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Finally, Decks Cleared For $5.2 Billion LCA Tejas Fighter Order

The Ronin

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And it’s done! Phew. In what will be the biggest, and most industrially crucial contract for indigenous aviation, the Indian MoD today cleared the decks for a long-anticipated $5.2 billion deal for 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fighters in the Mk1A configuration.

In a statement, the MoD said, “While orders of 40 Tejas aircraft had been placed with HAL in initial configurations, DAC paved the way for procurement of 83 of the more advanced Mk1A version of the aircraft from HAL by finalising the contractual and other issues. The proposal will now be placed for consideration of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). This procurement will be a major boost to ‘Make in India’ as the aircraft is indigenously designed, developed and manufactured with participation of several local vendors apart from HAL.

Significantly, the $5.2 billion price tag (it could be slightly lower finally) is a at least $1.3 billion lower than proposed cost when the IAF and HAL began sanction paperwork in 2016. Unsurprisingly, it was cost that held the deal up, with the lower unit rate helping ease the deal through. Also of significance, HAL has managed to see decks cleared before the financial year is out, though it remains to be seen if contract signature beats the March 31 FY deadline.

Livefist detailed the LCA’s Mk1A configuration in this 2016 piece, which lists the improvements and capabilities that the Indian Air Force had agreed on for the variant. As the piece says, the improvements are split between capability, systems and maintainability. According to HAL, the first LCA Mk1A will be in the air by 2022, with series production starting a year later, a full squadron delivered by 2025 and, with sustained manufacture rate of 16 aircraft or more per year, deliveries completed by or before 2029.

The Indian Air Force’s 45 Squadron ‘Flying Daggers’ began inducting LCA Tejas Mk.1 jets in 2016 in the initial operational clearance (IOC) configuration. The first final operational clearance (FOC) configured jet, which includes an aerial refueling probe and beyond visual range missile (BVRAAM Derby) capability, took off for the first time yesterday in Bengaluru. Both capabilities have been proven since 2016. Sixteen of the FOC form part of the first order for 40 jets. The 83 Mk.1A jets will add to this fleet, spawning six IAF squadrons.

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A year ago, Livefist editor Shiv Aroor did a back-seat sortie in LCA Tejas Prototype Vehicle-5 with chief of the National Flight Test Centre Air Vice Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari. Livefist has also steadily advocated the speedy entry of the LCA Tejas into service.

With 123 LCA Tejas jets now spoken for (well, when contract signature takes place in weeks from now), the focus shifts to the future of the program. As Livefist has reported, there’s an important fork in the road: either the government can choose to press ahead with the low-risk LCA Mk.2 (designated Medium Weight Fighter last year), or look to a much more time/cost risky twin-engine ‘Super Tejas’ proposal, borne from compulsions in the Indian Navy’s deck-based LCA requirements.

Apart from the next steps in the LCA Tejas program, the IAF’s focus on the fifth generation AMCA program is all set to spike as well. Livefist has a detailed report soon on what’s ahead on that most crucial aviation project.

https://www.livefistdefence.com/202...DTtc8fPgdW9UFC2zrX6k3JfzpCePhAAi6XFgSv-xDry8o
 
They should dedicate all to Tejas MK2, there is no way they can do AMCA in time. Just hope that Russia succeeds with SU57 and import those. At the same time, start focusing on 6th gen fighters.
 
Second squadron of LCA Tejas would be stationed at Pathankot or any other base on Western border... will replace MiG 21...
 
What prevents? Are there any differences in their fuselages?

Well i do know that they have reduced the weight of the aircraft by 1000kg, that must have involved making changes to the fuselage. But even if that wasn't a case, there are around 20-30 improvements over mk1, it is unlikely that can ever been accommodated in an upgrade.

Yes , they can be. Other than IFR - rest all the improvements will be upgraded to IOC as well. IFR will be done in MLU.

Huh, please tell me how an "upgrade" will reduce the weight of the aircraft by 1000 kg?
 
Yes , they can be. Other than IFR - rest all the improvements will be upgraded to IOC as well. IFR will be done in MLU.

Upgrading will happen... but not soon...

Planned upgradation of MKI is halted because we have developed/developing local capabilities...
 
Well i do know that they have reduced the weight of the aircraft by 1000kg, that must have involved making changes to the fuselage. But even if that wasn't a case, there are around 20-30 improvements over mk1, it is unlikely that can ever been accommodated in an upgrade.



Huh, please tell me how an "upgrade" will reduce the weight of the aircraft by 1000 kg?

Where did you get this figure of 1000KG from ? No - there is very minimal weight reduction if any. Even the ballast remains - that was supposed to be removed. FOC - improvements can be broadly categorized into improvements and maintainability.
Out of improvements - munitions , BVR missiles and centerline tank can be easily accomodated into FOC. Some new LRU's that are present in FOC , can also be fitted into IOC (it may take some more time - but can be done) , Features such as zoom climb are all software changes and they can be accomodated. Envelope exapansion for improved AoA - is a algorithmic change which can be done on IOC as well. Main critical change which will take time is IFR - that will be MLU.

There are no structural changes to fuselage !
 
Can the first batch of 40 fighters be upgraded to MK1A standards?
They can but that is unlikely at the moment. HAL wants to focus on deliveries of Mk-1A while simultaneously working ith ADA to fastrack the development of MWF

Huh, please tell me how an "upgrade" will reduce the weight of the aircraft by 1000 kg?
In Mk-1A? Can you post a source?
 
Well i do know that they have reduced the weight of the aircraft by 1000kg, that must have involved making changes to the fuselage. But even if that wasn't a case, there are around 20-30 improvements over mk1, it is unlikely that can ever been accommodated in an upgrade.



Huh, please tell me how an "upgrade" will reduce the weight of the aircraft by 1000 kg?

Its not 1000 KGs, it can't be specially with heavy AESA radar. They did reduce the weight but only by 200-300 kgs. Even trainers weigh 5.5-5.8 tons and to avoid any structural limitations and failures this was the most optimized weight redction they wer able to do. SO mk1A will be around 6.2 ooo kgs

Finally i can say this FOC bird look lethal at-last ;)
 
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