HAL Tejas | Updates, News & Discussions

[sudhir007]

LCA Flight test update

LCA-Tejas has completed 2234 Test Flights Successfully. (25-June-2013).

(TD1-233,TD2-305,PV1-242,PV2-222,PV3-365,LSP1-74,LSP2-273,PV5-36,LSP3-144,LSP4-85,LSP5-188,LSP7-48,NP1-4,LSP8-15)

From
LCA-Tejas has completed 2228 Test Flights Successfully. (24-June-2013).

(TD1-233,TD2-305,PV1-242,PV2-222,PV3-365,LSP1-74,LSP2-273,PV5-36,LSP3-142,LSP4-85,LSP5-187,LSP7-47,NP1-4,LSP8-13)

Six test flights in one day.!

To Fast

Flight test update

From

LCA-Tejas has completed 2234 Test Flights Successfully. (25-June-2013).
(TD1-233,TD2-305,PV1-242,PV2-222,PV3-365,LSP1-74,LSP2-273,PV5-36,LSP3-144,LSP4-85,LSP5-188,LSP7-48,NP1-4,LSP8-15)

to

LCA-Tejas has completed 2235 Test Flights Successfully. (25-June-2013).
(TD1-233,TD2-305,PV1-242,PV2-222,PV3-365,LSP1-74,LSP2-273,PV5-36,LSP3-144,LSP4-86,LSP5-188,LSP7-48,NP1-4,LSP8-15)

 

[shree835]

Combat off the mark

Already facing a huge delay, the ambitious indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)–Tejas project came up for review at a high-level meeting which was chaired by Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony recently in the Capital.

Mr. Antony stressed upon the necessity to adhere to schedule and asked all stake holders for avoiding further slippage on the programme. He also directed the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to make the LCA as its number one thrust area.

It was decided at the review meeting that the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) would ramp up the production capacity of LCA to 16 aircraft a year. The meeting decided that efforts should be made to attain Initial Operational Clearance-II by November this year and Final Operational Clearance (FOC) by December 2014.

The meeting was attended, among others, by National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral D.K. Joshi, Defence Secretary R.K. Mathur, DRDO chief Avinash Chander and HAL chief R.K. Tyagi.

Tejas, already three decades in the making, is not likely to become fully combat worthy even in 2015, sources in the defence industry say. Around a dozen Tejas prototypes have taken to flying but with IOC–II being pushed to November this year, it could take even longer for FOC to come around. The IOC-II is compulsory to certify the fighter jet as fully airworthy.

In fact, the new DRDO chief Avinash Chander, who took over from V.K. Saraswat on May 30 and is himself a missile expert, will have his task cut out — to ensure that the LCA project does not suffer any more delays as it is crucial for India to get its own fighter jet in time.

The Tejas LCA project was first sanctioned in 1983 at a cost of Rs. 560 crore to replace the ageing MiG-21s. With the delay, the cost of the overall programme has escalated to huge proportions. It is estimated to cost more than Rs. 25,000 crore if the Naval variant and the unsuccessful Kaveri engine are also included.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has placed order for 20 Tejas in IOC-II configuration, with the American GE-404 engines, and another 20 in FOC. As per current plans, IAF will order six Tejas Mark-II squadrons (16 to 18 jets each), with the more powerful GE F-414 engines, once the fighter is combat-ready.

India’s LCA programme is meant to boost its capabilities even as the IAF continues to operate the now modernised version of MiG-21 Bison. The IAF hopes to maintain an adequate force until the multi-billion dollar MMRCA (medium, multi-role combat aircraft) order of 126 fighter Rafale fighter jets from France fructifies. And it is the reason, why India’s own LCA Tejas project is crucial to the IAF’s future prospects.

 

[shree835]

Combat off the mark - The Hindu

 

[kaykay]

Livefist: DRDO CHIEF INTERVIEW Part1: First Full-Rate Production LCAs This Year

The first two to three full-rate production LCA Tejas Mk.1 fighters for the Indian Air Force will roll out HAL's production facility in Bangalore in December, marking a major milestone in the trouble's programme's final leg. The aircraft will be the first of an order of 40 placed by the IAF of the Mk.1 variant slated to enter squadron service by the end of next year. In an exclusive interview to Livefist, the DRDO's new chief Dr Avinash Chander, said, "I feel very confident that LCA is within a visible range for production start. The target is that production should start this year. We should see two-three aircraft rolling out this year itself." After taking over as the DRDO's new chief last month following years at the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), where he found renown as the spearhead of the Agni strategic missile programme, one of the first things that Dr Chander did in his new capacity was fly down to Bangalore and chair a series of meetings with officials from the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), CEMILAC, National Fight Test Centre, HAL and the handful of other agencies involved in the development and certification of the LCA Tejas. His message was simple, yet clear: the air force, and indeed the country, would not wait any longer than the end of next year for the Mk.1. He told them, in no uncertain terms, that the next 18 months needed to be the fight of their lives. No excuses. Tejas needed to leave the DRDO stable, he impressed, because there were bigger, more challenging aircraft to build for the IAF. The DRDO, he told them, simply couldn't be stalled with the programme any longer. With over 2,200 test sorties on the board, the Tejas has 140 hours of test flying left before it achieves the second phase of its initial operational clearance (IOC-2), indicates Dr Chander, a special set of test points deferred from the first in January 2011. "The residual tasks are quite minimal. Some weapon release trials we have to do, some modifications we have done need to be tested. The radar has to be tested for operations. A total of 140 hours are planned in the next few months for IOC-2. With that the aircraft will be cleared for production." Final operational clearance (FOC)), the final step before induction into an IAF squadron, is set for November-December 2014. "We will complete the FOC by 2014 end. There are some issues when you touch the boundaries of performance, which have been identified and come out only during flight test. Those will be rectified. For FOC, there will be a variety of weapons, all weather clearance." Right about the time that the Tejas Mk.1 achieves IOC-2, two more naval prototypes will roll out, followed by a first flight before the end of the year. "The test facility is getting ready. I am confident that the LCA Navy will be on schedule," says Dr Chander. The first prototype, which took off in April last year, hasn't flown for nearly a year now, with the platform's undercarriage undergoing a major re-design with the help of EADS as a technological consultant. "The safety record of the Tejas during testing has been absolutely superb. No other aircraft has this record," Dr Chander says with pride. The new DRDO chief has asked for an update every alternate day on the LCA programme, and will be briefed by his special team entrusted with keeping things on track over the next 18 months.

 

[rockstarIN]

^^thats why we see lots of flights nowadays...!!

 

[RPK]

which took off in April last year, hasn't flown for nearly a year now, with the platform's undercarriage undergoing a major re-design with the help of EADS as a technological consultant.

Finally getting some help!

 

[S-DUCT]

Livefist: DRDO CHIEF INTERVIEW Part1: First Full-Rate Production LCAs This Year
The first two to three full-rate production LCA Tejas Mk.1 fighters for the Indian Air Force will roll out HAL's production facility in Bangalore in December, marking a major milestone in the trouble's programme's final leg. The aircraft will be the first of an order of 40 placed by the IAF of the Mk.1 variant slated to enter squadron service by the end of next year.

In an exclusive interview to Livefist, the DRDO's new chief Dr Avinash Chander, said, "I feel very confident that LCA is within a visible range for production start. The target is that production should start this year. We should see two-three aircraft rolling out this year itself."

After taking over as the DRDO's new chief last month following years at the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), where he found renown as the spearhead of the Agni strategic missile programme, one of the first things that Dr Chander did in his new capacity was fly down to Bangalore and chair a series of meetings with officials from the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), CEMILAC, National Fight Test Centre, HAL and the handful of other agencies involved in the development and certification of the LCA Tejas. His message was simple, yet clear: the air force, and indeed the country, would not wait any longer than the end of next year for the Mk.1. He told them, in no uncertain terms, that the next 18 months needed to be the fight of their lives. No excuses. Tejas needed to leave the DRDO stable, he impressed, because there were bigger, more challenging aircraft to build for the IAF. The DRDO, he told them, simply couldn't be stalled with the programme any longer.

With over 2,200 test sorties on the board, the Tejas has 140 hours of test flying left before it achieves the second phase of its initial operational clearance (IOC-2), indicates Dr Chander, a special set of test points deferred from the first in January 2011. "The residual tasks are quite minimal. Some weapon release trials we have to do, some modifications we have done need to be tested. The radar has to be tested for operations. A total of 140 hours are planned in the next few months for IOC-2. With that the aircraft will be cleared for production."

Final operational clearance (FOC)), the final step before induction into an IAF squadron, is set for November-December 2014. "We will complete the FOC by 2014 end. There are some issues when you touch the boundaries of performance, which have been identified and come out only during flight test. Those will be rectified. For FOC, there will be a variety of weapons, all weather clearance."

Right about the time that the Tejas Mk.1 achieves IOC-2, two more naval prototypes will roll out, followed by a first flight before the end of the year. "The test facility is getting ready. I am confident that the LCA Navy will be on schedule," says Dr Chander. The first prototype, which took off in April last year, hasn't flown for nearly a year now, with the platform's undercarriage undergoing a major re-design with the help of EADS as a technological consultant.

"The safety record of the Tejas during testing has been absolutely superb. No other aircraft has this record," Dr Chander says with pride.

The new DRDO chief has asked for an update every alternate day on the LCA programme, and will be briefed by his special team entrusted with keeping things on track over the next 18 months.

 

[kurup]

 

[sancho]

which took off in April last year, hasn't flown for nearly a year now, with the platform's undercarriage undergoing a major re-design with the help of EADS as a technological consultant.

Finally getting some help!

A company with no experience in navalising a fighter, get technological consultancy that also has no or very limited experience in this field as well. What a great idea ADA/DRDO! What should go wrong?

 

[S-DUCT]

Flight test update

From

LCA-Tejas has completed 2235 Test Flights Successfully. (25-June-2013).
(TD1-233,TD2-305,PV1-242,PV2-222,PV3-365,LSP1-74,LSP2-273,PV5-36,LSP3-144,LSP4-86,LSP5-188,LSP7-48,NP1-4,LSP8-15)

to

LCA-Tejas has completed 2242 Test Flights Successfully. (27-June-2013).
(TD1-233,TD2-305,PV1-242,PV2-222,PV3-365,LSP1-74,LSP2-274,PV5-36,LSP3-147,LSP4-87,LSP5-190,LSP7-48,NP1-4,LSP8-15)

 

[Mujraparty]

Some fighter did a low pass flyby a minute ago (sounded like kuffar plane) by the time i ran outside it disappeared ,it was flying really really low ,car alarms were going crazy & my neighbors came out of their house ..any Bangaloreans residing around koramangala ..?

 

[RPK]

Somebody got a twist it seems

 

[sudhir007]

Flight test update

From

LCA-Tejas has completed 2242 Test Flights Successfully. (27-June-2013).
(TD1-233,TD2-305,PV1-242,PV2-222,PV3-365,LSP1-74,LSP2-274,PV5-36,LSP3-147,LSP4-87,LSP5-190,LSP7-48,NP1-4,LSP8-15)

to

LCA-Tejas has completed 2247 Test Flights Successfully. (29-June-2013).
(TD1-233,TD2-305,PV1-242,PV2-222,PV3-365,LSP1-74,LSP2-274,PV5-36,LSP3-148,LSP4-90,LSP5-191,LSP7-48,NP1-4,LSP8-15)

 

[shree835]

140 hours till LCA achieves IOC-2

By September, the LCA Tejas will achieve initial operation clearance 2 (IOC-2) and begin moving towards production, according to DRDO Chief Avinash Chander. Revealing that approximately 140 hours of test-flying remained to sort out the residual test-points, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has been asked to stick to a September deadline for IOC-2 and speedily move towards final operational clearance 14 months later.

Starting October this year, the Tejas platforms will be put through a literally endless routine of weather and weapons trials across the country. The Tejas programme was also recently given a non-negotiable ultimatum by Defence Minister A.K. Antony calling for induction into the IAF by next year. As a result, the programme has willy-nilly become the highest priority of the DRDO, and additional resources may be allocated to the programme in terms of manpower, to ensure that it does not stray from its path for even a moment. It has also been recently reported that in an effort to speed up delays in productionisation, series production of aircraft will be undertaken from this year itself, instead of next year as was the original plan.

Production Lca Tejas aircraft all set for roll out

According to sources close to idrw.org, first two Production aircrafts of Countries indigenous fighter aircraft Program will be ready soon; both SP-1 and SP-2 are almost ready and will be handed over to IAF once IOC-2 is achieved by Tejas aircrafts.

First Production aircraft is one year behind schedule, but it was told to idrw.org that delays were not due to production issues but due to Tejas Project not achieving IOC-2 standard, aircrafts were built at a slower rate, IAF ordered 20 Tejas MK-1 aircrafts based on IOC-2 Configurations and it was unlikely that IAF could have accepted Production aircrafts without Tejas Project achieving IOC-2.

Defence minister and DRDO chief have promised IOC-2 for Tejas will be achieved by end of this year and Production aircrafts will be handed over to Indian air force at the same time , DRDO and HAL are also trying to deliver two more Production aircrafts by mid of next year .

DRDO is also planning to rollout first prototype of Tejas MK-2 by mid of next year and first flight by end of next year, they are also plans to put Naval Tejas back in air soon, aircraft has been going through intensive changes to its landing gear and undercarriage and will be shifted to Ins Hansa base in Goa for further testing, single seater variant of Naval Tejas is also likely be ready by end of this year.

IAF has placed orders for 20 IOC-2 Tejas MK-1 and 20 FOC Tejas MK-1, while Navy has placed orders for 8 Naval Tejas based on MK-1 configuration but will be ordering up to 40 Naval Tejas MK-2 for carrier operations, while IAF is looking forward to induct more than 80 aircrafts based on Tejas MK-2 but the follow up order will grow to 150 as per sources.

http://idrw.org/?p=23777#more-23777

 

[JohnyD]

LCA and it’s never ending IOCs!!!...wondering if it is being tested to fight against any omnipotent aliens from Mars...I would rank LCA project as Junk and IAF bosses as arrogant brokers of foreign defence suppliers..