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Tejas Light Combat Aircraft: The not so Indian fighter

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TEJAS Light Combat Aircraft: The not so Indian fighter

Despite being in the works since 1983, the fighter is nowhere near indigenisation and almost 70% of the aircraft’s systems still need to be imported.

The Air Force has decided to place an order for 100 new and improved Tejas Light Combat Aircraft. However, despite being in the works since 1983, the light fighter is nowhere near indigenisation and almost 70% of the aircraft’s systems still need to be imported.

An audit by the CAG brought out that despite claims that only 35% of the fighter depends on foreign systems, the actual figure is closer to 70%.

Engine:
Effort to develop the Kaveri engine failed, forcing the purchase of GE 404 power plants from the US.

Flight control system actuators:
Considerable development delay leads to purchase from foreign sources.

Multi-mode radar:
Joint HAL-LRDE project failed, Israeli company roped in.

Radome:
Initially developed by ASL, failed to meet standards, imported from the UK.

THE DEFICIENCIES

The Air Force and Comptroller and Auditor General identified the following glaring deficiencies in the fighter:

Lack of a trainer:
The LCA still does not have a certified trainer version to coach pilots.

Mission simulator:
The lack of a full-mission simulator for the aircraft also a hindrance to training.
> Increased weight, reduced internal fuel capacity, front pilot protection system weakness, reduced speed key deficiencies.
> Performance issues with the radar warning receiver and counter-measure systems.
> Original sanction for project was Rs 560 crore that has been increased to Rs 10,397 crore.

THE LCA LEGACY
In the works since 1983, the LCA project is an example of how things went off target in Indian research and development.

1983-LCA project sanctioned to replace the MiG 21 fleet. Technical specifi cations framed in 1985.
1998-Was the target date for the induction with a total projected requirement for 220 fighters.
2001-The actual first flight of the aircraft took place, five years behind schedule.
2013-It took an agonising 12 years from first flight to an initial operational clearance in which the aircraft met basic parameters.

2014-The first LCA is inducted but is still not combat worthy. Several defi ciencies remain, besides incomplete weapons tests and integration.

2015-Government asks IAF to order 100 more of an improved version of the LCA. This in addition to an earlier order for 20.

WHAT THE IAF WANTS NOW
To be able to commit fully to an order for 100 more LCA fighters, the Air Force wants these four things to be in place at the earliest:
> Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar to track incoming targets
> Integration of a long range beyond-visual-range missile
> Air-to-Air refuelling capability to enhance its range
> Modern electronic warfare capability to enhance survivability of the aircr ..

READ LINK
https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...ian-fighter/articleshow/49398335.cms?from=mdr

MOD EDIT: Please upload complete article - Edited to add full article
 
Last edited by a moderator:
TEJAS Light Combat Aircraft: The not so Indian fighter

Despite being in the works since 1983, the fighter is nowhere near indigenisation and almost 70% of the aircraft’s systems still need to be imported.

The Air Force has decided to place an order for 100 new and improved Tejas Light Combat Aircraft. However, despite being in the works since 1983, the light fighter is nowhere near indigenisation and almost 70% of the aircraft’s systems still need to be imported.

An audit by the CAG brought out that despite claims that only 35% of the fighter depends on foreign systems, the actual figure is closer to 70%.

Engine:
Effort to develop the Kaveri engine failed, forcing the purchase of GE 404 power plants from the US.

Flight control system actuators:
Considerable development delay leads to purchase from foreign sources.

Multi-mode radar:
Joint HAL-LRDE project failed, Israeli company roped in.

Radome:
Initially developed by ASL, failed to meet standards, imported from the UK.

THE DEFICIENCIES

The Air Force and Comptroller and Auditor General identified the following glaring deficiencies in the fighter:

Lack of a trainer:
The LCA still does not have a certified trainer version to coach pilots.

Mission simulator:
The lack of a full-mission simulator for the aircraft also a hindrance to training.
> Increased weight, reduced internal fuel capacity, front pilot protection system weakness, reduced speed key deficiencies.
> Performance issues with the radar warning receiver and counter-measure systems.
> Original sanction for project was Rs 560 crore that has been increased to Rs 10,397 crore.

THE LCA LEGACY
In the works since 1983, the LCA project is an example of how things went off target in Indian research and development.

1983-LCA project sanctioned to replace the MiG 21 fleet. Technical specifi cations framed in 1985.
1998-Was the target date for the induction with a total projected requirement for 220 fighters.
2001-The actual first flight of the aircraft took place, five years behind schedule.
2013-It took an agonising 12 years from first flight to an initial operational clearance in which the aircraft met basic parameters.

2014-The first LCA is inducted but is still not combat worthy. Several defi ciencies remain, besides incomplete weapons tests and integration.

2015-Government asks IAF to order 100 more of an improved version of the LCA. This in addition to an earlier order for 20.

WHAT THE IAF WANTS NOW
To be able to commit fully to an order for 100 more LCA fighters, the Air Force wants these four things to be in place at the earliest:
> Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar to track incoming targets
> Integration of a long range beyond-visual-range missile
> Air-to-Air refuelling capability to enhance its range
> Modern electronic warfare capability to enhance survivability of the aircr ..

READ LINK
https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...ian-fighter/articleshow/49398335.cms?from=mdr

MOD EDIT: Please upload complete article - Edited to add full article
Dear please post complete article as OP not just link. I have edited your post to share complete article now.
 
Whether people like it for not, it's in production. Rarely you hear of people talking of Dhruv like they used to. And HAL is about to give Reliance, or TATAs, or Adanis, etc. the rights to produce the civ-Dhruvs for Indian market. So, it's even more success, let alone the faster development of offshots like LUH, LCH, etc.

70% is most like the import by value, western, etc. engine, radar, etc. will do that. And a lot of the imports are great opportunities for the industry to fill in and create alternatives.

India certified the platform itself from LEH to Tamil Nadu.

It can do what ever the **** it wants with the platform now ---

MOr5M7Q.jpg

Z30PuuX.jpg



Whether it be if wants to put it's most advanced avionics on a LIFT variant.

62240530_2314376641990104_877343376259678208_n.jpg

62189127_2314376141990154_1746833963164368896_n.jpg

HAL-LCA-Tejas-Navy.jpg


Whether it be reworking it for naval applications, for future naval applications.

step0000.jpg


Whether it be having it made under module construction with big private companies like the TATAs, L&Ts, or small ones like Tech Dynamics, Astra, etc. eat off this program.

Dz4najkVsAAgOhH.jpg

Dz_iNIVWwAEyapo.jpg



Whether it be moving right on from the platform and creating offshoots off it's basic design.

What is your JF? You import basic airframes. You have China do basic certifications dual seat variant, air to air refuel, etc. Your own senior partner used Russian help on the bird, so what do you mean talk of Tejas?

Mark my works.. This program no matter the initial start will be remembered as a success, simply for what it ends up raising.
 
Last edited:
Whether people like it for not, it's in production. Rarely you hear of people talking of Dhruv like they used to. And HAL is about to give Reliance, or TATAs, or Adanis, etc. the rights to produce the civ-Dhruvs for Indian market. So, it's even more success, let alone the faster development of offshots like LUH, LCH, etc.

70% is most like the import by value, western, etc. engine, radar, etc. will do that. And a lot of the imports are great opportunities for the industry to fill in and create alternatives.

India certified the platform itself from LEH to Tamil Nadu.

It can do what ever the **** it wants with the platform now ---

MOr5M7Q.jpg

Z30PuuX.jpg



Whether it be if wants to put it's most advanced avionics on a LIFT variant.

62240530_2314376641990104_877343376259678208_n.jpg

62189127_2314376141990154_1746833963164368896_n.jpg

HAL-LCA-Tejas-Navy.jpg


Whether it be reworking it for naval applications, for future naval applications.

step0000.jpg


Whether it be having it made under module construction with big private companies like the Adanis, TATAs, L&Ts, or small ones like Tech Dynamics, Astra, etc. eat off this program.

Dz4najkVsAAgOhH.jpg

Dz_iNIVWwAEyapo.jpg



Whether it be moving right on from the platform and creating offshots off it's basic design.

What is your JF? You import basic airframes. You have China do basic certifications dual seat variant, air to air, etc. Your own senior partners used Russian help on the bird, so what do you mean talk of Tejas?

Mark my works.. This program no matter the initial start will be remembered as a success, simply for what it ends up raising.
Telling a lie thousand time wont make it true. That's all.
 
Telling a lie thousand time wont make it true. That's all.

Nice one. Trust me, I'm all for being realistic, but Tejas will go down no different to the initial ISRO platforms. You guys can keep ignoring. Industy is around this program, even more so will it it's offshots. Indian aero and defence industry has never looked brighter, I remember the days of how it used to be when I joined here till now. It's not perfect, but the trajectory keeps getting higher.
 
Last edited:
Nice one. Trust me, I'm all for being realistic, but Tejas will go down no different to the initial ISRO platforms. You guys can keep ignoring. Industy is around this program, even more so will it it's offshots. Indian aero and defence industry has never looked brighter, I remember the days of how it used to be when I joined here till now. It's not perfect, but the trajectory keeps getting higher.
But you should not call it "indigenous".
 
But you should not call it "indigenous".

The IP belongs to India. The subsystems can be replaced, are being replaced and are opportunities for industry to fill in. There's no problem importing high end subsystems like GE engine for India's first bird, matter a fact, several countries already doing for their programs.

I gave you examples of what India can do a short period of time with the platform without filling out paper work with Russia, etc. for example. In that case it is "indigenous". In that case it is very much Indian.
 

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