Despite Flaws, India to Induct Tejas Mark-1A Fighter

[Zarvan]

Each squadron of the Tejas Mark-1A will have about 16 to 18 aircraft.



New Delhi: At least seven squadrons of the indigenously-made Tejas Mark-1A will be inducted in the Indian Air Force to make up for the lack of fighters, despite its flaws. The aircraft continues to grapple with thrust issues, which restricts its weapon-carrying capabilities.

Top Defence Ministry sources have told NDTV that "The IAF needs to have a minimum number of aircraft at all times. Till the time indigenously-built Tejas Mark-2 is ready this is best option available." The IAF, it is learnt, has accepted the ministry's decision. Each squadron of the Tejas Mark-1A will have about 16 to 18 aircraft.


The Indian Air Force or IAF will be losing four squadrons of fighters - three MiG 21 squadrons and a MiG 27 squadron - this year and will be losing rest of the 10-odd squadrons of the vintage Russian-made MiGs in phases by 2022.

India is buying 32 Medium Multi Role fighters from France to make up for the lack of the fighters, but needs over 120 lightweight fighters to be used for air defence and intercept oncoming enemy aircraft.


Production of the Tejas Mark-1A can start immediately from the existing manufacturing facilities of the Defence public sector unit Hindustan Aeronautics Limited or HAL.

The Tejas Mark-2 or the improved version will not be ready for induction or series production before 2024-2025. Powered by the General Electric F404-GE-IN20 engine, the Tejas Mark-1A, is slightly more proficient than the current aircraft that is under series production, but continues to be marred with thrust issues. The Light Combat Aircraft MK-1 failed to meet the requirements of the IAF. Nonetheless, to keep the aircraft building programme alive, the IAF has agreed to buy 40 Tejas Mark-1.

Earlier, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India or CAG had pointed that Tejas Mark-1 had severe flaws and didn't meet many critical requirements of the IAF - these included limited "operational capabilities" besides being "overweight." The CAG report placed before houses of Parliament said "the LCA Mark-1 currently under development has shortfalls in meeting the engine thrust and other parameters such as weight of the aircraft, fuel capacity, pilot protection from front against 7.62 mm bullets."

The Defence Research and Development Organisation or DRDO and the HAL have promised to carry out changes that will make the Mark-1A more agile and more capable.

Sources told NDTV that changes will be made in the ballast and the landing gear making the Tejas Mark-1A about 1000 kilograms lighter from the current 6500 kilograms. Besides, Tejas Mark-1A would also be armed by Israeli made radars instead of the heavier but indigenously-made EL/M-2032 lightweight multi-mode radar.

Despite Flaws, India to Induct Tejas Mark-1A Fighter - NDTV

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

The aircraft continues to grapple with thrust issues, which restricts its weapon-carrying capabilities.

If they are shelving Mark I's empty weight of 6,500 kg by 1,000 kg then in that case GE F-404IN engine, which generates 84 kiloNewtons (kN) of peak thrust, would meet the IAF's performance requirements - the GE F-414INS6 engine's 98 kN of thrust would be needed only for the naval Tejas, which must take off from the short runway of an aircraft carrier deck.

Significant upgrade includes its EW package - ELTA EL/M 2052 is Solid-state active electronically scanned array (AESA) RADAR -

​

 

[zebra7]

If they are shelving Mark I's empty weight of 6,500 kg by 1,000 kg then in that case GE F-404IN engine, which generates 84 kiloNewtons (kN) of peak thrust, would meet the IAF's performance requirements - the GE F-414INS6 engine's 98 kN of thrust would be needed only for the naval Tejas, which must take off from the short runway of an aircraft carrier deck.

Significant upgrade includes its EW package - ELTA EL/M 2052 is Solid-state active electronically scanned array (AESA) RADAR -

​

Actually its the problem with the title itself FLAWED. the tejas mk1 still have to validate and certify certain parameters that means still it is meant to get FOC. In that sence does JF-17 have got its FOC.

 

[GURU DUTT]

If they are shelving Mark I's empty weight of 6,500 kg by 1,000 kg then in that case GE F-404IN engine, which generates 84 kiloNewtons (kN) of peak thrust, would meet the IAF's performance requirements - the GE F-414INS6 engine's 98 kN of thrust would be needed only for the naval Tejas, which must take off from the short runway of an aircraft carrier deck.

Significant upgrade includes its EW package - ELTA EL/M 2052 is Solid-state active electronically scanned array (AESA) RADAR -

​

any news on range increase of LCA after the intigration of quartz rodome and what is the range of EL-2052 and can it fit easily and work properlli on Tejas MK1A

 

[zebra7]

any news on range increase of LCA after the intigration of quartz rodome and what is the range of EL-2052 and can it fit easily and work properlli on Tejas MK1A

Even with the tejas mk2 the range won't be increase substantially. the combat range is 300-500 km which is not bad at all for the point defense and close support aircraft.

 

[mpk1988]

Finally. This should have been done ages ago. Induct, check all faults and improve. Not just keep it on the shelf and wait for it to be the best plane ever or something.

 

[GURU DUTT]

Even with the tejas mk2 the range won't be increase substantially. the combat range is 300-500 km which is not bad at all for the point defense and close support aircraft.

hey false flagger i was talking about detection range of tejas radar

even the given /classified range of tejas as told is with full load(4tonne+) not what it takes on a normal air to air combat sortie (1.5-2 tonnes) and that too in a very low altitude ...... work has already started on wieght reduation & better aero dynamicks profile which will further increase its combat radius

 

[Maarkhoor]

Finally. This should have been done ages ago. Induct, check all faults and improve. Not just keep it on the shelf and wait for it to be the best plane ever or something.

It is always safe to put under quality thing on shelf.

 

[zebra7]

hey false flagger i was talking about detection range of tejas radar

even the given /classified range of tejas as told is with full load(4tonne+) not what it takes on a normal air to air combat sortie (1.5-2 tonnes) and that too in a very low altitude ...... work has already started on wieght reduation & better aero dynamicks profile which will further increase its combat radius

The quartz radome is not meant to increase the range of the radar rather it allow the permiable material for the radar waves to transfer through them and to protect the radar from outside like wind. rain, wather, just etc.
Before that the composite radome was been used which was creating the problems for the radar to gets its full potential, thats why quartz radome was ordered. The range of ELTA radar I think is around 100 Km which is good.

KA Haal baa Guru Bhai, How was your banned period

 

[mpk1988]

It is always safe to put under quality thing on shelf.

It's under quality according to the lofty standards of the IAF. I mean planes like jf -17s and rotting Mig-21s are out there..

The Tejas is so much better than them. Hence, my post. That's how you learn and it is always so in engineering.

 

[Maarkhoor]

It's under quality according to the lofty standards of the IAF. I mean crap like jf -17s and rotting Mig-21s are still out there..

The Tejas is so much better than them. Hence, my post. That's how you learn and it is always so in engineering.

30 years development produce a fin less tailless chick still not cleared to fly may be after MK1000 directly deployed to museum.

 

[GURU DUTT]

The quartz radome is not meant to increase the range of the radar rather it allow the permiable material for the radar waves to transfer through them and to protect the radar from outside like wind. rain, wather, just etc.
Before that the composite radome was been used which was creating the problems for the radar to gets its full potential, thats why quartz radome was ordered. The range of ELTA radar I think is around 100 Km which is good.

100Km for a 2msq RCS target and most of PAF assets loaded (with missiles and external feul tanks) is way more than 3msq RCS now go figure add to that al aspect Python 5 , derby and I Derby ER AtoA missiles on Tejas MK1A still the OP started this thread

i had a good time collected a lot of masala during the jail term

 

[[Bregs]]

100Km for a 2msq RCS target and most of PAF assets loaded (with missiles and external feul tanks) is way more than 3msq RCS now go figure add to that al aspect Python 5 , derby and I Derby ER AtoA missiles on Tejas MK1A still the OP started this thread

welcome back

 

[zebra7]

100Km for a 2msq RCS target and most of PAF assets loaded (with missiles and external feul tanks) is way more than 3msq RCS now go figure add to that al aspect Python 5 , derby and I Derby ER AtoA missiles on Tejas MK1A still the OP started this thread

Are you sure about derby-i and python 5 for mk1 doesn't its astra and r73 Janab

 

[GURU DUTT]

Are you sure about derby-i and python 5 for mk1 doesn't its astra and r73 Janab

astra is still in testing and R73 was just a stop gap as when it was tested tejas dint had a radar intigrated but now with Israeli radar (in this case EL-2032) it works better with python5 & derby/i derbyER as they are lighter more accurate and have better range than R73