Naval LCA Tejas

[sasum]

It will also showcase Indian technology maturity with aircraft design.

Definitely, it is a useful technology to go for. Not only ship, this kind of aircraft has its advantages in mountain ranges and forested areas, like naxal infested Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, W.Bengal to fight insurgency, move police personnel etc.

 

[HariPrasad-1]

200 m launch is great. Recently, Tejas also demonstrated very short take off capability at Bahrain airshow. With demonstration of ski jump launch from maximum possible length on carrier i.e 200 m, NLCA is now half way mark.

But dummy approaches to recovery area is interesting. Since, there is still no three colour light at nose gear, which can be clearly seen in all the pics of NP-1 & 2, i am more than sure that these test were aimed at testing different settings (deflection angles) of LEVCON. And LEVCON is a very interesting control surface. In general it allows NLCA to approach to recovery area at lower speeds(~140 knots) than Tejas; which touches runway at around 100 knots higher. But in particular, LEVCON is a control surface which generates greater lift at same speed with Tejas. Which in other words meas NLCA has better AoA performance than Tejas, smaller STR, lesser drag and better low level flying ability. In tactical terms NLCA has better dog fight performance, low level penetration capability and range than Tejas.

Now, comes the NLCA MK-2; which will have greater thrust, lesser weight, lesser drag, more fuel load, which in a tactical sum total will make it a clear winner in the LCA family, as well as in international light fighter market (not considering Mig-29 SMT and F-16 block 52 onward). This brings me to wonder, why IAF is still cold on asking a Land based variant of NLCA MK-2 which will definitely be lighter than deck based variant considering the fact that deck landing requires extra strengthening which puts lot of weight on airframe? Joint development will only make the project more smooth during development.

PS. Just look at the size of LEVCON. Argument that it is just an extension of 'Slates' couldn't be more flawed.

Exactlythis is what I have been advocating for quite a while. Apart from other factors, Naval Tejas is more aerodynamic as well. It has lavcon, better visibility and MK2 is perfectly sized to exploit the full potential and reducing the wave drag. Landing gears are pushed little outside to release the space in fuselage. It has elevated cockpit which is very important from the point of view of reducing the drag. Recent research paper which suggested 8% aerodynamic improvement has this component as main change to improve aerodynamic performance. remember the first Deck flight. It struck a phenomenal climb rate and somewhere 21.7 of AOA in first flight. MK2 Navy will have a powerful engine and a great fuel fraction. It will have a great range as well. I want Airforce tejas to be curved out of Naval tejas Mk2 . It shall certainly be in Gripen NG class. We cam curve out Tejas MK3 (Stealth version) as well from Naval Mk2.

 

[pmaitra]

Air duct intake pipe in case of buried engine is designed in consonance with engine design. Effort is to reduce the Ram air pressure to the level of static pressure at the mouth of fan blade. This is achieved by modifying geometry of intake duct design with the help of Ramp. Spikes and Shocks are additional obstructions to reduce incoming air pressure. Usually, intake duct is designed keeping in mind the engine dimension. In case of pitot duct (exposed engines hung from pylons under wings), sensors control the airflow thru veins.
Since, reducing ram pressure is easier, aircraft designers tend to opt for big-mouth air-duct, compromising with RCS and risking sucking in foreign objects.
View attachment 8619

Nice set of diagrams.

The diagram (c) is the one used in the MiG-21.

 

[sasum]

Nice set of diagrams.

The diagram (c) is the one used in the MiG-21.

Really? Thanks for the information

 

[HariPrasad-1]

The F414 weighs more & requires higher airflow which means larger air intakes - which upsets the CoG & reduces the amount of wing area available to generate lift (which in turn requires larger wings),

This can not be the truth because we have seen a lots of enlargement of air inlet starting from earlier PV to LSP 8. Leading scientist have on record said that Air intake redesigns will not be required for GE 414. inlate enlargement do not come at a cost of wing lift surface reduction.

 

[sasum]

You can find more of his photos here : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1015871571820269.1073742084.400275330046566&type=3

His own site : http://www.hesja.pl/XPL/galeria/show/69

I checked his website. There are many picture-postcard like photos. This one caught my attention. Can you identify it for me please? Seems a cargo plane !!

 

[Gessler]

I checked his website. There are many picture-postcard like photos. This one caught my attention. Can you identify it for me please? Seems a cargo plane !!
View attachment 8655

It's the Aero Spacelines Super Guppy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aero_Spacelines_Super_Guppy

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Naval LCA compare to IAF Tejas ..

 

[BON PLAN]

beauty and a beast .........................................................................

More beast than beauty on this angle.

Not very smooth this fuselage....

 

[Kunal Biswas]

==================================

I checked his website. There are many picture-postcard like photos. This one caught my attention. Can you identify it for me please? Seems a cargo plane !!
View attachment 8655

 

[Kunal Biswas]

LCA Naval Tejas at DefExpo 2016


Published on Mar 31, 2016
LCA Naval Tejas at DefExpo 2016

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Published on Dec 31, 2014
Full 1080p HD Video - The first prototype of the light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas Naval version - LCA NP-1 completed its first flight as the part of the carrier compatibility tests at the shore-based test facility in Goa.

 

[Shadow]

......................................................................

 

[abingdonboy]

NP-2 at the INS Hansa's SBTF:

 

[Shadow]

................................................................

 

[abingdonboy]

NP-1 (I assume) taking off from the ramp at the SBTF:

 

[Rahul Singh]

NP-2 at the INS Hansa's SBTF:

Great to see LEVCON being employed during take off. This jet is maturing fast. Data generated by MK-1 is gona help greatly in shortening the test period of MK-2.

 

[Prashant12]

Arrested recovery landing next big test for NLCA......

Read more at: http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news...next-big-test-for-nlca-english-news-1.1091295

 

[Prashant12]

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[Kunal Biswas]

During the April campaign at SBTF, NP-2 demonstrated the fuel jettison test successfully.Radar and data link too tested, In the last campaign, preliminary evaluation of air-to-sea mode of the radar was carried out to gather data. The data link (only on naval version) evaluation was carried out with the Sea Harrier in flight. Sea Harrier also had the same data link of NLCA.

Hot refueling routinely carried out in Goa, The hot-refueling concept, widely tested in Bengaluru, was continuously been carried out in Goa on NP-2.

Source : http://www.oneindia.com/india/lca-naval-platforms-begin-night-flying-from-sbtf-in-goa-2107949.html