vishwambhar
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Thanks we will need it to inaugurate our first Tejas joining IAF....
Tejas FOC fighter takes to the skies with loads of upgraded features
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Thanks we will need it to inaugurate our first Tejas joining IAF....
Windjammer
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The Indians need to catch up on their history, we know Tejas has been some 30 years in making but that doesn't mean just because it's got it's FOC, you wipe the slate clean.
Tejas is as much Indian as Sonia Gandhi....
What actually happened between 1983 and 2000? First, let us take the promise of indigenous development. In 1986 an agreement was quietly signed with the United States that permitted DRDO to work with four US Air force laboratories. The to-be-indigenously-developed engine for the LCA -- Kaveri -- was forgotten and the US made General Electric F-404 engine was substituted. Radar was sourced from Erricson Ferranti, carbon-fibre composite panels for wings from Alenia and fly-by-wire controls from Lockheed Martin. Design help was sought from British Aerospace, Avion Marcel Dassault and Deutsche Aerospace. Wind tunnel testing was done in the US, Russia and France. As for armaments -- missiles, guns, rockets and bombs -- every last item was to be imported.
rediff.com: Admiral J G Nadkarni (retd) on the sad tale of the Light Combat Aircraft
Tejas is as much Indian as Sonia Gandhi....
What actually happened between 1983 and 2000? First, let us take the promise of indigenous development. In 1986 an agreement was quietly signed with the United States that permitted DRDO to work with four US Air force laboratories. The to-be-indigenously-developed engine for the LCA -- Kaveri -- was forgotten and the US made General Electric F-404 engine was substituted. Radar was sourced from Erricson Ferranti, carbon-fibre composite panels for wings from Alenia and fly-by-wire controls from Lockheed Martin. Design help was sought from British Aerospace, Avion Marcel Dassault and Deutsche Aerospace. Wind tunnel testing was done in the US, Russia and France. As for armaments -- missiles, guns, rockets and bombs -- every last item was to be imported.
rediff.com: Admiral J G Nadkarni (retd) on the sad tale of the Light Combat Aircraft
rockstarIN
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Windjammer
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Alas, when was the Tejas project initiated?
anathema
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2001 article ? Windy - How much time did you spend in searching..shouldnt you be posting latest information which makes the article you posted look as garbage.
Anyways You dont need to tell us our vistory - we dont revise them ! We very well know that. LCA saga - has been documented very well in multiple news features/reports/etc. All of the aerospace community takes pride in how the challenges mentioned above were overcome. If somebody over here thinks that critical technology pieces such as FBW , Engine , Radar , etc will be given by other countries then they are over their heads.
Entire design, manufacturing, equipping mil grade technology will do wonders for our aerospace community - just the way ISRO did and is doing for our space community.
Windjammer
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Blind patriotism just like shooting in the dark is dangerous.
Let me enlighten you that it's your own country fellow who is much more knowledgable than any weekend warrior is telling you the obvious....since you missed it, here's the source.
rediff.com: Admiral J G Nadkarni (retd) on the sad tale of the Light Combat Aircraft
Oh as for revising history, did your Modi Raj after 50 years decided to celebrate 1965 war as a victory.
anathema
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Ohh i read this article when it came out - so you are quoting a 2001 article ! When LCA actually hadnt even or was about to take first flight ! And you realize that none of whats written in article no longer holds true.
As for 1965 - we all know it was a stalemate. Politicians can do whatever they want - its their job, what matters is what's return in books.
Windjammer
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LCA program was initiated in the 80s and first flight took place in 2001....hence the author reminded or informed in 2001 to how it all came together.....today's Tejas may incorporate more features but the mothership is anything but an indigenous Indian product....cheers.
anathema
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Cherry picking to suit your narrative ! In that case Rafale program started in 1973 - with first flight tech demonstrator happening in late 1980's .. so whats the point. LCA program - technical feasibility study started in 1980's ; Once it confirmed - actual funds were allocated in 90's - with first prototype flying in 2001. It is very comparable to the timeline of other fighters ! It is delayed for sure as should be expected for the 1st fighter that we were desigining- it will provide an impetus to local industry like none before
Windjammer
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There you go digressing all sort.....did you even read the article i posted or just the date,
No one is discussing the time length, rather all the input from various international aviation manufacturers to start the LCA project.
A lemon inaugurating a lemon.
anathema
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Whats your point ? US got help from German scientists for their space/missile/atomic programe , Russia stole everything from US, China begged borrowed/stole everything , Mistibushi F2 program is taking inputs from American firms , we took help from design consultants coz there was no inhouse capacity. So what is the inference you are drawing ? That a country should not take any help - then only it can be referred to as indigenous ?
Anyways thats precisely i called out the rubbish article and its irrelevance ! to top it - All the international cooperation vanished - after nuc sanctions !
We had our share of import generals/admirals - short sighted guys. He was one of them. There are couple more , lot of us know them publicly.
hacker J
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A new variant of India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas completed its first flight successfully here on Monday. Piloted by Air Commodore K A Muthanna (Retd), Chief of Test Flying (CTF), Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the Tejas SP-21 (series production) fighter took off from HAL Airport here at 12:54 pm and landed back at 01:34 pm after 40 minutes of successful maiden flight.
This is the first Final Operational Clearance (FOC) variant of Tejas fighter produced by LCA Division, the youngest wing of HAL. In the next two years, HAL will have to roll out 16 FOC Tejas fighters (including SP-21) and eight trainers for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
One of the key features of the new Tejas variant is the air-to-air refuelling probe giving it an edge during enduring missions. The new variants will be able to fly non-stop for over eight hours with air-to-air refuelling support, thereby giving a fillip to IAF operations.
During Tuesday’s flight, the airframe profile was tested in which the engine and aircraft performance was proven. As a mandatory practice, the pilot is said to have also flown an inverted sortie that lasted for 10 seconds.
During today’s flight the pilot pulled 8G and touched supersonic speeds which proved the airframe and engine capabilities.
HAL sources say that Tejas SP-22 is likely to fly at the end of this month and two more fighters (SP-23, SP-24) will join the party by end of May. Tejas SP-22 is expected to undergo EGR (engine ground run) this week.
IAF Plans ::
IAF sources say that the second squadron of Tejas (No 18, Flying Bullets) will be formed at Air Force Station Sulur by likely next month, with the induction of first four fighters.
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria who held the Tejas review on March 2 has told all stakeholders to work in synergy towards the effective operationalisation of the Tejas fleet.
The IAF Chief also reviewed the IOC, FOC, Tejas MkIA and Tejas MkII variants and asked DRDO and HAL to hasten up the development schedules.
In a recent interview to Onmanorama, the IAF Chief said that with the induction of the second squadron, IAF will enhance the operational utilisation of the Tejas.
“The Tejas has very good capabilities and as we gain experience we will continue to expand its operational utility in IAF plans,” Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria had said.
Past Learning ::
HAL officials say that they have benefited immensely from the experience of producing 16 fighters in the IOC (Initial Operational Clearance) configuration.
“The lessons from the recent deliveries of Tejas fighters to IAF have come handy for us in the current scheme of things. SP-21 could have flown much earlier provided the clearance for software configurations came early from the authorities,” says an official.
The LSTT (low-speed taxi trial) for SP-21 was held on March 10 followed by HSTT (high-speed taxi trial) on March 13.
FOC Features ::
SP-21 boasts of key features like air-to-air refuelling probe, Gsh-23 mm gun, pressure refuelling with three drop tank configuration, improved wing navigation lamp, tandem pylon and auto-low speed recovery, to name a few. Here’s a quick glance at the new features:
• Air-to-air refuelling probe: This novel feature of mid-air refuelling introduced to FOC variants will enhance the range without additional touch downs or pit-stops to refuel. This is the first desi fighter to have this feature.
• Fuel system enhancement: Over and above 2350 kg fuel carrying capability of IOC variant with its external drop tanks of 1200 and 800 litres capacity, Tejas FOC has an additional 725 litres centre line drop tank with pressure refuelling.
• Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles: The reliable Derby and newly inducted Astra missiles have expanded the firing envelope making it more lethal. This feature was tested and cleared for the entire FOC envelope via exhaustive study of missile separation characteristics.
• GSH 23 mm twin barrelled gun: This Russian gun underwent extensive butt firing at Nasik before getting on board SP-21. The integral gun would give an edge to the pilot in case of a close-combat scenario.
Motivated Team ::
Despite the delays in rolling out Tejas SP-21, LCA Tejas Division ensured that the young team flocked together and stayed focussed in the last six months.
“Everyone is motivated here and they own the Tejas programme. The leadership ensures that even the suggestions of the junior-most staff is factored in. We have been trained right from the first day at this Division that the voice of customer is paramount,” says an employee.
According to her, the flat structure being maintained at the Division has enabled smoother decision-making practices.
Jubilant Scenes ::
HAL Airport witnessed jubilant scenes soon after the pilot touched down after the maiden sortie. Engineers, pilots, technicians, security staff and senior officials cheered as the pilot taxied in.
The pilot was given the customary shower on the tarmac soon after he came out of the cockpit.
The team members lifted the pilot holding a Tricolour with the roars of ‘high josh’ reverberating all over.
https://english.manoramaonline.com/...irst-tejas-foc-fighter-upgraded-features.html
No Astra and no auto cannon for now
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