zebra7
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Hymn quiet intersteting post. Lets talk Lca first first the idea was to replace mig-21 and to keep up with the technological gap and developed the IPRs and setup the Aero industrial base that existed with the 15 year of obseulant after the Marut Saga. If we consider the LCA project than its not only the plane but the environment which was created with the establishments of various institutions, psu, spread across the country. Being democratic country and with the total life of the govt. of 5 years, with too much ifs and buts and supendofantastic Political parties, funds, land acquisition rules, work culture of 9am-5pm, ADA came up with the plane called LCA Tejas with its unique tailless Delta structure utilizing the expertise of composites, aerodynamic knowledge gained from the Marut's earlier work, and Engine technology which is only meant for couple of OEMs of US, Europe, and Russia , and the develop tech related to FBW, have worked extremely good job and their prescribed 1.2 Billion budget allotted and with the sword over the head for getting the whole project dumped with only one incidence of mishaps. Which country is able to develop such complex project in such Budget period. LCA is the project of not ADA but the group of hundereds of PSUs and more than 1000 suppliers/parties and oem involved. It was the step taken to bring back India into the picture of the country that can try to design/develop a fighter plane of its own.Quite an interesting point, well as far as the comparison of JF-17 and LCA goes, I've seen alot of the Indian members pointing the same thing again and again -- however like most of the other subjects the opinions of us members are tainted by patriotism ...
Some from the Pakistani side believe JF-17 is the "it" plane, that it is the cure for every problem that we face when it comes to IAF -- let's just start by admitting its not -- like every other aircraft it has its set of limitations that it has to face all of which are discussed to the death by critics and supporters alike on this forum ....
However when it comes to this "indigenous" battle, lets just say that a comparison is dishonest to begin with because one is supposedly an "indigenous" fighter project, the other from the outset has been termed a joint venture --
However when it comes to LCA and JFT, say project wise (Project A vs Project B), there is not even a comparison ---
JFT outperformed its expectations, it was supposed to be a low-mid tier economic fighter, yet today --- it just happens to be termed the "destiny of PAF" by none other then the airchief himself ... not simply because its a good platform, but for what it gives to PAF ... it gives a generation advantage over the fighters it replaces today ... It gives PAF the options to engage with other suppliers and integrate weapons of choice with freedom, it gives minimal problems when it comes to having strings attached ... it gives higher availability rates, low turn around times etc. ... and combine that with the fact that PAF is very pleased with the performance and the fact that it still remains true, to the original objectives of cost effectiveness that was laid down when the concept was conceived ...
For a nation like Pakistan, with no prior history of manufacturing jets at all, this is a MAJOR breakthrough and a success even if the indigenous content is 0.0000001% because it overshot the original goals that were laid down for it ..
However, when you look at LCA, you see the original idea revolving around having "indigenous" equipment, and with time lags that the project faced due to being committed to having that "indigenous content" the project fell apart ... to the point where the whole "indigenous content" objective took the back seat to short term fixes like getting inputs from industry giants just to get it work --- which I don't blame you for, because that would be the course of action any sane organization would take, after all there would be no use of "indigenous" equipment if it was a generation old when it was ultimately put in to service ... but ultimately, one of the main objectives of the project took a back seat, lets go further where is it now ... delayed again ... now the news is even more depressing -- The same IAF that was saying that it will take MK-II in numbers is now rumored to be settling for a less capable version in the MK-1 or a slightly upgraded MK-1A because the squadron strength of IAF is declining and you have a huge number of Mig-21's to replace and can't face any more delays ...
Now combine that with the fact that production in numbers is still a good 2 years away AT BEST --- what does it say about the project ?? -- that it's a success ?? now I wont say that it doesn't benefit your industry because that would be ignorant of me, however the fact remains that the LCA project wise is a laughing stock ...
these comparisons of .... "ohh look its more indigenous then your Thunder" are meaningless because by the time the full blown production of the LCA starts, the JFT project would be in the initial phases of up gradation by half a generation over what it currently is ...
With the misunderstanding of lot of the pakistani members this project was proposed by HAL to the govt in 80's but the govt decided to create ADA the developing and R&D entity to lead the project. The decision was taken that IAF will put its ASR and ADA will give the fissibility report so that funds could be released for building of prototypes. first IAF released its ASR after 8 years of that and then the fund was released in 1988 for ADA to present the govt with the fisibility report that India have the capability of building such complex project. In 1993 the fund was released for phase 1 to build the 2 prototype so that they could the proof of the project's concept.
Phase 2 started in 2001 to develop more prototype, testing and certification and validation of the avionics and control laws from flight data, and building their SP series aircraft. And in 2005 IAF gives its first order of 20 aircraft.
After the concept was validated and project defination reviewed, several projects were released in parallel like setting CLAW for the control law for FBW, MMR and Engine development etc. So the LCA project helps in the creation of several project which ultimately help India to develop various IPRs.
Now these details all know but if you see Indians choose the difficult/longer, painstaking but safer way and the approach and even there is dire requirement of the blank squadron to be filled but the approach taken in the development and the R&D was consistent and with planned steps, validation, re-validation, recheck, rechecked and reviewed in every steps . It can look long and people might make fun but this is the best approach and really helpful because one accident could take the LCA to the gallow.
If you go with the logic of the replacement of IAF's Mig-21, then in present IAF's LCA mk1 was way long able to do that even without attaining FOC but since ADA is only the desighner, HAL is the prime contractor to manufacture and IAF is the customer who is insisting to induct only after IOC and FOC i.e they want their planes ready to fire wvvram missile and LGP bombs from the very first day of induction. Hope you understand this simple thing. Does PAF had such Criteria befor inducting JF-17.
With the change of situations and conditions IAF presented another ASR with which they express the requirement of Tejas MK2 which could replace not only Mig 21 but also Mig 27, Jaguar and even Mirrage 2000.
Now if talk about JF-17 its the project that pakistan took by funding the Super Sabre project and took advantage by getting the product quickly which was almost developed by the industrial country who didn't needed that anymore and needed the funds to continue. Which obviously they got in the form of JF-17. Now 2 things arises, if Pakistan is the partner in this JV which offcource she joined late during the development and 50% rights of the plane which most of the pakistani members will agree does they have the 50% IPRs right of the aerodynamic flight datas, and the subsystems developed in conjustions of that. Or Pakistan have only 50% rights on the profits they earn with the export to other countries. This question about the IPR's right I am unable to find my friend till now. The one who think its a laughable stock should check the video should watch the video in which During the paris show how the reporters of Taiwan was denied to come close to JF-17 even when they were accompanied by the PAF personal, that shows the real master. Comparing Marut is so funny when all the R&D and development is in the country with the knowledge inherited to the later one.
can it be compared with mig 21 - No mig 21 is manufactured by hal from the raw material including engine.
can it be compared with jaguar - No Hal have all the jigs, dies, to make its airframe with raw material.
can it be compared with MKI - Same with the raw material to final product with indegenious mission computer, RWR, UHF voice, its more indian but never claimed indegenious by any Indians.
Now what was the aim of JF-17 and did she achieve that yes definitely they got the plane and the weapons they were deprived as explained above and does the Lca achieve its target Surely it have because IAF needed Tejas because if they needed MIG 21 bison, or Jaguar Hal have all the jigs and die to get the line rock and roll and if they want Mirrage 2000 there are various countries like UAE who would love to do that. or dassault wouldn't mind to place another line. And the man is the laughing stock who fails to digest the fact that the painful path is only for the first time and next block or the variable role of the product could be achieved more easily because if your BASE IS STRONG, YOU ARE STRONGER THAN THE ONE WHO EVEN DON'T HAVE ANY BASE BUT CHEST THUMB THE ACHIEVEMENT OF OTHERS.
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