LCA TEJAS MK1 & MK1A: News and Discussion

another_armchair

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I would call a scam if GOI doesn't order another tranche of 36 Rafale OTS. It would be criminal mixure of short-sightedness and wishful thinking. Moreover, over $1.5 billion would go down the drain for acquiring ISE for just 2 squadrons worth of aircraft. In a way, you are funding Dassault for their F4 and further upgrades without getting benefit out it. The real beneficiaries will be the nations who would procure Rafale with HMDS and towed decoys as implemented by ISE.
Would had been better that GOI avoided this piecemeal deal and invested $8 billion dollar in developing Indian MIC that would have helped later in indigenous programs Tejas and AMCA.
Due to such tokenism and minimalism, we are paying hefty price of highest import of defence hardware.
That is exactly why questions were raised when GoI decided to commit billions for only 36 aircraft for a country the size of India and the enormous security challenges facing it under the overhang of a 2 front war.

This is why it faced severe criticism with a piecemeal order of 36 Rafales with no price freeze agreement for further orders if placed within a certain timeframe.
 

Brood Father

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The Govt. is in quite a pickle.

If they order more Rafales in a follow on G2G deal, the opposition will fling them into the fire for not having gone ahead with Dassault + HAL from day one and negotiated on costs. Remember, even Parikkar was taken aback as the cost negotiations with Rafale and HAL were actually making some progress around beginning of 2015.

The planes could have served both IAF and IN in the long run and helped us learn a thing or two albeit at a cost which we were almost willing to pay for. At a slightly higher cost, we would have an extremely capable aircraft like the Sukhoi MKI which is a beast in A2A role. Another 250-400 Rafales with IAF and IN would give us near invincibility for the next 10-15 years from our northern borders to the IOR.

It is another thing that we simply did not have the deep pockets to manage such a large fleet of twin engined air superiority fighters and would most likely ring the death knell for Tejas.

Alas, Sab Changa Si!
I don't think government gives damn about opposition . If opposition could not get a traction with public on Chinese transgressions then they wont be able to make noise about Rafael deal if signed
But sorry for digression , my point is that government is either running low on cash or is feeling pressure from import lobby and that's what causing the delay.
Putin is coming somewhere near September October to India, so our Russian import lobby must have been activated. We know Russians are pushing hard for Mig 35 and sukhoi su-57
. Also Lockheed is pushing hard for F-21/F-15.
Covid has just given them valid excuse for the delay.
This is what getting me worried
 

daya

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Tejas MK1 A ho ya koi aur project Jab tak angrejon ka bureaucracy wala system hai, kuchh na hone wala... AAP unko chaar project do, wo 5 percent officer apne promotion ke liye cadre restructure bana lenge..
 

Sentimental Patriot

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Unrelated but what is going on with the program to acquire new jets to replace the MiGs? I thought we were just going to use the Tejas but then I read this article suggesting we will procure jets from abroad. Very confusing.

 

Bleh

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What is in the name Mk1 and Mk1A of LCA TEJAS?, Do they have any different meaning?
Mark1 is the FOC variant.

Mark1A is a stopgap before Mark 2 is ready with several tech improvements but no airframe changes to avoid further flight testing (You can read more on wiki page)

Mark1A updates;
https://www.onmanorama.com/news/nat...orders-ardc-shapes-india-upgraded-fi.amp.html

Mark1A added bells & whistles:
  • AESA Radar
  • EW suite
  • New drag optimised drop-tanks
  • Dual rack for AAM
  • SAAW, Brahmos-air, Astra & ASRAAM (possibly Python-5) integrated
  • Altered flight control software
  • Altered internal wiring
  • Possibly built-in IRST (Refueling probe moved).
  • Rumoured, but unlikely significant, weight reduction.
 
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Chandragupt Maurya

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What happened to the unmanned version of LCA Tejas any news ? LCH can also be operated remotely Americans have already tested this technology on their F16 it’s very interesting
 

Bleh

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What happened to the unmanned version of LCA Tejas any news ? LCH can also be operated remotely Americans have already tested this technology on their F16 it’s very interesting
They treated AI take off & guided landing, AI landing being prepared.
 

Chandragupt Maurya

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Unmanned version of Tejas means no cockpit needed no oxygen generation system needed no ejection seats so lot of complexities removed and a lot of weight reduction to accommodate more missiles and bombs
 

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