MMRCA 2.0: News & Discussions

[shuvo@y2k10]

With renewed focus on indigenous arms programs, dalals are getting restless.
114 MMRCA can be cancelled in favour of 114+ OCRA.

 

[vampyrbladez]

With renewed focus on indigenous arms programs, dalals are getting restless.
114 MMRCA can be cancelled in favour of 114+ OCRA.

ORCA is too much of a long shot. Tranched buy of Rafale is fine while we make 83 LCA MK1A at HAL. Some of the Rafales will be made at the DRAL plant at Nagpur.

 

[Bajirao]

MMRCA : India plans to switch to locally-made fighter jets – Indian Defence Research Wing

idrw.org

MMRCA canceled?

Mmrca canceled just after signing rafale deal..last 3-4 year mod did just drama to prevent iaf to apply preasure tactics on it by showing disinterest in mwf program and now when iaf started to get taste of indegenous fighter jet, mod and cds step by step started to give indication that mmrca not going to be reality..and for me it makes perfect sense..mwf will be superior to mig-35,f-16,grippen is similar jet and rafale,tyfoon very costly...so,go for 100 percent indegenous,not a single percent lesser...

 

[Bajirao]

With renewed focus on indigenous arms programs, dalals are getting restless.
114 MMRCA can be cancelled in favour of 114+ OCRA.

Iaf not going for orca ..iaf has firmed up its plan for future by lca,mwf,amca,ghatak and mmrca and now if mmrca not be reality then this slot will be either stay vacant or, will be filled by extra amca....orca can be used as a land based fighter by navy if role of naval air strike fully shifted to navy from iaf,but iaf will not let it to be happen,they are super jeallous for dominance in defence structure,their apache gunship also should be tranferred to army..

 

[vampyrbladez]

Mmrca canceled just after signing rafale deal..last 3-4 year mod did just drama to prevent iaf to apply preasure tactics on it by showing disinterest in mwf program and now when iaf started to get taste of indegenous fighter jet, mod and cds step by step started to give indication that mmrca not going to be reality..and for me it makes perfect sense..mwf will be superior to mig-35,f-16,grippen is similar jet and rafale,tyfoon very costly...so,go for 100 percent indegenous,not a single percent lesser...

This shows you have very little knowledge of aircraft platforms unfortunately.

Tejas MK2/MWF = Gripen E/F

Rafale =/= Tejas MK2/MWF or ORCA

ORCA is just a conceptual idea.

IAF's modernization plan is as follows:

Old--->New

Mig 29UPG--->Rafale (Twin Engine MRCA)

Mirage 2000H--->Tejas MK2/MWF (Single Engine MRCA)

Mig 21BiS--->Tejas MK1A

Su 30MKI--->Super Sukhoi (N036 Radar to replace N011 BARS, Cutting edge AESA EW suit, Su 35 style cockpit)

X--->Su 57 (Item 30 Engine, N036 Radar, 270° AESA Radar coverage)

X--->AMCA (Stealth fighter)

 

[shuvo@y2k10]

Regarding OCRA nothing is finalised. The Navy has made up its mind regarding TEDBF. The timeline(if project is financially sanctioned in 2020) is 2026 (first flight) to 2030-31 (induction). Now to reduce the development cost ,Navy has proposed to IAF of 50:50 funding, in lieu of a land variant of TEDBF. The Navy proposal was initiated keeping in mind the falling squadron strength of IAF and its MMRCA 2.0 proposal. However, the IAF is yet to decide on it.

 

[Bleh]

ORCA is too much of a long shot. Tranched buy of Rafale is fine while we make 83 LCA MK1A at HAL. Some of the Rafales will be made at the DRAL plant at Nagpur.

However, the IAF is yet to decide on it.

Iaf not going for orca ..iaf has firmed up its plan for future by lca,mwf,amca,ghatak and mmrca and now if mmrca not be reality then this slot will be either stay vacant or, will be filled by extra amca....orca can be used as a land based fighter by navy if role of naval air strike fully shifted to navy from iaf.

Hope push coming to this shove will prove to be enough.

Rafale may get further piecemeal orders of few more squadrons like Mirage-2000/Mig-29, until MWF is ready... This may also benefit Tejas Mark1 if some of the MMRCA funds is diverted for more FOC.
Still unlikely, but I surely can't say I wasn't hoping for it to happen.

 

[vampyrbladez]

View attachment 47893



Hope push coming to this shove will prove to be enough.

Rafale may get further piecemeal orders of few more squadrons like Mirage-2000/Mig-29, until MWF is ready... This may also benefit Tejas Mark1 if some of the MMRCA funds is diverted for more FOC.
Still unlikely, but I surely can't say I wasn't hoping for it to happen.

MWF needs years of further R&D. This includes :

1) Research into GaN T/R modules for radars.

India has just set up a GaN foundry at IISc.

https://researchmatters.in/news/iisc-develops-india’s-first-e-mode-gallium-nitride-power-transistor

DRDO has successfully implemented a scalable GaAs AESA radar but missed out the offer for Tejas MK1A to ELTA 2052 AESA radar.

DRDO AAAU/UTTAM AESA Radar (~736 TRM ; 150 Km @ 2 msq target.

Uttam features an active phased array (APAR) which gives it superior scanning performance over legacy passive phased array radar. Unlike most contemporary radars, Uttam features Quad TRM i.e. a single plank consists of 4 TRMs. It allows the array to be more densely packed. Each TRM is equipped with low noise power amplifier, built-in test facility, digital phase-gain, and side lobe control elements. The inert model displayed at Aero India 2015 had ~184 QTRMs i.e. 736 TRMs.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/defenceupdate.in/uttam-aesa-radar-everything-you-need-to-know/amp/

By comparison the ELTA 2052 (~1000 TRM) has a range of upto 180+ Km for a 1 msq target.

Bear in mind that size of radar may be reduced to fit the nose cone aperture of the Tejas. Thus performance would be almost similar

For MWF, we would need a GaN radar and DRDO has to ensure that one is ready to compete with what will most certainly be an alternate offering from either SAAB, ELTA or THALES.

I) SAAB

SAAB is leading the pack with their new ES-05 GaN radar and a prototype PS-05+GaN radar.

PS-05 + GaN Combination Prototype Radar

ES-05 GaN Radar

Since acquiring Ericsson Microwave Systems in June 2006, Saab has become a pioneer of “e-scan” technology and particularly in the GaN field, in which it has introduced the first production-ready GaN-based surveillance radars in the shape of the latest members of the Giraffe ground-based air defense radar family, and the first airborne application of GaN radar technology, the Erieye ER that is employed on the GlobalEye AEW platform that is in production for the UAE Air Force and Air Defence.

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-...ipen-e-stores-releases-and-develops-gan-radar

The use of gallium nitride semiconductors instead of gallium arsenide (commonly used in most current AESAs) in the AESA array reduces heat generated during radar operation, allowing for more power to be transmitted and greater radar performance.

https://www.overtdefense.com/2020/05/07/saab-completes-initial-airborne-trials-for-new-gan-aesa-radar-delivers-first-globaleye/

II) ELTA

SPECTRA offers high reliability, high availability and graceful degradation utilizing an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) based on state-of-the-art high efficiency Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology.

https://www.iai.co.il/p/elm-2090s-spectra

ELTA has a Joint Venture with Lockheed Martin to produce GaN radar.

As global leaders in ground-based radar systems, Lockheed Martin and ELTA have several production Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA). Lockheed Martin has already fielded tactical operational radars with gallium nitride (GaN) technology, beginning with the delivery of a TPS-77 Multi-Role Radar (MRR) system to Latvia in 2018. The company is also on contract to incorporate GaN into the Army’s Q-53 system. ELTA’s MMR is a 3D Multi-beam AESA GaN-based radar system that detects and tracks both aircraft and ballistic targets while providing fire control guidance for missile interception or artillery air defense.

https://www.iai.co.il/elta-systems-joins-forces-lockheed-martin-offer-radar-ltamds-sense

So expect a follow up to the successful ELTA 2052 AESA Radar in GaN form.

III) THALES

THALES has an available GaAs solution in the form of the RBE-2 AA AESA radar which has been mounted on the F3 standard Rafale fighter jet. There are ~ 838-850 TRM on the aperture providing a 200 Km detection range.

In recognition of the emerging GaN market for fighter radars the Government of France has launched a program to procure the next 28 aircraft with limited F4 standard features and a further 30 with the complete features of the F4 standard.

https://www.defensenews.com/global/...ers-upgraded-rafale-warplanes-for-23-billion/

To ensure high survivability, new threat detection and jamming capabilities will be developed for the aircraft's SPECTRA electronic warfare system. Further improvements to the air-to-ground mode of the RBE2 active electronic scanning array (AESA) radar are also planned. In addition, the TALIOS optronic pod will incorporate artificial intelligence to analyse tactical data almost instantaneously in flight and extract and identify targets.

https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/grou...elop-new-connected-sensors-rafale-f4-standard

Thales and the DGA are actively preparing the future radar developments that will be introduced on Standard F4.2, incorporating cutting-edge Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology for the radar and jammer antennas. Thanks to additional radar apertures, detection capabilities will be unmatched and electronic attack capabilities will become a reality. The programme director explained: “Even though we are entirely satisfied with the current RBE2 AESA radar, we are already working on the next generation scheduled to appear on new-build aircraft in 2025.

https://www.defense-aerospace.com/dae/sponsors/sponsor_rafale/img/fox3_19.pdf


Thus DRDO needs to come up with something new to be commercially competitive with the aforementioned product lines. A possible solution is the LRDE (DRDO lab) developed 16x16 element planner array antenna, TSA (Tapered slot antenna) AKA Vivaldi flared notch antenna was selected.

DRDO has invested a lot of money in gallium nitride MMIC development projects and there are plans to set up a state of the art GaN foundry at IISc. It's likely that TR modules of AMCA's radar will use GaN-based solid-state RF amplifiers. GaN MMIC combined with latest LNA tech will greatly enhance detection range (greater than 200km for a 1 sqm RCS target). It also eliminates the requirement of a liquid coolant circulation based cooling system.

https://mark20x.blogspot.com/2018/11/is-lrde-developing-uwb-radar-for-amca.html

 

[bose]

India must order another two squadron of Rafale ... MMRCA 2.0 cancelled or not ...

 

[Tactical Frog]

MWF needs years of further R&D. This includes :

1) Research into GaN T/R modules for radars.

India has just set up a GaN foundry at IISc.

https://researchmatters.in/news/iisc-develops-india’s-first-e-mode-gallium-nitride-power-transistor

DRDO has successfully implemented a scalable GaAs AESA radar but missed out the offer for Tejas MK1A to ELTA 2052 AESA radar.

DRDO AAAU/UTTAM AESA Radar (~736 TRM ; 150 Km @ 2 msq target.



https://www.google.com/amp/s/defenceupdate.in/uttam-aesa-radar-everything-you-need-to-know/amp/

By comparison the ELTA 2052 (~1000 TRM) has a range of upto 180+ Km for a 1 msq target.

Bear in mind that size of radar may be reduced to fit the nose cone aperture of the Tejas. Thus performance would be almost similar

For MWF, we would need a GaN radar and DRDO has to ensure that one is ready to compete with what will most certainly be an alternate offering from either SAAB, ELTA or THALES.

I) SAAB

SAAB is leading the pack with their new ES-05 GaN radar and a prototype PS-05+GaN radar.

PS-05 + GaN Combination Prototype Radar

ES-05 GaN Radar



https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-...ipen-e-stores-releases-and-develops-gan-radar



https://www.overtdefense.com/2020/05/07/saab-completes-initial-airborne-trials-for-new-gan-aesa-radar-delivers-first-globaleye/

II) ELTA

https://www.iai.co.il/p/elm-2090s-spectra

ELTA has a Joint Venture with Lockheed Martin to produce GaN radar.

https://www.iai.co.il/elta-systems-joins-forces-lockheed-martin-offer-radar-ltamds-sense

So expect a follow up to the successful ELTA 2052 AESA Radar in GaN form.

III) THALES

THALES has an available GaAs solution in the form of the RBE-2 AA AESA radar which has been mounted on the F3 standard Rafale fighter jet. There are ~ 838-850 TRM on the aperture providing a 200 Km detection range.

In recognition of the emerging GaN market for fighter radars the Government of France has launched a program to procure the next 28 aircraft with limited F4 standard features and a further 30 with the complete features of the F4 standard.

https://www.defensenews.com/global/...ers-upgraded-rafale-warplanes-for-23-billion/



https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/grou...elop-new-connected-sensors-rafale-f4-standard

https://www.defense-aerospace.com/dae/sponsors/sponsor_rafale/img/fox3_19.pdf


Thus DRDO needs to come up with something new to be commercially competitive with the aforementioned product lines. A possible solution is the LRDE (DRDO lab) developed 16x16 element planner array antenna, TSA (Tapered slot antenna) AKA Vivaldi flared notch antenna was selected.

https://mark20x.blogspot.com/2018/11/is-lrde-developing-uwb-radar-for-amca.html

Sorry but the Selex ES-05 Raven is not a GaN radar. It is GaAs.
Or I simply cannot read any more

 

[aditya10r]

India must order another two squadron of Rafale ... MMRCA 2.0 cancelled or not ...

Breaking news.

We dont have money.

__________________________

So simply order 10 squadrons of Tejas mk1a in total and be done with imported fighter drama.
Right now the best course would be to order more mk1a an go full throttle on mk2 MWF and Su-30mki upgrade.Order Netra AWACS 6-9 of them and purchase 12 MRTT A-330.

36 rafale would cost atleast 6 billion USD plus with long term spare support and weapons

 

[Tang]

Hi all,

So it seems govt. & IAF will going full on for Tejas Variants maybe around 300 including MWF.
But looks like french again got away with ToT of its fighter, so they would be milking us for quite some time,
And we would be buying around 36-54 Rafale for around 5-7 billion, should we ask for ToT of critical tech like spectra,engine etc.

BTW any progress in case of recent Rafale deal offset?

 

[Bleh]

MWF needs years of further R&D. This includes :

1) Research into GaN T/R modules for radars.

You wrote 1) in such a way that I thought you would be making more points. Lol.

But anyways, that's exactly why I mentioned IAF may place piecemeal orders on Rafale and till 2025-6. If Tejas FOC now gets a piece of the action from former MMRCA2 fund, and/or Su-30 gets that Indian upgrafe package, then even better.
Otherwise yeah, newsflash, we aint as rich as many assuned we were.

 

[vampyrbladez]

(contd.)

2) Research into next generation Infrared Search and Track devices.

In highly contested environments, the air warfare scenario becomes a perilous one. In a matter of moments, the hunter can become the hunted. Thus advantage rests with the one who holds the first initiative. Here passive sensors come into play, prominent among them being the Infrared Search and Track device.

DRDO as of 2020 has not yet developed anything resembling an IRST pod.

https://idrw.org/does-india-have-th...-the-su-30mki-fleet-into-super-30-on-its-own/

However there are several off the shelf products for the MWF program to choose from.

I) Boeing Defence

Boeing has been working on an IRST pod for the USN before 2014. It has also developed the IRST Block II for the Block III version of the Super Hornet.

https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2014/navy/2014irst.pdf?ver=2019-08-22-110355-343

The IRST consists of a passive Army considers multispectral and radar sensor fusion for helicopter pilots receiver, a processor, inertial measurement unit, and environmental control unit. The infrared receiver, processor, and inertial measurement unit are fitted inside the sensor, which attaches to the front of the fuel tank mounted to the aircraft on the BRU-32 bomb rack.

The Navy developed the IRST Block I using components from the F-15K/SG aircraft's infrared receiver, which is based on the IRST design of the now-retired Navy F-14 Tomcat jet fighter. IRST Block II will include improvements to the infrared receiver and updated processors.

https://www.intelligent-aerospace.c...d-search-and-track-irst-for-navy-super-hornet

For the first time, Boeing and the U.S. Navy flew an F/A-18 Super Hornet equipped with an Infrared Search & Track (IRST) Block II pod in late 2019. IRST Block II is a critical component of the Block III Super Hornet.

Currently in the risk reduction phase of development, IRST Block II flights on the Super Hornet allow Boeing and the Navy to collect valuable data on the system before deployment to the fleet. The Block II variant will be delivered to the Navy in 2021, reaching Initial Operational Capability shortly thereafter.

https://www.intelligent-aerospace.c...ornet-infrared-search-track-irst-block-ii-pod

Assuming India opts for the Super Hornet in it's 57 Navy ighter jet RFI then the pod could be made available for the AMCA and by extension the MWF.

Finally, there is the suggestion that Boeing could be available to help along the AMCA programme directly as a partner or consultant in such a way that it makes the Block 2 Super Hornet -> Advanced Super Hornet -> AMCA flow more seamlessly from a development-to-manufacturing perspective.

https://www.livefistdefence.com/2016/11/boeing-unveils-an-amca-sweetener.html

II) THALES

Assuming India had opted for the RBE-2 AA AESA radar for it's MWF then Safran's OSF IRST is a given.

https://en.calameo.com/read/001187356c18a3c20bd23

The IRST option was added back into the Indian Rafales via the 13 India Specific Engagements (ISE).

Here are the 13 India-specific enhancements to the Rafale jets:

• Radio Altimeter height measurement from 10,000 feet to 15,000 feet
• Radar Warning receiver (RWR) frequency band from 2.5 -18 GHzto 10 18 GHz
• Low Band Jammer (LBJ) pod with frequency band of 1- 4.5 gHz
• Flight Data Recorder (FDR) recording time from 10 hours data to 16 hours data plus two hours of audio
• High altitude engine start-up to 12,000 feet
• Non Cooperative Target Recognition (NCTR) mode in Radar
• Doppler Beam Sharpening (DBS) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) modes in Radar
• Ground Moving Target Indicator and Ground Moving Target Track (GMTI/T) modes in Radar
• Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST)
• Helmet Mounted Display (HMD)
• Training Mode in Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS)
• Towed Decoys Very High Frequency Omni Range (VOR)

https://www.republicworld.com/india...cific-weapon-enhancements-of-iafs-rafale.html

OEM didn't provide any data on the performance so I had to rely on a third party analyst for the below figures.

Rafale’s primary air-to-air sensor is OSF optical sensor suite on top of the nose, with 80/130 km range. It consists of IRST sensor with 40 km identification range and video camera with 45-50 km identification range.

https://defenseissues.net/2015/11/01/dassault-rafale-vs-eurofighter-typhoon/

III) Finmeccanica - Selex (Leonardo)

Designed as a derivative of the PIRATE IRST, the Skyward IRST is already in service with the Gripen NG (E/F).

This IRST is known as PIRATE – or Passive InfraRed Airborne Track Equipment – developed through a Leonardo-led “Eurofirst” consortium along with Thales UK and Tecnobit of Spain, which was competitively awarded a contract in 1992.

Balzarotti noted that even after 25 years after the initial contract in 1992, the PIRATE IRST is still in production for new Typhoon aircraft rolling off the production line. It has seen incremental improvements including more powerful hardware and improved algorithms.

This growing experience and expertise saw Leonardo win a contract to supply its new Skyward IRST technologies for Saab’s newest fighter aircraft, the Gripen E. The company is now in the series production phase for the Skyward-G contract, said Balzarotti, and will supply over 60 units for the Swedish Air Force’s Gripen E fleet.

https://www.airforce-technology.com/features/fighter-aircraft-irst-stealth-vision/

https://www.leonardocompany.com/doc..._Skyward_IRST_LQ_mm08130_.pdf?t=1538987511165

Typhoon has PIRATE IRST with 90/145 km detection range and 40 km identification range.

https://defenseissues.net/2015/11/01/dassault-rafale-vs-eurofighter-typhoon/

The MWF can get hold of the Skyward IRST in two ways :

a) The Gripen E/F wins the MMRCA. As part of the earlier promised ToT deal by SAAB, MWF can get access to the deal.

“We are setting up an entire aviation ecosystem in Brazil. And the experience and knowledge that Brazil is gaining from this manufacturing is being used by them to design their indigenous fighter aircraft,” the SAAB India CMD said.

https://theprint.in/defence/saab-wa...t-full-tech-transfer-local-production/298778/

However the Gripen will render the requirement of the MWF redundant, sharing design philosophy and engine (GE F414).

There is also the question of dissatisfaction with SAAB post the February 27 aerial battle which involved the Saab 2000 `Erieye’ AWACS.

Sources said that India had registered a diplomatic protest with Sweden after the Pakistani air force revealed that it had ordered three new Saab 2000 early warning aircraft in 2017. These aircraft, which supplemented an earlier order of four by Pakistan, were extensively used in the February 27 aerial battle to direct and control 25 fighter jets towards Indian targets.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...ainst-india/articleshow/68590492.cms?from=mdr

b) Finalise a Joint Venture between Leonardo (Finmeccanica - Selex's parent company) or Finmeccanica - Selex and a Public Sector Union company like BEL (Bharat Electronics Limited) or a DRDO lab like LRDE (Electronics and Radar Development Establishment) to produce the IRST pods jointly under Make in India.

However with the AgustaWestland (subsidiary of Leonardo) AW101 VVIP chopper scam casting shadows of woe on it's India operations and the MoD extending it's blacklisting in 6 month intervals.

The firm, which has a product list that ranges from helicopters to guns and unmanned systems, has been barred from business dealings with all departments and wings of the defence ministry for another six months, after its case was reviewed as part of the ministry’s blacklisting policy.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...by-6-months/articleshow/70047563.cms?from=mdr

In a notification put up on its website, the defence ministry said it “has again considered” and its “competent authority has decided to further extend the period of suspension of business dealings with M/s Leonardo S.p.A (erstwhile Finmeccanica group of companies including Agusta Westland) for a period of 6 (six) months with effect from 08.11.2019 (8 November 2019).”

https://defence.capital/2019/10/23/india-extends-defence-trade-ban-on-italian-firm-leonardo/

Given the political hues of the case and the CBI actively pursuing suspects, the possibility of such a Joint Venture in the near future is very remote.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is all set to seek sanction to prosecute at least 6 public servants for their alleged involvement in the Agusta-Westland chopper scam.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...cute-5-mod-officials/articleshow/74217885.cms

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/agu...s-christian-michels-interim-bail-plea-2216131


Given a cursory analysis of the situation, LRDE needs to produce a viable prototype rapidly from scratch to even hope of competing with established industry giants. It is the chronicler's (@vampyrbladez) opinion that first two options be looked at for the MWF program's requirements.

 

[vampyrbladez]

MWF needs years of further R&D. This includes :

1) Research into GaN T/R modules for radars.

India has just set up a GaN foundry at IISc.

https://researchmatters.in/news/iisc-develops-india’s-first-e-mode-gallium-nitride-power-transistor

DRDO has successfully implemented a scalable GaAs AESA radar but missed out the offer for Tejas MK1A to ELTA 2052 AESA radar.

DRDO AAAU/UTTAM AESA Radar (~736 TRM ; 150 Km @ 2 msq target.



https://www.google.com/amp/s/defenceupdate.in/uttam-aesa-radar-everything-you-need-to-know/amp/

By comparison the ELTA 2052 (~1000 TRM) has a range of upto 180+ Km for a 1 msq target.

Bear in mind that size of radar may be reduced to fit the nose cone aperture of the Tejas. Thus performance would be almost similar

For MWF, we would need a GaN radar and DRDO has to ensure that one is ready to compete with what will most certainly be an alternate offering from either SAAB, ELTA or THALES.

I) SAAB

SAAB is leading the pack with their new ES-05 GaN radar and a prototype PS-05+GaN radar.

PS-05 + GaN Combination Prototype Radar

ES-05 GaN Radar



https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-...ipen-e-stores-releases-and-develops-gan-radar



https://www.overtdefense.com/2020/05/07/saab-completes-initial-airborne-trials-for-new-gan-aesa-radar-delivers-first-globaleye/

II) ELTA

https://www.iai.co.il/p/elm-2090s-spectra

ELTA has a Joint Venture with Lockheed Martin to produce GaN radar.

https://www.iai.co.il/elta-systems-joins-forces-lockheed-martin-offer-radar-ltamds-sense

So expect a follow up to the successful ELTA 2052 AESA Radar in GaN form.

III) THALES

THALES has an available GaAs solution in the form of the RBE-2 AA AESA radar which has been mounted on the F3 standard Rafale fighter jet. There are ~ 838-850 TRM on the aperture providing a 200 Km detection range.

In recognition of the emerging GaN market for fighter radars the Government of France has launched a program to procure the next 28 aircraft with limited F4 standard features and a further 30 with the complete features of the F4 standard.

https://www.defensenews.com/global/...ers-upgraded-rafale-warplanes-for-23-billion/



https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/grou...elop-new-connected-sensors-rafale-f4-standard

https://www.defense-aerospace.com/dae/sponsors/sponsor_rafale/img/fox3_19.pdf


Thus DRDO needs to come up with something new to be commercially competitive with the aforementioned product lines. A possible solution is the LRDE (DRDO lab) developed 16x16 element planner array antenna, TSA (Tapered slot antenna) AKA Vivaldi flared notch antenna was selected.

https://mark20x.blogspot.com/2018/11/is-lrde-developing-uwb-radar-for-amca.html

Corrections :

1) ES-05 GaAs Radar is NOT a GaN radar. However it has a swash plate, thus coverage is maximised.
Credit : @Tactical Frog

2) ELTA 2052 has no other radar range data available online except this source. These stats will be reduced due to the smaller radar aperture of the LCA Tejas MK1A.

h**ps://www.facebook.com/IndianDefenceNow/posts/hal-signs-tot-agreement-with-iai-for-elta-elm-2052-aesa-radarthe-agreement-will-/1584303018388387/

 

[bose]

Breaking news.

We dont have money.

__________________________

So simply order 10 squadrons of Tejas mk1a in total and be done with imported fighter drama.
Right now the best course would be to order more mk1a an go full throttle on mk2 MWF and Su-30mki upgrade.Order Netra AWACS 6-9 of them and purchase 12 MRTT A-330.

36 rafale would cost atleast 6 billion USD plus with long term spare support and weapons

It makes sense if HAL has the capability to produce 50 - 60 fighter jets in a single year ... It will take another 5 years to reach that capacity ....

Considering falling IAF squadron size ... IAF have to source fighter jets from multiple sources apart from IAF ...

 

[Bleh]

It makes sense if HAL has the capability to produce 50 - 60 fighter jets in a single year ... It will take another 5 years to reach that capacity ....

Considering falling IAF squadron size ... IAF have to source fighter jets from multiple sources apart from IAF ...

No that capacity already exists... We made 12 Su-30 per year until now, plus Hawk-i, plus seperate jigs for trainer Tejas.

Some modifications are required, but that will require orders.

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

Rawat’s statement on LCA over foreign fighter creates confusion





Published May 15, 2020 | By admin SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat said in an interview in New Delhi. that IAF will buy additional 83 jets, apart from an earlier deal for 40 aircraft, for $6 billion and also said that “The IAF is saying, I would rather take the indigenous fighter, it is good.” when asked about the global tender for jets under which IAF had plans to buy 114 jets from Global vendors like Boeing Co., Lockheed Martin Corp, JSC Rosoboronexport , Dassault, Eurofighter Consortium and Saab AB who have send their proposals for their fighter jets. Procurement of 114 jets from a foreign vendor was over 83 LCA-Tejas Mk1A jets which IAF had finalized with state-owned HAL and was due to be inked by now but was delayed due to CoVID-19 situation in the country. Amid recent calls by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who stressed the need to buy locally made products to boost an economy battered by the Covid-19 outbreak,it was expected that IAF might drop plans to buy from a foreign vendor. Defense Analysts have been urging IAF and MOD to cancel procurement of 114 jets under possible contract for $15 billion and instead focus on the construction of Tejas Mk1A and Tejas Mk2 which is under development. India presently has three active fighter jet programs Tejas Mk1A, Tejas Mk2, and AMCA, and state-owned ADA recently also proposed Twin-Engined ORCA fighter jet concept which is air force derivative of the TEDBF planned for the Indian Navy for Carrier-based Jet requirements

I think it's just 83 mk1A which he is mentioning. IAF won't accept 83+83 without improvements. 1a in itself was a compromise.
Even with 200mwf Tejasmk2 plan IAF had planned 114 mmrca to get technology that will be the future backbone of Indian avionics.
Or else just get another 72 Rafales and be done with mmrca farce and order 250 mk2.

 

[bose]

No that capacity already exists... We made 12 Su-30 per year until now, plus Hawk-i, plus seperate jigs for trainer Tejas.

Some modifications are required, but that will require orders.

We have to immediately fill the gap of falling squadrons... But IAF does not want more SU-30 MKIs ... HAL has challenges in scaling up the Tejas production ... Max it can go upto 36 per year to be attained in another 3 years time from now ... This is not enough ... Tejas MWF will take another 5 / 6 years out of production line ...

 

[shuvo@y2k10]

736 TRM with a track range of 150 km for 1m2 target was in 2015. Lot of improvements have been done after that even on the GaAs version. On the other hand GaN is getting matured. There is a high chance that later batches of MK1A will get this Uttam radar, since flight trials on Tejas prototypes are expected to be completed in 2022.