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

[Trichy]

 

[Hindustani78]

A pair of Indian Air Force's Light combat aircraft ‘Tejas’ takes off during the 2nd day of the 11th biennial edition of Aero India 2017 at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: PTI

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...-by-2024-25/article17532355.ece?homepage=true

To enable this Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is in the process of setting up a new assembly line.

If the present development and capacity enhancement plans go as per schedule, the Indian Air Force will have 123 indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fighter jets in its fleet by 2024-25.

To enable this Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is in the process of setting up a new assembly line and is also involving the private sector in a big way, said the Chief Managing Director (CMD) of the public sector aerospace major T. Suvarna Raju in a conversation with The Hindu.

The IAF has placed orders for 40 jets in two batches of which the first 20 are in the Initial Operational Configuration (IOC) while the remaining 20 are in the Final Operational Configuration (FOC). Last July the IAF for operationalised the first Tejas squadron ‘45 flying daggers’ with three aircraft. Two more aircraft will join the squadron shortly.

Last November the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had given initial clearance for 83 aircraft in the Mk-1A configuration with specific improvements sought by the IAF.

Mr. Raju said that about 45 improvements have been implemented in the 1A and HAL has already floated a tender for the Advanced Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and Self-Protection Jammer (SPJ).

On the timeline for the development of the 1A, Mr. Raju said that the tender would be opened by March end after which technical evaluation and commercial negotiations would be held. “We will be able to prove it on the 1A by 2018 and start producing by 2019,” he observed.

Apart from the development, the induction is also delayed by the low production rate of eight aircraft per year. The government has recently given sanction for setting another assembly to increase production rate to 16 per year.

“The IAF will get Mk-1A in 2019 by that time our capacity will also go up to 16 aircraft per year,” Mr. Raju added.

To increase the production of the aircraft HAL has outsourced major parts of the jet. “We are trying to be an integrator rather than a manufacturer, he said.

The IAF is in urgent need of new fighters and the LCAs will replace the Mig fighters that are currently being phased out. IAF is scheduled to phase out all 11 squadrons of Mig-21 and Mig-27 fighters by 2024 on completion of their technical life.

On the issue of spares and supports which has been an area of constant concern from the services, Mr. Raju said they have now signed long term supply contracts with their vendors and stated that the availability of all platforms manufactured by HAL has now gone “above 65 percent.”

 

[egodoc222]

A pair of Indian Air Force's Light combat aircraft ‘Tejas’ takes off during the 2nd day of the 11th biennial edition of Aero India 2017 at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: PTI

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...-by-2024-25/article17532355.ece?homepage=true

To enable this Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is in the process of setting up a new assembly line.

If the present development and capacity enhancement plans go as per schedule, the Indian Air Force will have 123 indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fighter jets in its fleet by 2024-25.

To enable this Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is in the process of setting up a new assembly line and is also involving the private sector in a big way, said the Chief Managing Director (CMD) of the public sector aerospace major T. Suvarna Raju in a conversation with The Hindu.

The IAF has placed orders for 40 jets in two batches of which the first 20 are in the Initial Operational Configuration (IOC) while the remaining 20 are in the Final Operational Configuration (FOC). Last July the IAF for operationalised the first Tejas squadron ‘45 flying daggers’ with three aircraft. Two more aircraft will join the squadron shortly.

Last November the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had given initial clearance for 83 aircraft in the Mk-1A configuration with specific improvements sought by the IAF.

Mr. Raju said that about 45 improvements have been implemented in the 1A and HAL has already floated a tender for the Advanced Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and Self-Protection Jammer (SPJ).

On the timeline for the development of the 1A, Mr. Raju said that the tender would be opened by March end after which technical evaluation and commercial negotiations would be held. “We will be able to prove it on the 1A by 2018 and start producing by 2019,” he observed.

Apart from the development, the induction is also delayed by the low production rate of eight aircraft per year. The government has recently given sanction for setting another assembly to increase production rate to 16 per year.

“The IAF will get Mk-1A in 2019 by that time our capacity will also go up to 16 aircraft per year,” Mr. Raju added.

To increase the production of the aircraft HAL has outsourced major parts of the jet. “We are trying to be an integrator rather than a manufacturer, he said.

The IAF is in urgent need of new fighters and the LCAs will replace the Mig fighters that are currently being phased out. IAF is scheduled to phase out all 11 squadrons of Mig-21 and Mig-27 fighters by 2024 on completion of their technical life.

On the issue of spares and supports which has been an area of constant concern from the services, Mr. Raju said they have now signed long term supply contracts with their vendors and stated that the availability of all platforms manufactured by HAL has now gone “above 65 percent.”

Is he saying we'll have 40 lca by 2019?

 

[Hindustani78]

Is he saying we'll have 40 lca by 2019?

83 aircraft in the Mk-1A configuration with specific improvements as second production line is even there .

 

[Hulk]

There are 20 Mk.1 on order, the MK.1A will fly in 2018, production should commence from mid-2019.


No, the MK.1A is based on the Mk.1 airframe and will have no changes to the airframe, the improvements come in the sensors, electronics and some other additions.

This was the entire purpose of the Mk.1A as proposed by HAL- a greatly improved system based on the existing platform to cover the interim until the Mk.2 was ready.


AFAIK no, they are part of the test fleet and not focused on radar validation.

Will the 20 MK1 will later be upgraded to MK1A standard? Sine it does not require airframe changes, i would assume the answer is yes.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Is he saying we'll have 40 lca by 2019?

It's a very ambitious target, more than likely they will be closer to 30 by that time but by the end of 2019 production will start to really ramp up (>16/year). The 2024-5 target will be met.

Will the 20 MK1 will later be upgraded to MK1A standard? Sine it does not require airframe changes, i would assume the answer is yes.

Yes, they can be upgraded to the MK.1A spec with little work, it will be the IAF's call, I'm not sure if there has been any offical indication yet that they have such plans.

 

[X_Killer]

 

[Abingdonboy]

Raju said, “The increased production rate will be visible from 2018 when we will be able to provide 16 planes per year under a Rs 1,300-crore expansion project (at the HAL facility in Bangalore).”

The HAL CMD said the second part of the “increase-production plan” is to use the existing facility of the hawk trainer jets and a pilot project has already started.

The third part involves outsourcing to private companies, thus turning HAL into an integrator – a concept adopted by leading foreign manufacturers. This will mean the Tejas fleet of 123 jets can be delivered earlier than planned.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/na...body-wings-hal-to-play-integrator/379448.html

Music to one's ears

- 16 LCA/year (1.3/month) rate to be reached sometime in 2018
- HAL looking to become more of a lead integrator (what many of us have been proposing for a while)

+ I think they will be touching 20-22/year by 2020 based on the three plans outlined above.

 

[egodoc222]

Raju said, “The increased production rate will be visible from 2018 when we will be able to provide 16 planes per year under a Rs 1,300-crore expansion project (at the HAL facility in Bangalore).”

The HAL CMD said the second part of the “increase-production plan” is to use the existing facility of the hawk trainer jets and a pilot project has already started.

The third part involves outsourcing to private companies, thus turning HAL into an integrator – a concept adopted by leading foreign manufacturers. This will mean the Tejas fleet of 123 jets can be delivered earlier than planned.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/na...body-wings-hal-to-play-integrator/379448.html

Music to one's ears

- 16 LCA/year (1.3/month) rate to be reached sometime in 2018
- HAL looking to become more of a lead integrator (what many of us have been proposing for a while)

+ I think they will be touching 20-22/year by 2020 based on the three plans outlined above.

It means by end of 2019 we might have all 40 mk1 delivered!! Right?

 

[GuardianRED]

It means by end of 2019 we might have all 40 mk1 delivered!! Right?

And if you think about it - 2019 isn't very far away

 

[X_Killer]

 

[Abingdonboy]

It means by end of 2019 we might have all 40 mk1 delivered!! Right?

Well that's the plan considering the MK.1A will enter production from 2019/20 and first HAL have to deliver all 40 Mk.1 on order.

 

[Vertiti Scrutator]

Raju said, “The increased production rate will be visible from 2018 when we will be able to provide 16 planes per year under a Rs 1,300-crore expansion project (at the HAL facility in Bangalore).”

The HAL CMD said the second part of the “increase-production plan” is to use the existing facility of the hawk trainer jets and a pilot project has already started.

The third part involves outsourcing to private companies, thus turning HAL into an integrator – a concept adopted by leading foreign manufacturers. This will mean the Tejas fleet of 123 jets can be delivered earlier than planned.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/na...body-wings-hal-to-play-integrator/379448.html

Music to one's ears

- 16 LCA/year (1.3/month) rate to be reached sometime in 2018
- HAL looking to become more of a lead integrator (what many of us have been proposing for a while)

+ I think they will be touching 20-22/year by 2020 based on the three plans outlined above.

Interesting thing is that there're isn't a pip squeak about Mk1A. What is the status of the new (lighter) landing gear? Have they integrated/tested ELM 2052? Which airframe is being used for Mk1A - Tejas AF Mk1 or the LCA Navy Mk1 version??
Doesn't Tejas need another FOC with new radar and landing gear??

 

[GuardianRED]

Interesting thing is that there're isn't a pip squeak about Mk1A. What is the status of the new (lighter) landing gear? Have they integrated/tested ELM 2052? Which airframe is being used for Mk1A - Tejas AF Mk1 or the LCA Navy Mk1 version??
Doesn't Tejas need another FOC with new radar and landing gear??

And you were angry at Prasun not acknowledging the Mk1A since there is no official docs to support that Mk1A exists .... As mentioned in my previous post - as of now, we do know that the IAF has order the Mk1A BUT there is no official design released and only officially a tender on the specs - thats it!

Sources claim that the Mk1A will be based on the NLCA BUT not confirm, thus you question to the landing gear (nothing wrong with the landing gear for the tejas)

Honestly, we all have to just wait and watch. Right now only news for the current Mk1s are coming out

 

[Vertiti Scrutator]

And you were angry at Prasun not acknowledging the Mk1A since there is no official docs to support that Mk1A exists .... As mentioned in my previous post - as of now, we do know that the IAF has order the Mk1A BUT there is no official design released and only officially a tender on the specs - thats it!

Sources claim that the Mk1A will be based on the NLCA BUT not confirm, thus you question to the landing gear (nothing wrong with the landing gear for the tejas)

Honestly, we all have to just wait and watch. Right now only news for the current Mk1s are coming out

Not having the design details available is one thing, but denying its very existence when the who's who of HAL & MOD are making official statements is lunacy.
It's an obvious fact that not everyone will have access to ALL the information available out there. Different people will break different stories. The Trishul dude has major egomania that only he has access to ALL the information and anything that anyone else says is all bogus!! I think it is all fine to indulge in commentary (as in the utility of an idea, the pro & cons etc..) but to always make decrees and declaratory statements is foolish (IMHO). (Not to mention how abusive he gets with folks for no reason at all - recently I saw him call some polite dude an 'arsehole' just because he didn't want to reveal his real name!!!)
He has made such declarations on several issues and has been proven COMPLETELY wrong. To his credit, (like everyone else) he does break interesting news himself and brings to light some interesting analysis too. But I feel others get their information wrong due to error/ignorance, this dude dishes out misinformation merely due to arrogance - for an end user like you and I, we have to be careful while consuming information from either of those types.

Regarding Tejas Mk1A, one of the essential modification promised by HAL was to reduce the weight of the landing gear - as HAL themselves claimed that the current landing gear was 'over engineered' initially.