HAL Tejas | Updates, News & Discussions-[Thread 2]

[samlove]

Did they sent the naval versions too?

no

 

[PARIKRAMA]

Did they sent the naval versions too?

No sir, no naval version no LIFT...
but Brochure and display would surely carry those products for marketing purpose and sharing progress of LCA as a family of fighters of all needs..

 

[sudhir007]

Well this will be a moot point when operationalised bro as naturally every LCA (IAF or IN version) will have to have BVR capability when entering service.

+ the two (IAF) LCAs when they return to Jamnaghar will be conducting Derby and Python firing tests.

when we have 10-12 PV+LSP then why we are waiting for these 2.
Dnt understand the philosophy of HAL or ADA

 

[sathya]

when we have 10-12 PV+LSP then why we are waiting for these 2.
Dnt understand the philosophy of HAL or ADA

Not sure that many nose cones arrived from cobham .

Latest batch with most widened flight envelop probably having the new nose cone.

Mk1A will be based on naval platform I think we are holding back triumph card.

 

[PARIKRAMA]

Cross posting from another forum.. Credit to original poster Abhi9 and Abhishek

Tejas at Bahrain air base.

Q: Why we reached one week before show, Are we going to fly beforehead.
A: Practice. We, at Bangalore at height which is not same as Bahrain. The diff in altitudes do impact the low level flyings. Makes lots of sense to practice to the inch perfect before the real show begins.

@Abingdonboy

 

[PARIKRAMA]

Some interesting snippets from Tejas FB page all in Jan 2016.. They do answer questions !!!

Address: Tejas - LCA

Q: Whats MK1A
A: Tejas - LCA MK1A will primarily address the maintenance issues plus the gun integration, AESA radar integration, BVR integration (whenever IAF gives a clear indication on the kind of BVR) etc..

Q: what are the potential BVR missiles under consideration? Derby + Astra?
A: Tejas - LCA ASTRA for sure. LCA Derby will be for the naval version.

Q: how the new quartz radome frm cobham test is going on. Any timeline for SP-2 in coming days.
A: Tejas - LCA SP 2 will come up soon. Cobham radome ground integration checks are over. The actual flight testing will commence soon.

Q: question related to CG. Is Mk1 still flying around with a 300kg ballast. Or is this a modern myth.
A: Tejas - LCA Flies with ballast but the no is not this big in number.

Q: And this is expected to come down after the IFR probe is bolted on? Is it likely that this ballast is completely done away with restructuring and reorganizing the LRUs/MLG on the Mk1A. Reports claim so. I have learnt not to believe reports. Of course. I just meant ballast commiserate to the weight of just the probe to be added will come off
A: Tejas - LCA You are absolutely right, Sir. The IFR probe will reduce the ballast weight. As currently, only the prototypes are flying, the ballast is a variable. Once, the final version, rather the frozen SOP starts flying, things will streamline. Sir, the last of the LSPs are getting modified for the IFR probe.

Q: Your gun integration on Mk1A has fluttered some feathers. Won't Mk1 have a gun?
A: Tejas - LCA The gun integration was initially part of mark1. However, will be done post FOC thereby appropriately for mark 1A.
All other programs, gun is the first store to be integrated onto a fighter simply because the uncertain modifications it demands post testing. The other program houses will never reveal the experiences which they have earned in a harder way. Same is applied to us too.
However, the initial integration activity shows promise. It is only a matter of when will the prototype be offered to carry out the modifications.

Q: what is the reason for the slow integration of the sp series aircraft been waiting for the sp 2 and 3...also are we moving closer wrt to naval lca LG weight issue
A:Tejas - LCA You are right. The undercarriage issue has been creating sort of delay in everything. The sp1 not flying is one of them. However, the issue has been left behind and things will be better in the days to come.

Q: Is it true that there are issues with the landing gear..there were some news reports about this..(dint believe the reports..)
A :Tejas - LCA Please understand that any design bound to have problems and remains to be seen how do we solve it. All the aircraft programs all over the world have undergone this process. Yes, there were problems and got sorted out too. Please be assured that the correct picture can be seen only when it is seen and understood from close quartet. Reports are always exaggerated or according to the convince to the reporting agency.

Q: There are press reports that LSP-4/7 that're off to Bahrain Air show, would perform the BVR firing (Derby) tests for FOC after they have returned from it (i.e. post 23-Jan). Question is, does this mean that LSP-4/7 are already retrofitted with Cobham built quartz radomes - or are they going to go ahead with BVR testing with the old ASLs Kevlar based radome?
A: Tejas - LCA Lsp4 and lsp7 are heading for bahrain and on the return leg, lsp7 will fire bvr. Cobham radome ground testing is on. Flight test will commence soon. BVR firing is without this.

Q: why are we experiencing delay in SP manufacturing.By now we should have 4 SP flying.Is there change in plan as to Whether these SP will IOC or FOC standard or are these modified to SOP-18 fighter.Please clarify ,i hope its the latter.
A: Tejas - LCA The directive as of now is that the first 20 ac will be with present configuration. The rest no is with SOP-18. This is,a wise decision looking at the time line HAL is seeking. The mark 1A needs all heavy gun's interference and an honest dedicated effort from all to realize.
And coming to delay in SP is because there are still grey areas in getting the finalized production version of all the components. The no runs to couple of thousands. All said done, delay is primarily because of lack of a clear cut directive. If you look at mirage 2000 induction, the integration of sensors was a continuous process whereas it is expected from tejas to have everything in the beginning itself, which is a tough ask.

Q: Will 4 SPs be produced by end of this financial year as per the target?
A: Tejas - LCA That's the target. 3 is a possible no.

Q: sir, regarding sop18 or mk1a is it really true we are looking to reduce weight of aircraft by 800kgs??
A: Tejas - LCA I doubt this figure, sir.

Q: What are issues with LCA for integration of gun ? As it is very important for any fighter jet.
A: Tejas - LCA Priorities. As of now, proving the capabilities to fire a BVR has taken the attention. Air Force is not much keen on GSH-23.

Q: In earlier post you mentioned integration of Gsh 23 is deferred. I thought ground runs of gun firing from Tejas has been already done? So what has been deferred, is it in flight test firing of gun or actual gsh 23 has been removed all together from LCA, for now?
>Are private companies being roped in for commercial production of numerous components?
>Last what missile the Tejas is carrying on outboard pylons? Doesnt seem r73 or even python, are they smoke generator pods?
A: Tejas - LCA Answer to q1 - you are right. The ground integration checks called butt firing tests have been done. The required structural mod also have been done. The prototype has been identified. It is the directive of IAF towards FOC requirement has been under discussion.
Answer to q2 will be political from our side, hence would like to avoid. Hope, you excuse us..
Answer to Q3 - yes, they are smoke winders normally uninstalled to produce smoke during demonstrations and specific flight testing task.


@Abingdonboy @MilSpec @Water Car Engineer @Skull and Bones @nair @anant_s @SR-91 @surya kiran @sathya @Roybot @Levina @ranjeet @AUSTERLITZ @SpArK @[Bregs] @knight11 @jaiind @Ankit Kumar @mkb95 @sarjenprabhu @others

 

[[Bregs]]

2016 is going to be moment of reckoning for tejas lets hope for the best

 

[W@rwolf]

Important points to be noted from the above interview:

1. He said "Astra for Mk-1A and Derby for N-LCA". Does that mean the Mk-1 is getting only the Python-5 for now? I thought Derby integration was going on?

2. New radome integration and ground tests over. Flight test will begin soon.
3. IFR probe integration ongoing.
4. IAF isn't giving priority to gun operationalization for now. Butt firing tests completed, Preliminary structural modifications done. Work to be completed post FOC.
5. Undercarriage issue partly responsible for the SP airframes rollout delay. Temporarily fixed.
6. LSP-7 will undertake the BVR trials at Jamnagar after returning from BIAS.
7. First 20 airframes to be in present configuration (presuming it to be FOC)
8. Total number of airframes produced within this financial year - Target = 4, Realistically = 3.

 

[SUDIP]

Q: how the new quartz radome frm cobham test is going on. Any timeline for SP-2 in coming days.
A: Tejas - LCA SP 2 will come up soon. Cobham radome ground integration checks are over. The actual flight testing will commence soon.

This question was actually asked by me .

 

[PARIKRAMA]

This question was actually asked by me .

Awesome Sir... Heartfelt thanks to people like you who asked them straight questions... If media could have asked questions properly we would have known much better about TEjas progress, issues and challenges...

But no one asked about FOC timeline.. Your interactions with them indicate which month in 2016? March or may be June/July?

 

[Water Car Engineer]

>Are private companies being roped in for commercial production of numerous components?

Answer to q2 will be political from our side, hence would like to avoid. Hope, you excuse us..

Lol, what?

 

[sathya]

Q: There are press reports that LSP-4/7 that're off to Bahrain Air show, would perform the BVR firing (Derby) tests for FOC after they have returned from it (i.e. post 23-Jan). Question is, does this mean that LSP-4/7 are already retrofitted with Cobham built quartz radomes - or are they going to go ahead with BVR testing with the old ASLs Kevlar based radome?
A: Tejas - LCA Lsp4 and lsp7 are heading for bahrain and on the return leg, lsp7 will fire bvr. Cobham radome ground testing is on. Flight test will commence soon. BVR firing is without this.



I ve discussed this point with @sudhir007
I told I believed cobham was integrated with Lsp 4&7 , that's why we have to wait for the same to return for BVR testing.

Seems I am wrong.


Lots of questions are discussed by the members here like 300kg ballast, 800kg weight reduction
Good to see answers

-------------

Sad to see improvements not to the level we expected.
Under carriage problems to be fixed with Dassault assistance ?

 

[Abingdonboy]

https://twitter.com/x/status/687697824088129536

 

[sudhir007]

Q: There are press reports that LSP-4/7 that're off to Bahrain Air show, would perform the BVR firing (Derby) tests for FOC after they have returned from it (i.e. post 23-Jan). Question is, does this mean that LSP-4/7 are already retrofitted with Cobham built quartz radomes - or are they going to go ahead with BVR testing with the old ASLs Kevlar based radome?
A: Tejas - LCA Lsp4 and lsp7 are heading for bahrain and on the return leg, lsp7 will fire bvr. Cobham radome ground testing is on. Flight test will commence soon. BVR firing is without this.



I ve discussed this point with @sudhir007
I told I believed cobham was integrated with Lsp 4&7 , that's why we have to wait for the same to return for BVR testing.

Seems I am wrong.


Lots of questions are discussed by the members here like 300kg ballast, 800kg weight reduction
Good to see answers

-------------

Sad to see improvements not to the level we expected.
Under carriage problems to be fixed with Dassault assistance ?

Thank
Buy the million doller question is if they firing BVR w/o cobham then why wait for so long

 

[PARIKRAMA]

Q: There are press reports that LSP-4/7 that're off to Bahrain Air show, would perform the BVR firing (Derby) tests for FOC after they have returned from it (i.e. post 23-Jan). Question is, does this mean that LSP-4/7 are already retrofitted with Cobham built quartz radomes - or are they going to go ahead with BVR testing with the old ASLs Kevlar based radome?
A: Tejas - LCA Lsp4 and lsp7 are heading for bahrain and on the return leg, lsp7 will fire bvr. Cobham radome ground testing is on. Flight test will commence soon. BVR firing is without this.



I ve discussed this point with @sudhir007
I told I believed cobham was integrated with Lsp 4&7 , that's why we have to wait for the same to return for BVR testing.

Seems I am wrong.


Lots of questions are discussed by the members here like 300kg ballast, 800kg weight reduction
Good to see answers

-------------

Sad to see improvements not to the level we expected.
Under carriage problems to be fixed with Dassault assistance ?

Well with expectation of 3 birds up March 16, out of which 1 already handed over long back and second in process of handing over, the only realistic expectations is a third bird by March end with a bit touch n go scenario.

I think UC will get serious help from Dassault..

One thing to note is this

And coming to delay in SP is because there are still grey areas in getting the finalized production version of all the components. The no runs to couple of thousands. All said done, delay is primarily because of lack of a clear cut directive. If you look at mirage 2000 induction, the integration of sensors was a continuous process whereas it is expected from tejas to have everything in the beginning itself, which is a tough ask.

What exactly is meant by clear cut directive.. Did IAF not asked Mark 1 tech specs long back.. Now over time when things got delayed the mark1 had to be upgraded to mark1A.

Yes benchmarking is set high for tejas.but it seems they are more trying to blame others..

About radome integration I think we may have got just one or two and ground integrations are going on. So bvr test may be done with lsp7 without the Cobham integration due to trying to reach a goal before March end 2016.
iMHO I think we got just one Cobham radar after pressurising Cobham tooth and nail. The next batch I think should come in FY17 in small batches in line with aircraft FOC compliant ones...