HAL Tejas | Updates, News & Discussions

[sancho]

LCA MK2 if it had a Gripen NG redesign with moved gear bays and additional hardpoints:

 

[Sergi]

LCA MK2 if it had a Gripen NG redesign with moved gear bays and additional hardpoints:

And what are the chances of that "if" ???
I think "they should" add at least one more hard point

 

[sancho]

And what are the chances of that "if" ???
I think "they should" add at least one more hard point

Sadly next to zero, since they went for more complicated and less useful changes (lenghtening the airframe and fuselage, to integrate more fuel tanks). The only hope then is, that the increase of internal fuel is enough to replace the wing fueltanks at least in some missions with light loads, which then frees hardpoints, otherwise it always will need dedicated escorts.

 

[fatman17]

Indian Navy Tejas Has Not Flown Since July 2012


Posted on: May 7th, 2013

Indian Navy Tejas Light Combat Aircraft two-seat trainer KHN-T-3001 (NP-1) makes its maiden flight from the
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) facility at Bangalore on April 27, 2012. After three further flights, it was grounded in
July 2012 for modifications and to date has still not been reflown. Sanjay Simha


DELAYS ARE continuing to plague development of the Indian Navy variant of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft
(LCA), the prototype of which has been grounded since July 2012. The aircraft, two-seat trainer version KHN-T-
3001 (NP-1), had finally made its maiden flight from the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) facility at Bangalore on
April 27, 2012. This took place more than 21 months after it had been rolled out of the factory there on July 6,
2010.

Following its maiden flight, the prototype undertook only three further flights before it was grounded in July 2012
whilst a number of problems were rectified. According to local media reports, these include some modifications to
the undercarriage and a number of the aircraft’s systems. The naval variant differs from the Air Force Tejas in
having a new, extended and strengthened undercarriage, plus an arrestor hook, to cater for carrier take-offs and
landings. Other differences include a drooped nose to improve visibility and a leading edge vortex controller to
enable lower speed carrier approaches.

According to the most recent figures, released yesterday by India’s Aeronautical Development Agency, which is
responsible for development of the Tejas, the development aircraft have to date completed 2,152 test flights.

These comprise 233 by KH2001 (TD-1), 305 by KH2002 (TD-2), 242 by KH2003 (PV-1), 222 by KH2004 (PV-2),
364 by KH2005 (PV-3), 74 by KH2011 (LSP-1, ex KH2006), 264 by KH2012 (LSP-2, ex KH2007), 36 by KHT2009
(PV-5), 127 by KH2013 (LSP-3), 74 by KH2014 (LSP-4), 169 by KH2015 (LSP-5), 34 by KH2017 (LSP-7),
four by KH-2018 (LSP-8) and four by KHN-T3001 (NP-1).

AFD-Dave Allport

 

[S-DUCT]

LCA Flight test update

LCA-Tejas has completed 2152 Test Flights Successfully. (06-May-2013).
(TD1-233,TD2-305,PV1-242,PV2-222,PV3-364,LSP1-74,LSP2-264,PV5-36,LSP3-127,LSP4-74,LSP5-169,LSP7-34,NP1-4,LSP8-4)

to

LCA-Tejas has completed 2153 Test Flights Successfully. (08-May-2013).
(TD1-233,TD2-305,PV1-242,PV2-222,PV3-364,LSP1-74,LSP2-264,PV5-36,LSP3-128,LSP4-74,LSP5-169,LSP7-34,NP1-4,LSP8-4)

 

[Srinivas]

LCA Flight test update

LCA-Tejas has completed 2152 Test Flights Successfully. (06-May-2013).
(TD1-233,TD2-305,PV1-242,PV2-222,PV3-364,LSP1-74,LSP2-264,PV5-36,LSP3-127,LSP4-74,LSP5-169,LSP7-34,NP1-4,LSP8-4)

to

LCA-Tejas has completed 2153 Test Flights Successfully. (08-May-2013).
(TD1-233,TD2-305,PV1-242,PV2-222,PV3-364,LSP1-74,LSP2-264,PV5-36,LSP3-128,LSP4-74,LSP5-169,LSP7-34,NP1-4,LSP8-4)

You are correct!!!!

I have seen LCA flying this week.

 

[BlueDot_in_Space]

NLCA engineer-in-loop sim

 

[S-DUCT]

Some updates on Naval-Lca program.

1)NP-1 will be ready again for flight test in mid-june.
2)SBTF facility is near completed at INS hanse and it'll be used to train Mig-29K and N-LCA for carrier operations.
3)N-LCA MK2 will roll out in 2016 and will be readied for carrier trials in 2017-18.

Image credit:SagarAG @BRF

 

[sudhir007]

So the naval testing platform is rady for NLCA

 

[Capt.Popeye]

So the naval testing platform is rady for NLCA

Smart!! But the ramp (that is visible) is just part of it. The other part is the arrestor wire assembly. In any case that project of the SBTF is well on track then.

 

[sancho]

3)N-LCA MK2 will roll out in 2016 and will be readied for carrier trials in 2017-18.

Doubtful, N-LCA MK2 is based on the LCA MK2 changes and even IAF will only able to induct the MK2s in 2018/19, so how should an N-LCA MK2 be ready anywere close to that date? More likely as of today is something beyond 2020. Which shows how little sense this fighter makes in operational terms. Too late for our first 2 carriers, not capable enough for the threats at that time.

 

[S-DUCT]

Doubtful, N-LCA MK2 is based on the LCA MK2 changes and even IAF will only able to induct the MK2s in 2018/19, so how should an N-LCA MK2 be ready anywere close to that date? More likely as of today is something beyond 2020. Which shows how little sense this fighter makes in operational terms. Too late for our first 2 carriers, not capable enough for the threats at that time.

I had the same doubt too,but maybe they are working in parallel with better management to complete both AF and Navy requirements.Since LCA NP1 & NP2 is powered by GE-404-IN20 engine,it will be only be certified for SBYF operation.LCA Navy will be certified for carrier operations using two aircraft (NP3 & NP4) built in the Tejas Mk2 configuration, powered by GE-414-INS6 engine with a max thrust of 98KN.LCA NP-3 will start trials on Carrier in somewhere between 2017-2018 and becoming fully operation in 2020.

 

[sancho]

I had the same doubt too,but maybe they are working in parallel with better management to complete both AF and Navy requirements.Since LCA NP1 & NP2 is powered by GE-404-IN20 engine,it will be only be certified for SBYF operation.LCA Navy will be certified for carrier operations using two aircraft (NP3 & NP4) built in the Tejas Mk2 configuration, powered by GE-414-INS6 engine with a max thrust of 98KN.LCA NP-3 will start trials on Carrier in somewhere between 2017-2018 and becoming fully operation in 2020.]

The way things are planned in this project, I don't put too much hope in improvements in this field, especially since not even the basics changes of the IAF MK2 are fixed yet.

 

[S-DUCT]

The way things are planned in this project, I don't put too much hope in improvements in this field, especially since not even the basics changes of the IAF MK2 are fixed yet.

I thought ADA has freezed the design 2-3 months ago.Have i missed something.?

 

[sancho]

I thought ADA has freezed the design 2-3 months ago.Have i missed something.?

Did you ever have seen a design including IRST? Will the AESA be ready, what about the new fuel tanks and avionics? What about weight and drag reductions? Still some work to do to make all the modifications and changes, which then again needs to be diverted to the N-LCA design too, that btw still is not finished (no hook attached, LEVCONs operational, reduction of gear weight...). Oh and don't forget the embarrassment of ADA that they have request for external designers for a new radome design, which also is not available in the current designs.