All Indian posters here are trying to whitewash this obsolete excuse of a fighter (first belated flight 2001), when their Airforce won't place any confidence in this product. In simple American English, it's called a DUD.
Meaning something that "fails badly or is totally ineffectual". DRDO was totally out of it's element in developing this fighter. The last great Indian DUD was a MARUT - which, although designed by Kurt Tank of Focke Wulf fame, died a premature death too. No prize for making guesses. India remains the 'paradise of chori' in spite of Sanghis trying to paint it as an advanced economy.
Then, as now, the problem was the same.
- Lack of commitment for Indian politicians to developing indigenous capability in aerospace manufacture, which does not help their pockets percentage wise.
- More importance given to lining politicians' and defense chiefs' pockets using 'phoren' equipment purchases, witness BOFORS and other expensive scams
- In spite of the Americans building HAL in the 1940's to repair and refurbish USAAF transports, (C46s, C47s and C119s) and gifting HAL (spoon-feeding an Aviation Industry) to India in ready to go form, the proven capability of Indians to eff-up a ready-made-thing continues. Even compared to the equivalent efforts in Pakistan and Indonesia, the performance of HAL (and DRDO) is dismal in this area.
Witness the foreign made components used in the LCA project, this is one third of the list (even fuel cap is imported)....
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Sl. No./System/Equipment / LRU
1 Avionics Enhanced – Video cum Digital Recorder (E-VDR)
2 Avionics E-VDR Remote Cassette Unit Holder (RCUH)
3 Avionics E-VDR Removable Mass Memory Device
4 Avionics Global Positioning System (GPS)- Antenna
5 Avionics Gyro Reference Unit [GRU]
6 AvionicsHMDS (Head Mounted Display System) -Guillotine Assembly
7 Avionics HMDS-Line of sight computer Unit
8 Avionics HMDS-Magnetic Transmitter Coil Unit [MTCU]
9 Avionics HMDS-Seat Position Sensor Assembly
10 Avionics HMDS-System Control Panel
11 Avionics Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) - Antenna
12 Avionics Marker Antenna
13 Avionics MMR (Multi Mode Radar) - Ethernet switch
14 Avionics Multi Function Display Unit [MFD]
15 Avionics Radio Altimeter (RAM)-Antenna
16 Avionics RWR (Radar Warning Receiver) - Antenna
17 Avionics RWR - Power Divider
18 Avionics RWR - Switch Filter Assembly (RF Units)
19 Avionics Tactical Navigation (TACAN) - Antenna
20 AvionicsVery/ Ultra High Frequency (V/UHF)Blade Antenna
21 AvionicsVery/ Ultra High Frequency (V/UHF)Radio ACR 500LA
22 AvionicsVHF Omni Range – Instrument Landing System(VOR – ILS) Blade Antennas
23 Avionics VOR - ILS Diplexer
24 Environmental Control Bypass Valve PHE (Primary Heat Exchanger)
25 Environmental Control Cabin Pressure Control Valve
26 Environmental Control Cabin Pressure Safety Valve
27 Environmental Control Cabin Shut-Off Valve
28 Environmental Control ECS-Shut-Off Valve
29 Environmental Control Ejector Shut Off Valve (ESOV)
30 Environmental Control Filter Cabin Pressure Control
31 Environmental Control Flow Control Valve - Avionics cooling
32 Environmental Control Inward Relief Valve
33 Environmental ControlPressure Reducer-Radar and Cabin SealPressurization
34 Environmental Control Pressure Sensor Avionics Inlet
35 Environmental Control Pressure Sensor P26 (Condenser)
36 Environmental Control Pressure Sensor- P79(Avionics Flow Control)
37 Environmental Control Pressure Sensor P24 - Bleed Air Inlet
38 Environmental Control Pressure Switch (Bleed Air Inlet)
39 Environmental Control Pressure Switch-High
40 Environmental Control Pressure Switch-Low
41 Environmental Control Pressure Transducer-Cabin
42 Environmental ControlPRV-SOV(Pressure Reduction Valve/Shut off Valve)
43 Environmental Control PRV-SOV- Control Unit
44 Environmental Control Seal Inflation / Deflation Valve
45 Environmental Control Temperature Control Valve
46 Environmental Control Temperature Sensor (High)
47 Environmental Control Temperature Sensor (Low)
48 Environmental Control Temperature Sensor-Pneumatic
49 Environmental Control Water Separator
50 Electrical0.35 kVA HMDG (Hydraulic Motor DrivenGeneratror) – LH (Left Hand)
51 Electrical 0.35 kVA HMDG – RH (Right Hand)
52 Electrical 0.35 kVA HMDG – VRU (Voltage Regulator Unit)
53 Electrical 30 / 40 kVA IDG (Integral Drive Generator)
54 Electrical 30 / 40 kVA IDG-GCU (Generator Control Unit)
55 Electrical 5 kVA HMDG
56 Electrical 5 kVA HMDG -GCU
57 Electrical Ground Power Receptacle (GPR)
58 Electrical Light - Anti Collision
59 Electrical Light Taxi/Landing
60 Electrical Light-Wander
61 Electrical Power Supply Unit - Anti Collision Light
62 Electrical Undercarriage display unit
63 Electrical Undercarriage Selector Lever
64 ESCAPE Ejection Seat
65 Flight Control Air Data Probe [NADP]
66 Flight Control Air Data Sensor - Left Side [LADP]
67 Flight Control Air Data Sensor - Right Side [RADP]
68 Flight Control AoA (Angle of Attach) Sensor [AoA / AoSS vanes]
69 Flight Control Pilot Control Grip
70 Flight ControlLeading Edge Vane Controller (LEVCON) ServoActuator Assembly
71 Flight Control Probe Total Temperature [TATP]
72 Flight Control Sensor Assembly, Accelerometer [ASA]
73 Flight Control Sensor Assembly Rate [RSA]
74 Health and Utility Management System (HUMS) HUMS-Data Acquisition unit
75 Hydraulic Control cable - Park Brake Control
76 Hydraulic Control cable - Under carriage Emergency
77 Hydraulic Emergency Undercarriage Selector Valve
78 Hydraulic Flow Synchronizer
79 Hydraulic Pressure Gauge
80 Hydraulic Pressure Switches
81 HydraulicPressure Switch – EMDP(Electric Motor Driven Pump)
82 Hydraulic Pressure Switch - P/B
83 Hydraulic Pressure Transducers
84 Hydraulic Progressive Pressure Control Valve
85 Hydraulic Slide & Swivel Joints
86 Landing Gear Antiskid Brake Manifold
87 Landing Gear Brake Feel Module Input Potentiometer
88 Landing GearFree castor valve for Nose Wheel Steering(Solenoid valve)
89 Landing Gear Nose Wheel Steering Input Potentiometer
90 Landing Gear Nose Wheel Steering Manifold
91 Landing GearNose Wheel Steering Position Sensor(Feedback potentiometer)
92 Propulsion and Fuel Air / No Fuel Float Valve
93 Propulsion and Fuel Differential Pressure Switch
94 Propulsion and Fuel Electric Re-fuelling Valve
95 Propulsion and Fuel Engine third mount pin
96 Propulsion and Fuel Float Valve
97 Propulsion and Fuel Fuel Drain Valve98 Propulsion and Fuel Fuel Filler Cap