11 things you didn't know about India's LCA fighter jet

[FOX80]

Tejas, India's first indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which is all set to replace the MiG-21 series, is a result of several years of design and development work from the DRDO.

What's special about India's own LCA? How does it rate on the global scale? We take a look at some lesser-known salient facts about the Tejas that set it apart from those in its league.

1. Best in its class :
According to Ravi Kumar Gupta, the Directorate of Public Interface at DRDO, 'Tejas is the best in its class in the world. It is a four plus generation aircraft.' Gupta said that it is 'not appropriate' to make a direct comparison of the Tejas with its global counterparts. 'It is a beautiful machine, designed for our own people,' he reiterated.

Gupta told that the technology used to manufacture the aircraft is such, that it 'will not go obsolete' for decades.


2. Four versions of the LCA :
DRDO is developing four versions of the LCA; namely LCA for Air Force, LCA trainer for Air Force, LCA for Navy and LCA Navy Trainer. DRDO has also developed a special facility in Goa, that mimics the conditions for a Tejas for Navy landing, take-off and manoeuvre from an aircraft carrier.


3. Mark-I type Tejas LCA :
While the Indian Air Force will induct Mark-I type Tejas LCA, a demand for Mark-II type Tejas has already been raised, which the DRDO is working on. The Mark-II type Tejas aircraft will have a higher capacity.


4. Features of stealth fighter aircraft :
DRDO's Gupta said that the Tejas has many features of stealth fighter aircraft. 'The wings are made entirely of composite structures. The contemporary aircraft has a totally digital fly-by-wire control system,' he said.


5. Unstable configuration :
Another feature that is special to Tejas is the 'unstable configuration' technique with which it has been built, said Gupta. 'To explain it in lay-man terms, between a bike and a car, a car is much more stable, but is unable to exhibit the same manoeuvrability as a bike. Combat aircraft need to be highly manoeuvrable.'

Gupta explained, that to strike a balance between the two aspects was a big technological challenge for the DRDO.


6. Unique features :
The Tejas also incorporates a 'glass cockpit' in which information is displayed 'real-time' to the pilot. 'Tejas also has open architecture software for avionics. DRDO can update it as and when required,' said Gupta citing the same as a big plus point of the aircraft.


7. Many missiles test-fired :
Through the years, DRDO has tested Tejas with different kinds of weaponry. From R-73 air-to-air missile to bomb dropping (including laser guided bombs), various weapons have been successfully test fired from the aircraft.

In future, DRDO also plans test firing of the indigenous Astra missile and guns from the Tejas.


8. Why the delay?
Asked about the much-talked about 'delay' in developing of the aircraft, Gupta said, 'It was only in 1993 that the proposal for development of Tejas was submitted. The maiden flight of Tejas took place in 2001. It took a total of 20 years from 1993 to 2013. This time period is the standard required by any country, even the most advanced ones,' he said.


9. Levels of testing :
Tejas, which is a single seater, single engine aircraft had to undergo multiple levels of testing, before it was finally declared ready. 'An aircraft has of fly 'n' number of times, in different conditions and environments, and at different angles of attack before it is declared fit,' Gupta said.

In 2013 alone, the Tejas has taken over 450 test flights.


10. Total cost :
The Tejas LCA Air Force versions have till date cost the DRDO approximately Rs 7,000 crore. According to Gupta this is a 'very small fraction' compared to the cost of other similar aircrafts in the world.

The production of aircraft is already underway and two aircraft of the production version of Tejas should be ready by the first half of 2014.


11. Future aircraft :
With a 'complete' ecosystem to design and build indigenous aircraft in place, the DRDO is now working on making advanced medium combat aircraft with twin engines.

 

[Norphisor]

12. It can't fly..

 

[Leviza]

5. Unstable configuration :
Another feature that is special to Tejas is the 'unstable configuration' technique with which it has been built, said Gupta. 'To explain it in lay-man terms, between a bike and a car, a car is much more stable, but is unable to exhibit the same manoeuvrability as a bike. Combat aircraft need to be highly manoeuvrable.

That is most funny as it can be

My bike is unstable as it need some maneuverability - classic
this person who advised him or tried to put in extra point never used a bike .... even for bikes to have classic maneuverability it need to be stable

height of putting drawback as feature ,.... we used to do this in IT colleges when our software does something different when it was not asked for

 

[livingdead]

bs article.

 

[Shak]

which part is made in pakistan sir... please let us know too.

 

[Janmejay]

Mr asshole. It's "made in Pakistan".

lol,we also make sukhoi's in India....

 

[egodoc222]

That is most funny as it can be

My bike is unstable as it need some maneuverability - classic
this person who advised him or tried to put in extra point never used a bike .... even for bikes to have classic maneuverability it need to be stable

height of putting drawback as feature ,.... we used to do this in IT colleges when our software does something different when it was not asked for

he is talking about delta wing config...which is unstable...more maneuverable.

 

[dray]

That is most funny as it can be

My bike is unstable as it need some maneuverability - classic
this person who advised him or tried to put in extra point never used a bike .... even for bikes to have classic maneuverability it need to be stable

height of putting drawback as feature ,.... we used to do this in IT colleges when our software does something different when it was not asked for

When you are in a defence forum, you are expected to know a few basic things, and when you don't know that, at least avoid posting so many smileys. Go Google about Unstable configuration, most modern fighters are of Unstable configuration, also google about fly-by-wire.

 

[Leviza]

When you are in a defence forum, you are expected to know a few basic things, and when you don't know that, at least avoid posting so many smileys. Go Google about Unstable configuration, most modern fighters are of Unstable configuration, also google about fly-by-wire.

keep your advice to yourself mate.... my post is not much about 'Unstable configuration' in it self but comparison done with bike .... which is really funny and that is the wrong comparison done .. you might not agree but this is a reality ...

 

[janon]

keep your advice to yourself mate.... my post is not much about 'Unstable configuration' in it self but comparison done with bike .... which is really funny and that is the wrong comparison done .. you might not agree but this is a reality ...

The analogy is perfectly valid. A motorike is NOT stable, and unless it is moving, it cannot stay upright without support. It needs a 'stand' or a human leg to support it. A car on the other hand is stable on its four wheels. However, the two wheeler is more manueverable.

Similarly, inherently unstable aircrafts are much more maneuverable, and that is why all modern aircrafts are designed to be aeerodynamically unstable.

12. It can't fly..

Then I wonder which aircraft this is, that flew in formation at bangalore today:

In fact, it has been flying since 2001. And today it was declared combat worthy, and in a year it will enter operational service. Yes, India has designed and built a modern fighter, which is something your country won't do for a long time to come. What you are doing with jf-17, India has been doing since the 60s. Burn baby, burn!

 

[Dash]

That is most funny as it can be

My bike is unstable as it need some maneuverability - classic
this person who advised him or tried to put in extra point never used a bike .... even for bikes to have classic maneuverability it need to be stable

height of putting drawback as feature ,.... we used to do this in IT colleges when our software does something different when it was not asked for

Do you know something called as Relaxed Static Stability called as RSS?

height of putting drawback as feature ,.... we used to do this in IT colleges when our software does something different when it was not asked for

and That is really funny.. good going!

 

[liall]

Did he just say it took 36 years to make? :O And it is still not operational? Well I guess its a first for our nation so it is k Hopefully they will deliver future projects before 2050 (Almost 36 years from now)

 

[Lil Mathew]

That is most funny as it can be

My bike is unstable as it need some maneuverability - classic
this person who advised him or tried to put in extra point never used a bike .... even for bikes to have classic maneuverability it need to be stable

height of putting drawback as feature ,.... we used to do this in IT colleges when our software does something different when it was not asked for

seriously what is the prob in that statement.. He clearly used the word '' in lay-man's" language.. That is for the understanding of a common uneducated (about aerodynamics) man he quoted that example ..

 

[Sergi]

Do you know something called as Relaxed Static Stability called as RSS?

Wrong RSS is nothing but evil Hindu organisation. It has nothing to do with flying

Sorry couldn't help

 

[IND151]

When you are in a defence forum, you are expected to know a few basic things, and when you don't know that, at least avoid posting so many smileys. Go Google about Unstable configuration, most modern fighters are of Unstable configuration, also google about fly-by-wire.

It is Negative Static Stability.

https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&r...YJ15g1pljGmMRn43uu0pMqg&bvm=bv.58187178,d.bmk