Next Tejas Milestone: Derby BVR Missile Firing By March

[Zarvan]

As the laboured final stretch of India's LCA Tejas trudges on, there's a final milestone on the, well, horizon. A Tejas fighter with a fully integrated multi-mode radar and new quartz radome is all set to fire its first BVR missile off the coast of Goa -- Livefist can confirm it will be a Rafael Systems Derby (mock-ups pictured above last year). As reported earlier by Livefist, the Derby has been signed on as a stopgap in the event that the indigenous Astra doesn't enter the field of play in time. More details on this upcoming test soon.

The real wait, of course, is for the Tejas to begin carriage and firing tests of the in-development Astra, which has already been fired a few times from an IAF Su-30MKI.

LIVEFIST: Next Tejas Milestone: Derby BVR Missile Firing By March

 

[mkb95]

Rafael's Derby is a fully developed Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile. The missile offers excellent performance and maneuverability in both medium and short range engagements. The missile is also offered in an air defense configuration.
Main features:

• Active radar seeker
• Designed for both medium and short range
• All weather performance
• Look-down/Shoot-down capability
• Lock On Before Launch (LOBL) mode for tight dogfights
• Advanced programmable ECCM
• Lightweight
• Fully developed, tested and proven missile

here is Derby Brochure
http://www.rafael.co.il/marketing/SIP_STORAGE/FILES/8/1188.pdf

 

[kaykay]

26° AoA achieved( according to Saurav Jha).
8G achieved.
Quartz nose cone achieved.
Derby BVR test awaited

 

[scientien]

26° AoA achieved( according to Saurav Jha).
8G achieved.
Quartz nose cone achieved.
Derby BVR test awaited

About aoa and 8g it is mentioned in broucher by ada.

 

[Providence]

Why such a huge time gap between each trials ?

Next is what ? some A2G missile test in Jan 2017 ?

 

[scientien]

Why such a huge time gap between each trials ?

Next is what ? some A2G missile test in Jan 2017 ?

Because of unavailability of quartz radome,as radome made out of composit materials reduces radar detection range. now that we have got it, im sure tejas will achive its foc by end of this year.

 

[AyanRay]

Because of unavailability of quartz radome,as radome made out of composit materials reduces radar detection range. now that we have got it, im sure tejas will achive its foc by end of this year.

I am sorry, but was it an eureka moment for DRDO that they suddenly realized that the composite radome reduces radar range? Why wasn't quartz radome installed in the first place?

 

[scientien]

I am sorry, but was it an eureka moment for DRDO that they suddenly realized that the composite radome reduces radar range? Why wasn't quartz radome installed in the first place?

It was for first time they were using composits on such large scale all the other aircraft in iaf inventory uses light weight metal alloys which wont affect the range of radar.
Also the quartz radome is not manufactured in India and procurement got delayed because of delay by company which manufacrures it,
Also quartz dome though reciceved months ago,it requires some minor structural changes in LCA so that CG of aircraft is properly adjusted.

 

[knight11]

I am sorry, but was it an eureka moment for DRDO that they suddenly realized that the composite radome reduces radar range? Why wasn't quartz radome installed in the first place?

Why should ADA be targetted with such questions. PS check this for EF Typhoon

After the amicable settlement the ECR-90 was prepared by the Euro radar consortium of GEC Marconi and FIAR (now Selex ES), ENOSA (now Indra) (now Airbus Defence & Space) develops and DASA for series production. This also was the BAC 1-11 used. The development steps were the BAC 1-11 to a built-in, which was first flown in DA5. In this first air-to-air radar modes were tested, then air-air modes under ECM -Influence, and finally air-ground modes. The tests were carried out in close coordination with the testing of sensor fusion (AIS), the weapons and the navigation. [19] In May 1996, it was found here that the radar energy the Radom partly could not leave because the Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) for Flashbacks made. The problem was solved by the antenna was changed from vertical to horizontal polarization, and the radome has been redesigned. Main problem was that the design of the radome was conducted by British Aerospace, and the work between AEG in Germany, Alenia in Italy and was split CASA in Spain. In retrospect, it was found that it would have been better to place the orders for radar and Radom to a company. The primary responsibility for the radar was therefore transferred from DASA to BAE Systems. [20]

Tejas was earlier designed with the Kelevar Radome, but later found that the one designed was hampering the MMR of the aircraft to take full use of its capabilities. The Radome is the stucture that provides mechanical and moisture protection, but also provide low reluctance to the electromagnetic radiation to pass through it. When the plane is flying, the temperature of the nose radome increases very high, thus changing it BMI charecterstics, which could be ironed out put required time. So to speed up the LCA program, Cobham, which is the leader in the Quartz radome from fighter aircraft to warships was given order, whose earlier designed failed, thus Cobham again designed new Quartz Radome for LCA Tejas.

Cobham U.K as finally handed over newly designed quartz radome and in-flight refueling probe for integration with LCA-Tejas MK-1 to speed up its final operational clearance (FOC) which due to non-supplies already has been pushed back to March 2016.

New quartz radome developed by Cobham will replace Composite radome of Indian make to increase the detection range of the Indo-Israeli developed Hybrid ELTA MMR Radar from 50 Kms to 80 plus Km which currently are been used on Tejas MK-I aircrafts.

Cobham U.K were awarded Contract to supply New quartz radome and in-flight refueling probe in early 2014 , which missed multiple deadlines due to which FOC certification for Tejas MK-1 had to be postponed to March 2016 from its December deadline of this year.

Defence Analyst believe that radome integration and testing will begin soon and can be completed in next few weeks, but Integration of IFR probe might take few months since it involves Structural changes but sources close to idrw.org in past have confirmed that fuel pumping and fuel lines have already been installed in all last batch of LSP (Limited Series Production LCA) and SP ( Series Production LCA) aircrafts in anticipation of integrating IFR probes at later stage.

But Mid-air testing of IFR probes, where aircraft receives aviation fuel from the Refuelling tanker aircraft while in flight is not only a time-consuming process but requires months of preparations, which might again delay FOC process unless HAL is able to integrate in-flight refueling probes in multiple LCA aircrafts, to speed up the testing process.

Indian and Israeli team of engineers are closely currently working on Integrating Israeli developed within visual range (WVR) air-to-air Python-V missile and Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air Derby missile in LCA Tejas aircrafts in Bangalore and DRDO plans to carry out first weapons trials in next few months, which are also important requirements of the final operational clearance (FOC) certification process required to be cleared by Tejas MK-1.

Why such a huge time gap between each trials ?

Next is what ? some A2G missile test in Jan 2017 ?

Integration takes time between the Mission computer, cockpit display computer, HUD, Helmet mounted display, WSM Weapon store management, but now both EL/M-2052 or 2032 are Israeli and both Python-5 and Derby are Israeli, there should be no problem in its integration, because Israeli technicians are working with the HAL.

Problem is why ADA or HAL is not working on the Quad store LGP pylon, supersonic centerline drop tank, Multi rack pylon. We need Astra 1/2 also integrated with the LCA. My personal choise would have MICA IR/RF but I am not the designer nor decission maker.