DRDO forced to ditch LCA Navy Mk2 for a cleansheet twin-engine fighter

[Deino]

ICYMI, India's principal military aircraft designer has just unveiled plans to design & build a twin-engine deck fighter for the IndianNavy's STOBAR aircraft carriers, placing a future 'hard-stop' to the ongoing LCA Navy program.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1197106186954272768

https://www.livefistdefence.com/201...k2-for-cleansheet-twin-engine-jet-design.html

 

[Deino]

Herr Leraar,

What does it mean for the successful Tejas program?

Will it now be only for airforce?

Would be nice to know your take!

Mangus

To admit ... only heaven knows

 

[YeBeWarned]

I remember some Indian member long time ago mentioned that IN already rejected LCA .. so it doesn't comes as a surprise to me .

 

[wali87]

The day is not far now, when HAL itself is going to reject its own creation.

 

[Philip the Arab]

IMO, it isn't a bad fighter for aircraft carriers because its an LCA compared to F-18, Mig-29K, Su-33, etc. If I had an navy with an aircraft carrier that needed aircraft on it I would choose the Tejas.

 

[Haris Ali2140]

IMO, it isn't a bad fighter for aircraft carriers because its an LCA compared to F-18, Mig-29K, Su-33, etc. If I had an navy with an aircraft carrier that needed aircraft on it I would choose the Tejas.

Indians said that LCA is overweight. How will it takr off from a carrier???

 

[Philip the Arab]

Indians said that LCA is overweight. How will it takr off from a carrier???

It is half the weight of Mig-29K, "overweight" is an excuse.

 

[Haris Ali2140]

It is half the weight of Mig-29K, "overweight" is an excuse.

Mig 29 has 2 engines.

 

[Philip the Arab]

Mig 29 has 2 engines.

It would work for naval operations, just trust me. The load would be reduced but it would work just fine.

 

[Haris Ali2140]

It would work for naval operations, just trust me. The load would be reduced but it would work just fine.

Are you talking about tejas naval version in its current form or with two engines???

 

[Philip the Arab]

Are you talking about tejas naval version in its current form or with two engines???

Current form, if you halved payload capacity, and other modifications it would be able to work. There are some downsides to that, but I would rather develop Tejas naval in 3 years than Mark 2 in 15 years.

 

[Indos]

Understandable. Tejas is a project of 1980's and has had its first flight in 2001. India needs a new program to nurture and develop their design expertise, particularly for Indian new engineer who dont have any design experience yet. The new program is needed to pass design experience own by their old designers into their young generation designer.

 

[KhanBaba2]

Developing a new plane for just 57 planes does not make sense. Procuring from outside would be much better.

 

[mike2000 is back]

The day is not far now, when HAL itself is going to reject its own creation.

ahahahah....got me laughing here.

 

[Indos]

Developing a new plane for just 57 planes does not make sense. Procuring from outside would be much better.

Actually it is AMCA program, AMCA program will develop fighter for both Air Force and Navy. So there will be no Tejas for Navy. If they develop different design from AMCA, it doesnt make any sense and indeed a dumb decision, unless you have aircraft carrier as many as US.