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LCA Tejas Falls Short of Earlier Expectations

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As India’s homegrown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA Tejas) nears critical initial operational clearance next month, Indian air force officials say the aircraft will fail to meet performance requirements laid down by the service for the limited-profile Mk.1 platform.

According to an Indian air force source associated with the long-delayed indigenous fighter program, when the Tejas passes this milestone in December, it still will not be the fighter the air force had agreed to accept for limited squadron service. Performance specifications that the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has not been able to attain include sustained turn rate, speed at low altitude, angle of attack and certain weapon delivery profiles. Exactly how far off the performance is from the specification remains classified.

The Tejas program has enlisted EADS to help expand the flight envelope to meet service requirements.

These shortfalls come on top of a thrust deficiency that necessitated the selection of a more powerful engine, General Electric’s F414-INS6, this year for a proposed Mk.2 version.

“We are still working to get the platform on track for initial operational clearance,” says an air force officer. “It appears the exercise of resolving certain performance parameters will spill over into the post-induction phase,” he notes. “There was a very committed effort toward envelope expansion, though we have fallen short in certain key specifications, which we will continue to work on.”

Former air force chief Srinivasapuram Krishnaswamy, who first pushed the idea of a limited induction of the homegrown fighter even if it did not fully meet service requirements, argues that the aircraft needs to be delivered without any further delay. “Once it is delivered, all outstanding issues can be ironed out and our pilots can get a chance to see what it is capable of. It is important to get it into service. That is the key.”

Initial deliveries of the aircraft early next year will be to the Indian air force’s Aircraft & Systems Testing Establishment in Bangalore, where the platforms will be tested before formal induction into squadron service for a year-long exercise in defining a role for the Tejas. The service has ordered 20 Tejas Mk.1 jets (and is processing an order for 20 more), powered by the GE F414-IN20 for two inaugural squadrons that will be established at peninsular air bases after the Aero India show in February.

The Tejas program has embarked on putting the ostensibly more capable Tejas Mk.2 on track, as well. An ADA team is optimizing the Tejas airframe for the F414 powerplant and has initiated studies on the aircraft’s proposed operational envelope, fluid dynamics studies of new components and analysis of new engine components. The team is also producing fresh numerical master geometry and inboard drawings, a new digital mock-up of the entire Mk.2, and a wind tunnel model in collaboration with the National Aerospace Laboratory.

The Tejas Mk.2 is scheduled to make its first flight in 2014, with full-rate production to follow two years later.
 
Hi, I would not call the LCA a failure. It might not be up to the standards right now, but it will be. I think India has done a great job developing a lot of critical technologies in house, and should be proud of this achievement. Yes, it might be underpowered, and miss some specs, but V2 should rectify this. The PAF was lucky in the sense, it simply got China to develop the JF-17 for it. The F414 engine is a powerful engine and will go a long way in increasing the thurst-to-weight ratio of the LCA.

These technologies are very advanced and take time to develop. Look at how delayed the A380 and Dreamliner are, and these are being developed by aerospace giants Airbus and Boeing respectively. Take care.
 
Hi, I would not call the LCA a failure. It might not be up to the standards right now, but it will be. I think India has done a great job developing a lot of critical technologies in house, and should be proud of this achievement. Yes, it might be underpowered, and miss some specs, but V2 should rectify this. The PAF was lucky in the sense, it simply got China to develop the JF-17 for it. The F414 engine is a powerful engine and will go a long way in increasing the thurst-to-weight ratio of the LCA.

These technologies are very advanced and take time to develop. Look at how delayed the A380 and Dreamliner are, and these are being developed by aerospace giants Airbus and Boeing respectively. Take care.

Actually the issue is not the thrust, but the weight that was higher than planed and as it seems design issues that causes the problems at speed and turn rates. Another point is also the usual behavior of Indian forces, to want the perfect weapon/tech from day one, instead of fielding and upgrade it during service. We will only know how capable it is when the MK1 is in operational service.
 
LCA Tejas is an original Indian concept. Proud & loving it.
 
The "Next Generation" tools have arrived in India!

Must See! These next generation tools combine an electronic display and advanced mechanics
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Wower!
 
LCA-Tejas has completed 1452 Test Flights successfully. (as on18-Oct-10).
(TD1-233,TD2-305,PV1-242,PV2-173, PV3-234,LSP1-60,LSP2-160,PV5-17, LSP3-16,LSP4-12)
 
I found this NAT GEO documentary.I think it was filmed during the PV3 launching.
 
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Tejas Ready For Sea Trials In Goa

India’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft is ready to undergo another round of crucial sea trials in Goa.

Sources tell AVIATION WEEK that this time the testing will involve the firing of a missile and the jettisoning of a drop tank. The trials are set to take place this week at Naval Air Station Hansa, Dabolim, in Goa. Tejas successfully completed earlier sea trials in September as part of its Out of Station Flight Test Plan.

Pilots from the Bengaluru-based National Flight Test Center will perform the weapon trials this time.

“The density of air and humidity is very high in Goa. This time during the sea-level trials we are evaluating the radar, helmet-mounted systems and instrument landing systems,” a source said. “We will also test the radar warning receiver.”


In addition to firing a Russian-made R-73 air-to-air missile, the pilots are scheduled to test the safe drop tank separation from the aircraft.

“We have done all the ground-based tests. We are planning four-five drops at various speeds, altitudes and angles of attack,” a source said. “Tejas can carry 5,000 liters of fuel, including 1,200 each in drop tanks [and] 2,400 in wings and fuselage.”

Tejas also can carry two outboard R-73 missiles and two mid-board beyond visual range (BVR) Derby missiles from Israel.

“We have fired an R-73 missile in October 2007 against a zero target. It is important to see the safe separation of the missile,” the source said. Plume separation studies, which involve interaction with a missile’s exhaust, also will be carried out during the trials.

Various Tejas platforms have performed 1,481 flights, clocking about 878 hr. Tejas also has achieved Mach 1.6 at 15 km. altitude and a calibrated air speed of 1,350 kph.

Tejas is scheduled to complete its pre-initial operational clearance requirements by Dec. 27.

Tejas Ready For Sea Trials In Goa | AVIATION WEEK
 
Diwali in Dabolim: Team Tejas ready for fireworks in Goa; drop tank separation, missile test on cards

India’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft is ready to undergo another round of crucial sea trials in Goa.This time the testing will involve the firing of a missile and the jettisoning of a drop tank.
The trials are set to take place this week at Naval Air Station Hansa, Dabolim, in Goa. Tejas successfully completed earlier sea trials in September as part of its Out of Station Flight Test Plan.
Pilots from the Bengaluru-based National Flight Test Center will perform the weapon trials this time. In addition to firing a Russian-made R-73 air-to-air missile, the pilots are scheduled to test the safe drop tank separation from the aircraft. Tejas can carry 5,000 liters of fuel, including 1,200 each in drop tanks [and] 2,400 in wings and fuselage. It can also carry two outboard R-73 missiles and two mid-board beyond visual range (BVR) Derby missiles from Israel.

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Tarmak007 -- A bold blog on Indian defence: Diwali in Dabolim: Team Tejas ready for fireworks in Goa; drop tank separation, missile test on cards
 
So is it finalised that LCA will have Derby as standard BVR missile? no Astra or R-77?
 
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