.

There was this wonderful podcast episode about the SEAD mission on FPP. The guy describes a tanker hauling over a sandstorm to save his ass. Imagine a drone doing that, in sandstorm conditions.

and drone based refuelers being smaller and lighter in weight. They are more susceptible to the turbulence.

 

[jai jaganath]

No accountability in PSU's dictionary!!

They have to deliver 18 trainers before mk1a

 

[karn]

There are rumors that the tejas mak1A first flew secretly last year, but not sure

It was not published in the media but we got to know via HAL employees. But it was revealed later publicly.

 

[Tejbrahmastra]

There are rumors that the tejas mak1A first flew secretly last year, but not sure

It was a Mk1A trainer apparently, not the fighter one, which is yet to fly!!

 

[karn]

It was a Mk1A trainer apparently, not the fighter one, which is yet to fly!!

 

[patriots]

There are rumors that the tejas mak1A first flew secretly last year, but not sure

Tejas foc modified to mk1a
Not actual mk1a

 

[patriots]

Tejas foc modified to mk1a
Not actual mk1a

Sp 18

 

[Aniruddha Mulay]

India gearing up for ambitious fifth-generation stealth fighter project | India News - Times of India

India News: India is now finally moving ahead with its long-pending project to develop a fifth-generation stealth fighter, in a step that also effectively torpedo

m.timesofindia.com

"But the first Tejas Mark-1A will probably come towards end-2024. First, every small equipment change requires extensive flight testing and certification. Moreover, HAL has to majorly upgrade its annual production capability. Tejas Mark-2, of course, is still in the design and development phase," another source said.

Believing a random source LoL

 

[Corvus Splendens]

 

[silverghost]

View attachment 199814

The least count of HAL delays is a year. Whatever man! there is a reason why IAF wants imported fighter jets & who can blame them? Everybody was given to understand that Mk1A being similar to Mk1 doesn't need the year-long tests but looks like that was BS. The next news coming through the pipe would be Mk1A by early 2025. If we ever get the MRFA finalized, can we make sure that the indigenous manufacturer of the jet is some private company?

 

[jai jaganath]

The least count of HAL delays is a year. Whatever man! there is a reason why IAF wants imported fighter jets & who can blame them? Everybody was given to understand that Mk1A being similar to Mk1 doesn't need the year-long tests but looks like that was BS. The next news coming through the pipe would be Mk1A by early 2025. If we ever get the MRFA finalized, can we make sure that the indigenous manufacturer of the jet is some private company?

It's nothing bro people in forum and Twitter said mk2 is very similar to mk1a so delays and testing will be of no problem
And we see the situation now

 

[samsaptaka]

HAL and import airforce both blaming each other for delays. Both are at fault. HAL for delays and IAF for not placing larger orders. I think PMO cracked the whip of PSUs to adhere to timelines,but I guess it's made as much impact as swacch bharath

 

[silverghost]

HAL and import airforce both blaming each other for delays. Both are at fault. HAL for delays and IAF for not placing larger orders. I think PMO cracked the whip of PSUs to adhere to timelines,but I guess it's made as much impact as swacch bharath

Larger orders? Forget IAF for the time being, tell me if HAL was manufacturing a good or equipment that you were in the market to buy. Given their poor track record of deliveries, would you place an order in large nos or give them a "prove it" deal? I certainly won't. Some heads in the top brass of HAL need to roll for these delays else their execution is not going to improve.
I hope there are other private undertakings that take advantage of HAL + ADA's incompetence & poor track record and grab the IAF order. The fighter jets may have marginal indigenous content in the beginning but that can always be improved over time.
BTW, that 83 nos. is not some small deal both in numbers & value (many large countries don't have that many combat aircraft in their fleet).

 

[abingdonboy]

India gearing up for ambitious fifth-generation stealth fighter project | India News - Times of India

India News: India is now finally moving ahead with its long-pending project to develop a fifth-generation stealth fighter, in a step that also effectively torpedo

m.timesofindia.com

"But the first Tejas Mark-1A will probably come towards end-2024. First, every small equipment change requires extensive flight testing and certification. Moreover, HAL has to majorly upgrade its annual production capability. Tejas Mark-2, of course, is still in the design and development phase," another source said.

All the media reports they came out from the Nasik/3rd LCA line failed to mention any such issues and the latest official line from HAL has been from Feb-March 2024 for MK1A deliveries. They’ve signed a contract and there’s penalties attached, I’m very certain they’ll do what is asked of them. The one wild card here is if IAF is screwing around again and changing the requested specs of MK1A this late in the day, that will have an effect on timelines

when talking about the need for imported fighters an anonymous source declares MK1A is behind schedule, just because and it’s news. IDRW is a new aggregator, they cited this TOI article and now it’s fact in the Indian defence sphere….

 

[abingdonboy]

Larger orders? Forget IAF for the time being, tell me if HAL was manufacturing a good or equipment that you were in the market to buy. Given their poor track record of deliveries, would you place an order in large nos or give them a "prove it" deal? I certainly won't. Some heads in the top brass of HAL need to roll for these delays else their execution is not going to improve.
I hope there are other private undertakings that take advantage of HAL + ADA's incompetence & poor track record and grab the IAF order. The fighter jets may have marginal indigenous content in the beginning but that can always be improved over time.
BTW, that 83 nos. is not some small deal both in numbers & value (many large countries don't have that many combat aircraft in their fleet).

Once HAL’s ALH production line was stable they’ve not missed a single deadline for it, LCH is being delivered on time too. Any teething issues they have they generally iron out, they need large upfront orders and stable requirements and they’ll get it done, they rarely get that though

+ lol at private sector jibes- which private company in india is investing in defence R&D? The most they are lining up to do is make foreign designs under licence (occasionally they’ll buy the IP). It’s not entirely their fault, the way the Indian system works R&D is too risky because orders are never assured and deals are often well below the mark to make any sort of decent ROI. Look at the ATAGS debacle for why Indian private companies are today not dumping money into this sector, look up L&T defence’s recent comments about getting pathetic orders from the IN despite the money they’ve sunk into capacity at their yards

look up the LCH and LUH stories- HAL had to fund the production of the LSP airframes without even a penny paid or contract in place. Private companies simply will not and cannot engage in similar efforts as they have a responsibility to their shareholders.

 

[MirageBlue]

All the media reports they came out from the Nasik/3rd LCA line failed to mention any such issues and the latest official line from HAL has been from Feb-March 2024 for MK1A deliveries. They’ve signed a contract and there’s penalties attached, I’m very certain they’ll do what is asked of them. The one wild card here is if IAF is screwing around again and changing the requested specs of MK1A this late in the day, that will have an effect on timelines

when talking about the need for imported fighters an anonymous source declares MK1A is behind schedule, just because and it’s news. IDRW is a new aggregator, they cited this TOI article and now it’s fact in the Indian defence sphere….

I too wouldn't take that "Mk1A will be delayed to end of 2024" rumor to be true based on an anonymous source, especially if the article is by Rajat Pandit. He's toned down his rhetoric against the LCA program otherwise he was always penning articles about the LCA with mandatory lines about the program having started in 1983 type lies and so on.

 

[samsaptaka]

It’s not entirely their fault, the way the Indian system works R&D is too risky because orders are never assured and deals are often well below the mark to make any sort of decent ROI. Look at the ATAGS debacle for why Indian private companies are today not dumping money into this sector, look up L&T defence’s recent comments about getting pathetic orders from the IN despite the money they’ve sunk into capacity at their yards

Indeed, there is an inherent distrust and condescending attitude in IA and IAF for Made in Bharath stuff, even if its from a well qualified Pvt company like Tonbo. Past history of pathetic quality OFB stuff is certainly part of the reason for this, as well as PSU performance during the past 60 or so years. But to still continue the same thinking for established pvt players like Kalyani with ATAGS, Tonbo with their proven NVGs , L&T etc.. reeks of corruption if I may say so. Such behaviour with PSU may be tolerated due to their past history, but for the above pvt players one simply cannot condone it.

 

[abingdonboy]

Indeed, there is an inherent distrust and condescending attitude in IA and IAF for Made in Bharath stuff, even if its from a well qualified Pvt company like Tonbo. Past history of pathetic quality OFB stuff is certainly part of the reason for this, as well as PSU performance during the past 60 or so years. But to still continue the same thinking for established pvt players like Kalyani with ATAGS, Tonbo with their proven NVGs , L&T etc.. reeks of corruption if I may say so. Such behaviour with PSU may be tolerated due to their past history, but for the above pvt players one simply cannot condone it.

As I say often- corruption or incompetence, it’s hard to differentiate the two but the effects are the same.

unless it’s imports the Indian military are totally incapable of providing a framework to help build
Industry. Until recently they had payment arrears worth 100s of millions of USD to HAL

they even did the same cr@p with a relatively tiny entity like Tonbo for relatively tiny deal sizes

And then they turn around and point fingers at industry and use the lack of capacity at home as justification for their import fixation

 

[jai jaganath]

As I say often- corruption or incompetence, it’s hard to differentiate the two but the effects are the same.

unless it’s imports the Indian military are totally incapable of providing a framework to help build
Industry. Until recently they had payment arrears worth 100s of millions of USD to HAL

they even did the same cr@p with a relatively tiny entity like Tonbo for relatively tiny deal sizes

And then they turn around and point fingers at industry and use the lack of capacity at home as justification for their import fixation

View attachment 200024

What a shame
These bofoons can't even pay for cleared amount and even the order is just piecemeal
Disgusting
Now I am in doubt Indian army get funds from Pakistan or what
Bcoz it's not them but us who are behaving like beggars