Only Dassualt could tell you the above but I can assure you that a STOBAR Rafale-M is going to be the fastest and simplest option for the IN available (discounting the MiG-29Ks they don't want). The N-LCA has barely started its carrier qualification (it hasn't even conducted an arrested landing just yet).
When a world class OEM like DA that has decades of experience in carrier fighter says they have modelled it and the Rafale is compatible with the IN's carriers I am inclined to buy it.
Thanks for your reply.
As far as I can fathom, any aircraft to takeoff from Ski-jump two parameters are most important i.e.
TWR and
Wing Loading.
TWR = Available Power in proportion to weight of aircraft to propel it to speed.
Wing Loading = How much weight per sq mtr of wing area has bear to lift aircraft in air. The lower the Wing Loading lesser the effort Aircraft has to exert to lift itself in Air. Higher the Wing Loading higher the Aircraft has to exert to lift itself in Air.
Lower Wing Loading Aircraft needs much smaller Runway to lift itself up from the Runway in comparison to Higher Wing Loading Aircraft having same thrust.
How much superior will be Rafale-M to Tejas MK-2 in above parameters.
Specification of Rafale-M
Empty Weight: 10600 Kg.
Internal Fuel: 4700 Kg.
Total Take-off Weight: 15300 Kg.
(Without any weapons load)
Wet Thrust: (2X75kN) = 150kN
TWR (Without any weapons load) = 0.98
Wing area: 45.7 m² (492 ft²)
So the
Wing Loading of Rafale-M with 15300Kg. = 334.7921 Kg/sq.mtr.
Specification of Naval Tejas-MK2
Empty Weight: 7000 Kg.
Internal Fuel: 3158 Kg.
Total Take-off Weight: 10158 Kg.
(Without any weapons load)
Wet Thrust: 98 kN.
TWR (Without any weapons load) = 0.965
Wing area: 38.4 m² (413 ft²)
So the
Wing Loading of Naval Tejas-MK2 with 10158Kg. = 264.5313 Kg/sq.mtr.
Rafale-M Naval Tejas-MK2
TWR: 0.98 0.965
(
Negligible difference in TWR of both the aircrafts)
Rafale-M Naval Tejas-MK2
Wing Loading: 334.7921 264.5313
(
Vast diff of 70.26087 Kg/sq.mtr. in favour of Naval Tejas-MK2)
Hence Rafale-M will be far inferior to Naval Tejas-MK2 in Ski-jump operations.
Please also fathom:
Rafale-M has to support 15300Kg weight with 4700Kg fuel with (50kNx2=100kN) military engine thrust.
And Naval-Tejas-MK2 has to support 10158Kg with 3158Kg fuel with 58kN military engine thrust.
Hence Rafale-M will be far inferior to Naval-Tejas-MK2 in combat range. Because where Naval-Tejas-MK2 will be burning 3158Kg fuel for 50kN and weight 10158Kg while cruising. Rafale-M will be burning 4700Kg fuel with 100kN (Twin Engine) and weight 15300kg while cruising.
Caveat: As Naval-Tejas-MK2’s specifications are not clear till now, I made above calculations on following assumptions.
1) Empty Weight of Tejas in current format + 500 Kgs of weight increase in MK-2 format. i.e. 6500+500 = 7000 Kg empty weight.
2) Fuel Capacity of Tejas in current format + 700 Kgs of increase in capacity due to enlargement of Fuselage and volume increase in fuselage due realignment of landing gear from current fuselage position to wing roots.
3) Wing Area of Tejas Remains the same as on MK-1.
Please correct the above premise where you feel it is wrong.
*My only worry is - Naval-Tejas-MK-1 passes the Arrester Wire Landing without any trouble.
