Few Countries will be briefed on LCA-Tejas: Source

[Manas]

Some fellow Indians are not willing to give us credit for paint job let alone bolts you are being generous now
Careful there .. Devals might send men to check your patriotism
If Jf17 was purely Chinese then it would have looked like an existing mig clone . its performance in airshows gives us a hard-on .
Your jet got to be good due to bucket load of western components but air display didn't do justice to plane
In your heart you agree but won't say it out loud

Dekh bachu , Dil tham key dekh the way the commentator was gushing about LCA Tejas 2nd day flight ! )

 

[AMCA]

Its always a Feel Good Moment to know that a foreign country has shown interest in your indigenous solution. LCA Packs in all what an air force requires in introducing its fleet to the 21st century standards. The advantage LCA has over other low cost alternatives is that it can be configured with any weaponry they choose not matter which country it is from(Thanks to our software Engineers and strong foreign Policy). LCA will soon boast of technologies which only a few countries have in their front line fighters like OBOGS, AESA etc and can eventually be transferred to the foreign customer should they be requiring it.

Customization is totally in the Hands of India with no foreign player to intervene and that is a huge bonus for the customer which only a few western countries and of course China can boast of.

 

[Alpha Fighter]

A thought for you (and other Indians) to ponder over. How come Pakistan tested its nukes decades after India but ended up with more nukes than India just a few years later, and, how comes Pakistan launched its JF-17 Thunder aircraft program decades after India but inducted 66 aircrafts years before India could induct the 35% indigenous LCA Flying Rickshaw?

After 4Yeas India and pak will have same no of planes. India will have most of the fleet with AESA , PAK will be developing blocks.

India has more heavy Nukes Vs Light yield nuke of Pak. Plus India reserve of aroud 300 -400 nukes are also in place.

 

[Irfan Baloch]

Just cause you think that it did not do justice? A Pakistani at that?

When the same Pakistani says that Tejas is nothing Indian. When he cannot list what in JF17 is Pakistani, when we see such pictures in China

What is the credibility of this Pakistani in such a case for Indians. Zilch, nada!

of course it didnt.
posting a picture of JF-17 wont hide the fact would it?
with a large laundry list of foreign items in Tejas.. any aviation enthusiast (forget Pakistanis) expected more from tejas..
come on GE engine, composite material.. fancy this fancy that.. ..

 

[Peshwa]

of course it didnt.
posting a picture of JF-17 wont hide the fact would it?
with a large laundry list of foreign items in Tejas.. any aviation enthusiast (forget Pakistanis) expected more from tejas..
come on GE engine, composite material.. fancy this fancy that.. ..

When you say "expected more", can you put those expectations into words? Can you please lay a benchmark for comparison?

Besides, I'm yet to come across an article (from an unbiased news source) that has accorded the Tejas flight as leaving much to be desired...except of course "unbiased" Pakistanis on this forum who seem to have passed this judgement..

 

[asia2000]

Is LCA 4++ generation or 4++++ generation?
Apart from the pilot what is Indian input in this plane?

I donot quite get how generation is defined. Is 4++ or 4++++ better than 4? If so, does that mean Su35mki (4th gen) is less capable than LCA?

 

[SamantK]

of course it didnt.
posting a picture of JF-17 wont hide the fact would it?
with a large laundry list of foreign items in Tejas.. any aviation enthusiast (forget Pakistanis) expected more from tejas..
come on GE engine, composite material.. fancy this fancy that.. ..

Aviation enthusiast would at least know what to compare and and what not to compare. A jet which is imported in knocked down kits is being compared to a jet which was home grown is stupid, yes?

Just because there are foreign items, it should perform like a F-16? Lol

Our first attempt at a complex weapon system and it has already demonstrated that it has performed well. Now, it cannot go down from here, lot many challenges were faced and overcome that is what makes it worthwhile for us.

 

[Grevion]

I donot quite get how generation is defined. Is 4++ or 4++++ better than 4? If so, does that mean Su35mki (4th gen) is less capable than LCA?

4th generation of fighter planes were mostly designed during the 80's and the 90's. Later on improvement in avionics and performance made them 4++ generation which is close to 5th generation of fighter planes without some important characteristics such as stealth and high performing air frames and engines.
F-16, sukhoi-27, mig-29, F-18, etc were build as a 4th generation planes.
Later F-16IN version could be called as a 4++ generation plane due to AESA radar and advanced avionics.
While Rafale, mig-35, sukhoi-35 and EF Typhoon are 4++ generation planes.
Sukhoi 35 is a air superiority fighter while tejas is build as a point interceptor.(so you can't compare both)

 

[damiendehorn]

It's going to be tough to sell the LCA to potential buyers for a variety of reasons.

1. The LCA has been in development for far too long and it will most likely be early to mid 2020s by the time the export version is available.
2. HAL the prospective manufacturer has very little experience in sale/marketing when it comes to exports and not too good of a reputation for support / supplies.
3. The fact that a large portion of the plane is sourced from various suppliers, US, UK, EU, Israel etc is a hinderance to potential buyers....don't expect mid east buyers to order a plane with israeli hardware and software. Many other countries may be refused export certificates from supplier governments etc. Integrating alternate equipment into such a small frame will increase the price substantialy.
4. Right now there are either cheaper or better alternative readily available, F-50, JAS-39, mig-35, JF-17 etc even reconditioned/upgraded late model F-16s....for $40+m per unit....there's options.

 

[Peshwa]

It's going to be tough to sell the LCA to potential buyers for a variety of reasons.


3. The fact that a large portion of the plane is sourced from various suppliers, US, UK, EU, Israel etc is a hinderance to potential buyers....don't expect mid east buyers to order a plane with israeli hardware and software. Many other countries may be refused export certificates from supplier governments etc. Integrating alternate equipment into such a small frame will increase the price substantialy.
.

So the same problems faced by the Gripen, F-35 or even the JF-17 no?
What makes LCA the exception?

With regards to the highlighted, the LCA is built on an open platform, ie. it can be modified to the user. Israeli components are for the Indian needs..they can easily be replaced. so that shouldnt be a problem.

Though I will agree with point 1 and 2 in your post...those are definite problem areas.
Anyways..the LCA is not ready for export by any means...anyone claiming otherwise is fooling themselves.

 

[Ind4Ever]

Weapon trails by July... Along with bramose A on su30

Any news on Weapon trials.. BVR firing.. Suppose to happen in Jamnagar when LSP7 is back right?
And any confirmation for Singapore Air Show?

Briefing is a good development but we need to get our act together on Tejas quickly. We need our jets..

 

[nair]

The best threads in PDF are the one's which has jf 17/LCA in the title.....

 

[desimorty]

I donot quite get how generation is defined. Is 4++ or 4++++ better than 4? If so, does that mean Su35mki (4th gen) is less capable than LCA?

Source: https://defence.pk/threads/few-coun...-lca-tejas-source.419564/page-4#ixzz3yZ9KtxNB

Generation in terms of electronic warfare. Like I said. Electronics are constantly being updated as well as EW eq. They evolution of streamlined cockpits is still being done. Imagine all aspect observation and tracking. Stealth will be of limited use against othe stealth aircraft. PAK-FA is going to be designed for something like this in mind. As for the Tejas, its a 4 gen airframe very similar to Rafale albeit with a much lower wing loading and weight. The electronics will keep getting updated. Once the engine is the F-414 than the Tejas will have limited super cruise.

 

[damiendehorn]

So the same problems faced by the Gripen, F-35 or even the JF-17 no?
What makes LCA the exception?

With regards to the highlighted, the LCA is built on an open platform, ie. it can be modified to the user. Israeli components are for the Indian needs..they can easily be replaced. so that shouldnt be a problem.

Though I will agree with point 1 and 2 in your post...those are definite problem areas.
Anyways..the LCA is not ready for export by any means...anyone claiming otherwise is fooling themselves.

Most modern projects are based on open architecture, thats nothing special. As it is an export version of the LCA will be roughly $40m when you factor in the development costs..IAF have been quoted $26m...integrating and testing replacement systems will increase the price further, negating any cost advantage the LCA would have had.

The main selling piont of the original concept was a advanced yet light and inexpensive fighter that was easy to use. Why would a middle eastern buyer spend $40-45m on such fighter from an unknown source, when they can buy say a mig 35, F-50 or JAS-39?

 

[Peshwa]

Most modern projects are based on open architecture, thats nothing special. As it is an export version of the LCA will be roughly $40m when you factor in the development costs..IAF have been quoted $26m...integrating and testing replacement systems will increase the price further, negating any cost advantage the LCA would have had.

The main selling piont of the original concept was a advanced yet light and inexpensive fighter that was easy to use. Why would a middle eastern buyer spend $40-45m on such fighter from an unknown source, when they can buy say a mig 35, F-50 or JAS-39?

You skipped answering my query wrt. Point #3 which I specifically quoted and focussed on...Your response would be appreciated.

Wrt. to your current point. I do agree that at $40-$45 MM a pop, the price is not lucrative...
Nevertheless, this price is obviously based on the current configuration which includes the Indian requirements, ie. fully loaded..
Potential buyers if any will obviously consist of mostly third world countries...I do not believe that the export version will field each and every component that exists within aircraft as it currently stands...
Next,...exports usually start once economies of scale are achieved..At that point, the price should come down further..without going into if and when Indian sub systems become available for replacement in the current platform.

Nevertheless, we arent there yet...but you raise good points, and certainly something to consider if Export is a consideration for HAL.
Personally, I dont think this aircraft is meant for export...I think it should suffice as a stop gap measure/learning platform for the IAF.