HAL Tejas | Updates, News & Discussions

[Vibs]

LCA is slow in fruition

IAF begins establishing first LCA squadron
IAF begins establishing first LCA squadron
Chethan Kumar, Bangalore, July 10, DHNS:

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has begun the process of establishing the first light combat aircraft (LCA) squadron — Tejas — and is getting help from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).

Well-placed sources in the IAF said: “We already have our personnel in Bangalore and are working together with ADA and HAL to form the squadron, an official announcement about the squadron will be made soon after we are fully ready.”

A senior retired IAF Official said that a squadron would, generally comprise of 18 pilots and will have a service aircraft, a standby platform and a trainer. However, he added that the number could vary depending on the aircraft and other variables.

The first squadron of LCA will be the IAF’s 45th squadron, the Flying Daggers. They would first be based in Bangalore before being stationed at Sulur, near Coimbatore, where the IAF wants the first squadron positioned.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, ADA head P S Subramanyam, who confirmed that the IAF personnel were in Bangalore, said: “HAL, ADA and IAF together are working on raising the first squadron.”

He said that a team of ground support personnel and technicians, who have been identified after due diligence would assist the IAF in establishing the squadron so that there is proper product support, besides having set up labs and other facilities.

The aid from HAL and ADA, he said, will be during the transition phase, and after that the role of the duo will be restricted to support and maintenance. The IAF personnel are currently going through ground testing among other things and will get on to the real activity once the LCA limited series production seven (LSP-7) and LSP-8 platforms are ready to fly.

Speaking on that, Subramanyam said: “Despite small delays, the LSP-7 platform will take to the skies this August and the LSP-8 in November.” Aircraft Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) Chief Test Pilot, Group Captain B R Krishan had told Deccan Herald in February that the aircraft would be put through rigorous testing and the limits would be pushed before handing it over to the squadron. “...The ASTE intends to push the G-force of the plane from six to eight,” he had said.

The first LCA squadron, will first fly the LSP-7 & 8, which are pegged to be very close to the final version of the aircraft. It is noteworthy that HAL and ADA had earlier said that the IAF would be provided with the LSP-7 and LSP-8 for user evaluation trials by March 2011, but have failed in meeting the deadline.

However, the delay, they say is acceptable given that the LSP-7 and LSP-8 will be very close to the final version. Not only will they be close in terms of design and ability but also in terms of the way they are manufactured, which has required HAL and ADA to make suitable changes.

 

[Abingdonboy]

LCA is slow in fruition

I am sick of hearing this. Your flags say you are from China, China has developed technology from ripping-off others and stealing tech:

http://defensetech.org/2011/01/24/chinese-spies-may-have-taken-f-117-wreckage/

Wendell Minnick - Articles: MiG-29K for China Dismissed at Aero India

"This is not an option for China's aircraft carrier program," the Russian defense industry official said, citing unresolved differences with China over intellectual property in the Su-27/J-11B fighter scandal.

In 2009, Russian officials accused China of stealing the blueprints for the Su-27 to produce an indigenous variant, the J-11B. There also have been allegations that the design for China's new L-15 advanced trainer jet was copied directly from Russia's Yak-130.

"The Chinese are going with an indigenous option for their carrier aircraft, most likely a modified variant of the Su-33," the industry official said.

There are unconfirmed reports that China acquired a prototype of the Su-33 from Ukraine.

The Chinese have become extremely sophisticated in their indigenous defense industrial capabilities, the official said. "Ten years ago, you couldn't take them seriously, but they have since become very competent."

Whereas India has chosen to develop an entirely new plane all on their own using their own designs and resources. Obviously you wouldn't know anything about this process. Now despite, initial, meagre resources and no technical base to start off with and then numerous sanctions, India has developed a state of the art indigenous fighter by herself- yes there are foreign components but so what? HAL/ADA have been smart, they have developed what they need and then bought the best from abroad for sub systems so the get the best of both worlds. Not to mention India now has a solid base to build future generation fighters (AMCA) using the world class facilities, infrastructure and experience that has all been learnt from the LCA program. We'll see who has the last laugh.


Put this aside I an smell the sour grapes from here.

 

[faithfulguy]

congrats to India for finally being able to field a squadron on LCA fighters. I guess its better late than never. Hopefully, India can produce a plane more quickly the next time around.

 

[Novice09]

 

[sudhir007]

http:///indiandefence/images-lca-tejas-mk-1/

LCA Tejas, which has passed its Initial Operational Clearence (IOC), incorporates a wide range of advanced Sensors, Weapons, Stores and Electronic Warfare suite. Sea level trials were completed at Arrakonam & Goa. Hot weather trials, in two phases completed at Nagpur. Cold weather & high altitude flight trials were carried out at Leh. Phase I of Night flying trials is completed. The additional weapons beyond Visual Range, Gun, Rockets, Guided & Un-Guided Bombs on Tejas have been integrated. Air-to-Ground Weapons and Air-to-Air Close Combat Missiles have been released from Tejas.
Tejas is 65% indigenous right now. DRDO, the makers have promised 75% indigenization when it reached the Final Operational Clearence (FOC).
First Batch of 20 aircrafts will be delivered to the IAF by 2013. The Second batch of 20 Tejas Mk 1 aircrafts will be delivered after FOC.
Development of Tejas Mark 2 aircraft with engine GE-F414 has begun and is scheduled to have its first flight by December 2014. Production version of Mark 2 is planned in June 2016. IAF has projected a requirement of 83 Tejas Mark 2 aircraft. The supersonic fourth generation fighter will form a 200-strong fleet for the IAF to replace its ageing Russian-made MiG-21 fleet and increase the squadron strength to 10. The first two squadrons of 20 Tejas each will be stationed at Sulur near Coimbatore and Kayathur near Tuticorin both in Tamilnadu.

 

[Tshering22]

congrats to India for finally being able to field a squadron on LCA fighters. I guess its better late than never. Hopefully, India can produce a plane more quickly the next time around.

Thanks mate. It is about time we privatize our industries. 90% of Indians (especially younger generation) view this as crucial to our success in aerospace and defense but old timers still think that government agencies are a salvation for our military industrial complex despite 55 years of incompetence and lack luster performance. The only government body that is fast is ISRO which is the national space agency. And that's because it is directly under the PM.

Wish DRDO and ADA/HAL were also like that.

 

[Dash]

congrats to India for finally being able to field a squadron on LCA fighters. I guess its better late than never. Hopefully, India can produce a plane more quickly the next time around.

This time you are really faithful faithfulguy....

 

[danger007]

so vibs in ur view LCA is 3rd gen jet right.

 

[Vibs]

so vibs in ur view LCA is 3rd gen jet right.

Continuing our discussions.
Shortly after two Tejases roared into the sky for a quick flight display, Naik went on to describe the Tejas as a "MiG-21++" fighter, and went on to say, "At present it is not a fourth generation aircraft. It will come up, but at present it is not." He also indicated that the Tejas Mk-II would not only be powered by the F414 engine, but would incorporate airframe design changes and newer avionics. A statement issued today by ADA today said that the IAF had projected a need for 83 Tejas Mk-II aircraft (which would give the IAF a fleet of 123 aircraft in total -- far less than projected). The first flight of the Mk-II is scheduled for December 2014. Indigenous content on the Mk-II will be 75 per cent according to the HAL chief.
So yes, LCA present model upto LSP 6 is at best a 3-3.5 gen aircraft.

 

[Vibs]

Only once the LSP-8 has been fully tested and all systems are working functionally and IOC obtained can it come close to the Russian definition of a 4th generation aircraft. 4th generation aircrafts include the likes of F-16, Gripen,Typhoon and Rafale.
The Mk.II is expected to have systems which would place it at gen 4.5.

 

[blackops]

Only once the LSP-8 has been fully tested and all systems are working functionally and IOC obtained can it come close to the Russian definition of a 4th generation aircraft. 4th generation aircrafts include the likes of F-16, Gripen,Typhoon and Rafale.
The Mk.II is expected to have systems which would place it at gen 4.5.

Typhoon f16 blk 60 rafale are all 4.5 gen fighter

 

[Vibs]

Typhoon f16 blk 60 rafale are all 4.5 gen fighter

My point being that by Russian definition any plane built between late 1980's and 2000 was a 4th gen. All the comparisons generally point to specs at this period of time. Calling a LCA or another plane a 4th gen + because it's replacing a Mig 21 is baseless unless all basic systems are at the minimum operating clearance level as compared to other jets considered to be in the 4th gen class.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

 

[acetophenol]

any info on the total number of tejas built?

 

[Vibs]

any info on the total number of tejas built?

As of now restricted to Limited series Production.LSP 7 being built now to be followed by LSP 8.IAF team at HAL to over see the Series production (SP) of the first squadron after IOC given.