LCA TEJAS MK1 & MK1A: News and Discussion

FalconZero

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Too late bro 👅 I just elaborated a while ago.

But did you get anything on the status of SP-26?.. We know upto 25 is completed. But that one's present status I couldn't find out.
Screenshot_20210303_103803.jpg


Here's what I know. AKM had SP-23 (5019) behind him... View attachment 80349
And this is a screenshot from the vimeo promo. @Ghost hale there was a slight mistake tho. 😐View attachment 80350
These new SP-ones are so sleek and clean looking, whatever changed or being changes is pretty visible, also, the one at the bottom has a canopy shape which is different from the usual ones.
 

ladder

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It's only a matter a time before Tejas is exported. Not many alternatives to it. Jf17 has faulty russian engine ( a maintenance nightmare) and chinese avionics band weaponary which remains questionable .

Gripen c/d doesn't exist and gripen E is very costly.

F16 is heavier and costlier .

Lca will make its own niche.
IOC & LIFT are more likely to see exports, for smaller economies that would expect low intensity conflicts (pirates or insurgents) & as light fighter for proper AFs of countries like a Malaysia. In that department LCA is miles ahead of any competition.

FOC & Mark1A would have a harder time, because they are not best in their niche. Gripen, F-16 etc. are serious contenders in the roles of light multirole fighters & unless the cost is the main deciding factor.
The biggest drawback for Tejas is the sourcing of equipment/ components from different countries.
To export one needs to clearance from the sourcing countries. The relationship between source country with India with the destination country should be good along with the good direct relationship with source to destination country.
Nigeria for example was interested for Tejas but their relationship with USA wasn't great, USA though had cleared some low tech products, had blocked sale of some high tech products to them. That led to suspicion on future non cooperation /sanctions.
Jaguar fighter jets of Nigeria which had turned permanent hanger queen too didn't help the cause.
The only hope was if India swapped Tejas with those grounded Jags. But that wasn't to be.
The F7 and Alpha Jets kept flying with Nigerian Air Force. The F7 fleet maintened by Pak technicians.
But, with Boko Haram gaining notorioty, and kidnapping of School girls, ( subsequent non retrieval of the girls for a long time) exposed the lack of preparedness and lack of platform. This tied the hands of the newly elected President Buhari. They had to select a platform to show they are serious and are procuring assets to fight back.
Thus, they chose a platform that had completed its development cycle, was sanctions proof and from a country that had provided great support to previous platform. Can you blame them for that?

Tejas uses western technology and western nations have a habit of sanctioning third world countries at the drop of a hat.

Any country which is immune to the above, is either probably rich, or have no considerable requirements. If rich, a lot of options are available. Even if it is not rich, used F16 ( replaced by F35) will spoil the market for Tejas.

We may get some LIFT or MK1/A sales. But, I don't think it will be substantial. Bangladesh order currently too is just a speculation. It might happen or might not.

One thing we need to understand is that the selection of subsystem for Tejas has been done keeping in mind the IAF and India's relationship with sourcing countries. Export is an afterthought. The export oriented LIFT version will come in 2023-2024.
If we do a comparative study then, of the subsystems used, we might come to a conclusion, as to which subsystems/ LRUs have been replaced due to cost and which due to threat of future sanctions on the buying country.
 
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SARTHAK

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Anyone has any info about naval version of mk1a ,is the deal signed? or even is the aircraft mk1a planned for navy?
 

Ghost hale

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Anyone has any info about naval version of mk1a ,is the deal signed? or even is the aircraft mk1a planned for navy?
No naval version. LCA navy was just a tech demonstrator to test technologies and landing takeoff data values etc. which will be utilized for TEDBF.
 

SARTHAK

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No naval version. LCA navy was just a tech demonstrator to test technologies and landing takeoff data values etc. which will be utilized for TEDBF.
wht? afaik there r no plans for import so indian navy will have to live with fairly outdated mig 29k,whereas china will possibly come up with fixed wing awacs and j31 naval,if this is the case we should go for import or at least lease of some crafts because tedbf is not here till 2028
 

Ghost hale

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wht? afaik there r no plans for import so indian navy will have to live with fairly outdated mig 29k,whereas china will possibly come up with fixed wing awacs and j31 naval,if this is the case we should go for import or at least lease of some crafts because tedbf is not here till 2028
This is very common news. Maybe they will lease or buy some but most probably it won't happen. As any contract will take 1-2 years to sign and then 3 years for first arrival. There was a idea floated to lease some f-18 for 10-12 years but it was then put on hold. Most probably tedbf will be the next, nothing else.
 

Bleh

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Lots of locals at Colombo did a great job filming the airshow! Embedding some of the best ones. Enjoy them here;

(Sky was actually clean blue, because of the sun being in background all cameras from airshow-gallery were adjusting to dusty hue... many here look better)
 
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SARTHAK

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kf-x has semi recessed bays for weapons ,can anybody tell me the advantages apart from drag reduction,can it be used in our mk2 if for drag reduction and rcs reduction(if it happems)
 

samsaptaka

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I think he is talking about standard build i.e. parts replaceable among units as all have standard parts. This was the issue previously that parts cannot be exchanged from one fighter to another. It was rectified with parts standardization approved by HAL which also helped in speeding up manufacturing.
Can't believe that HAL babus didn't know to make standardized parts in this day and age of reusability ! IAF had to teach them manufacturing eh ? Babus will be the downfall of this nation
 

Bleh

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Can't believe that HAL babus didn't know to make standardized parts in this day and age of reusability ! IAF had to teach them manufacturing eh ? Babus will be the downfall of this nation
Pura parh to lo pahle...
 

samsaptaka

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Pura parh to lo pahle...
" It was rectified with parts standardization approved by HAL which also helped in speeding up manufacturing."

Which means, they did not start out with standardized parts manufacturing, which is a big no no in modern day production lines . It had to be rectified possibly AFTER IAF pointed out, So yeah I am right, deal with it
 

Bleh

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It had to be rectified possibly AFTER IAF pointed out, So yeah I am right, deal with it
Not that, man... The replies to that.

I thought you knew, how they were trying out this & that modifications on the IOCs. Apparently didn't manage to settle for one until now. User feedback need time to process. IAF chose, they didn't point out anything.
See how they aren't creating a rukus about the delivery delay?
 

Spitfire9

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IOC & LIFT are more likely to see exports, for smaller economies that would expect low intensity conflicts (pirates or insurgents) & as light fighter for proper AFs of countries like a Malaysia. In that department LCA is miles ahead of any competition.

FOC & Mark1A would have a harder time, because they are not best in their niche. Gripen, F-16 etc. are serious contenders in the roles of light multirole fighters & unless the cost is the main deciding factor.
I do not understand why you place IOC in a different niche to FOC.

Also, unless FOC is quite a lot more expensive than IOC, why would anyone choose IOC? Tejas has a very short range and from what I have read of a central fuel tank being added to the FOC version, FOC internal fuel capacity is increased by ~30% over IOC. Plus FOC has A2A refuelling.

Also, is Astra being integrated on IOC as well as on FOC?
 

Bleh

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I do not understand why you place IOC in a different niche to FOC.

Also, unless FOC is quite a lot more expensive than IOC, why would anyone choose IOC? Tejas has a very short range and from what I have read of a central fuel tank being added to the FOC version, FOC internal fuel capacity is increased by ~30% over IOC. Plus FOC has A2A refuelling.

Also, is Astra being integrated on IOC as well as on FOC?
You're right. Ot's technically the same with some software updates & payload certifications. But the IOC order was much cheaper too.

Take Sri Lanka AF only for example... they used fighter jets to bomb LTTE targets, who are now no more. So any teachers the boy is going to be used patrolling & against pirates max. So they don't need to by BVR & Brahmos capable Tejas. For them Tejas LIFT would do fine & be 20-30 crores cheaper each. Maybe the fuel capacity can be enhanced etc.
 

HariPrasad-1

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wht? afaik there r no plans for import so indian navy will have to live with fairly outdated mig 29k,whereas china will possibly come up with fixed wing awacs and j31 naval,if this is the case we should go for import or at least lease of some crafts because tedbf is not here till 2028
What China have are shits including J 15 which has no future and very unpopular among Chinese themselves. J 31 is an another shit. China has no good plane except Su 30 and Su 35. J 10 is a mediocre. Mig 29 is much better if and perfectly suited for our Aircraft carriers with medium weight. They have a very nice T/W ratio with twine engines. They just need time to time upgradation of Electronics.
 

SARTHAK

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What China have are shits including J 15 which has no future and very unpopular among Chinese themselves. J 31 is an another shit. China has no good plane except Su 30 and Su 35. J 10 is a mediocre. Mig 29 is much better if and perfectly suited for our Aircraft carriers with medium weight. They have a very nice T/W ratio with twine engines. They just need time to time upgradation of Electronics.
still hve pesa radars and a fairly large rcs
 

HariPrasad-1

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still hve pesa radars and a fairly large rcs
That is why I said that "with Upgradation of electronics". MKI could dodge 5 might Aim 9 on 27th Feb 2019 because of state of art EW only. Indian navy and airforce does that only. A state of art EW suit for Mig 29 is developed in collaboration with Israel.
 
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