Despite delayed works, the Indian Air Force
seemed to be optimistic about the perspectives of
the “national” engine in the first half of the current
decade. According to announcements made by
Indian government in 2005, the LCA series aircraft
were to start receiving Kavery engines in 2009. In
early 2005, an engine of the type developed 96%
of the maximum design thrust during tests.
Flight tests of the bypass turbofan engine with
afterburner installed at an LCA were planned to
begin in December 2006 and January 2007. The
problems to occur during the final engine adjustments
seem to have not been solved. As a result,
in February 2006 ADA concluded an agreement
with the French firm Snecma for support with
works on the engine so as to make it flight-capable
in 2009-2010. The goal was not achieved either
and despite the official continuation of the Kavery
program, the idea of installing the engine at Tejas
aircraft, at least in the mid-term planning, seems
to have been finally refused.
In the 1990s, the Indian Air Force were going
to buy at least 200 LCA fighters and 20 two-seat
combat trainers (while optimist would announce
300 or 500 jets) with the initial combat readiness to
be reached in 2003 with the full combat readiness
to follow in 2005. One LCA of the 220 item series
was expected to cost the humble $21 million. The
sum later escalated to $22.6 million, which is also
very little compared to other 4+ generation aircraft.
According to unofficial data, though, an aircraft of
the 220 item series would cost $35 million, which
seem much more true to life.
The Tejas planes were planned to start entering
the Indian Air Force inventory in 2008 replacing
MiG-21FL, and MiG-21ML. It is noteworthy, that
the Indian Air Force currently has 19 air squadrons
of MiG-21 aircraft produced on a Soviet license.
A total of 125 MiG-21bis were upgraded to MiG-
21UPG(bison) and the rest, which are both morally
and physically outdated, are to be replace in the
near future.
In 2005, the Indian Air Force concluded a 20
billion rupees (over $445 million) contract with
the HAL for the delivery of the first 20 series
Tejas aircraft Mark 1 with F404-GE-IN20 General
Electric bypass turbofan engines with afterburner,
including 16 single-seat fighters and four twoseat
combat trainers. The agreement also had an
option for the purchase of another 20 aircraft. HAL
ordered a total of 24 F404-GE-IN20 engines costing
over $100 million at General Electric in early
February 2007.
Let us focus on technical features and design
specifications of the Tejas Mk.1 first Indian series
supersonic aircraft.
The light single-engine multipurpose fighter
has the tailless aerodynamic structure with a high
delta wing variable-swept on the fore edge, singlefin
tail unit and one bypass turbofan engine with
afterburner installed at the fuselage rear. The static
stability of the aircraft is reduced. The Tejas features,
the designers claim, are to be as follows:
– high maneuverability;
– multifunctionality;
– all-weather day and night capability;
– compatibility of cockpit instrumental equipment
with night vision goggles;
– low radar echo, which is one third of that of
similar size fighters (that is about 2 m2).
The aerodynamic structure of the aircraft is
claimed to provide minimal wind resistance, little
specific wing load, high rate of turn for bank, yaw and
pitch, as well as good takeoff and landing features.
About 43% of the series-produced LCA airframe
is made of composite materials. The fighter
skin is 90% composite materials. The use of large
coal-plastic panels provided a much lighter design,
as well as a reduced use of fasteners with 5,000 of
rivets necessary compared to 10,000 of a similar
size fighter with an all-metal riveted design. The
use of composite materials saved the necessity of
drilling 2,000 holes in the airframe inevitable for a
usual all-metal design.
The wing is made of composite materials
(longerons, wing ribs and skin), fuselage skin
and air inlets, as well as the elevons, keel, rudder,
and air-brakes and undercarriage flaps. The
coal-plastic skin is 2.4-2.7 mm deep. The airframe
design largely incorporates aluminum– lithium and
titanium alloys.
As a result of implementation of some new
constructional materials (first of all composite
materials) and the latest technologies the duration
of manufacturing period of one LCA aircraft had to
be reduced from 11 to 7 months.