Guys, are there any sources that really says 300Km combat range in ... role, or with ... load?
When you compare it with a comparable fighters like the Gripen C/D, or JF 17, I am very suspicious of what range HAL is really talking about on their specs boards:
LCA MK1 / Gripen C (single seat) / JF 17
Thrust: ? dry, 85kN AB / 54kN dry, 80kN AB / 49kN dry, 84kN AB
Empty weight: 6.5t / 6.6t / 6.4
Internal fuel: 2.4t / 2.2t / 2.3t
External fuel: 2.8t / 2.6t / 2.4t
Payload: 4t / 5.3t / 3.7t
MTOW: 13.5t /14t / 12.4t
Combat range: 300Km / 800km
at max load / (operational radius) 1,352 km
Ferry range: 2000Km / 3000km
with external tanks / 2037Km
http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.p...-light-fighter&catid=79:fact-files&Itemid=159
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex....
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex....
The Gripen is slightly heavier, carries less internal and external fuel, but a higher load and still can go more than twice the combat range than the LCA?
The RM12 engine is based on the same GE 404 and there is no way that it could save that much fuel compared to the GE engine, so how should this be possible?
JF 17s operational range is obviously not with full load, especially because it carries the least ammount of fuel.
That's why I have some doubts on the LCA specs so far, most of them varies and were not based on the final version, also don't exactly mention on what load this range is based on.
LCA MK2 will not only have a better engine, but will get bigger wings for more internal fuel as well and that should be the bigger factor for more range.