LCA Tejas and derivatives news and discussion (reincarnated)

Read the forum code of contact

Member for

15 years 8 months

Posts: 2,626

Well., if foreign (Dassault) input did not occur, DRDO or HAL must have suddenly worked out how to fix a long term problem. Is that likely? I do not think so.

What I think is more likely  is that Dassault, who know how to design naval landing gear, replaced the inadequate locally designed landing gear (seriously overweight) with a sucessful design.

May not have been an 'India can do anything' moment but who cares? The idea is to get results. India did/could not and no amount of self promotion was going to change that.

 

Member for

12 years 3 months

Posts: 5,905

It's Safran that made the Rafale M landing gear... Not Dassault. 

Messier-Bugatti

PS: Hurra! Edit function works again! 

Member for

15 years 8 months

Posts: 2,626

Safran? Don't doubt you but how good are Safran at designing landing gear? IIRC (many years ago) it was said that the locally designed gear was about half a ton too heavy. How much weight did Safran manage to remove? 100Kg? 300Kg? 500Kg?

Member for

4 years 5 months

Posts: 233

Still waiting for the source of this claim that HAL used Rafale offsets with Messier Bugatti to optimize the LCA Navy landing gear. Never heard of it before.

And HAL had several years ago spoken of changes being made to reduce the landing gear weight. Well before the Rafale deal was even signed.

 

 

Member for

4 years 5 months

Posts: 233

India's next fighter- the single F-414-INS6 powered Medium Weight Fighter (MWF) is to go into Detail Design from next month onwards.

-First prototype rollout targeted for August 2022

-First flight targeted for Sept 2023

-12 squadrons = 12 X 18 = 216 jets

Although these images show fixed probe, a retractable probe is being planned to reduce drag. Also DSI is being considered based on AMCA experience.

https://english.manoramaonline.com/content/dam/mm/en/news/nation/images/2020/2/3/def-expo4.jpg

https://english.manoramaonline.com/content/dam/mm/en/news/nation/images/2020/2/3/defexpo-1.jpg

https://english.manoramaonline.com/content/dam/mm/en/news/nation/images/2020/2/3/defexpo3.jpg

https://english.manoramaonline.com/content/dam/mm/en/news/nation/images/2020/2/3/def-expo2.jpg

Lucknow: The Medium Weight Fighter (MWF), the gen-next variant of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas – LCA MK-II, will enter the Detail Design phase next month.

The configuration for this advanced single-engine fighter has been frozen along with sub-system level Preliminary Design Reviews (PDRs).

It is now confirmed that the most-critical ‘aircraft-level PDRs’ will be held at the end of this month.

And, the detail design and tool design activities will start from next month.

Sources confirmed to Onmanorama that the all-important metal cutting for MWF is scheduled to start from April 2021. Sources claim that the Indian Air Force (IAF) has indicated to induct about 12 squadrons of MWF.

Long lead activities like procurement of raw material for metal cutting have already been commenced.

“We have frozen the design configuration,” says an official.

..

The mockup, an engineering cockpit simulator, is embedded with large area display (LAD), sleek Head-Up Display (HUD) and side stick, or control stick on pilot’s side console.

..

In addition to improved range and endurance, the MWF has a maximum all-up weight of 17,500 kg with increase in weapon carrying capacity. Among the key features are:

• Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar in place of Multi-Mission Radar (MMR)

• Internal electronic warfare (EW) suite with jammer

• Integration of latest sensors like Infra Red Search and Track (IRST) and Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS)

• Multi sensor data fusion

• NCW (Network Centric Warfare) capabilities

• Close Coupled Canard

• Improvements in maintainability

• Increased internal fuel

• OBOGS (On Board Oxygen Generating System)

..

Supersonic drops tanks, retractable air-to-air refueling (AAR) probe, quick turnaround\role change and fly-by-wire flight controls with upgraded Digital Flight Control Computer (DFCC) are some of the other features of the MWF.

To be powered by GE-F414-INS6 engine, the MWF has a service ceiling of 50,000 feet.

It is 14.6 m in length, has 8.50 m wingspan and stands at 4.56 m height. It is capable of touching up to +9/-3.2 ‘g’ limits and can fly at maximum speeds of 1.8 Mach.

..

Target 2023

The first prototype of MWF ‘roll out’ is scheduled for August 2022 with its first flight expected in September 2023. A total of four prototypes are being planned initially.

Not wanting to repeat the missed lessons in Tejas MK1 project, the IAF is involved actively in every step right from the beginning of MWF. The Project Monitoring Team (PMT) from IAF is a part of all activities providing necessary inputs to the designers. Periodic reviews are also conducted by Air HQ.

Similar to the Tejas MK-1, HAL is fully involved from the beginning as the principal partner mandated to produce all prototypes.

Member for

4 years 5 months

Posts: 233

MWF loadout drawing

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EP104M7UEAAyaeT?format=jpg&name=900x900

Designed to carry upto 8 BVRAAMs + 4 CCMs

Centerline hardpoint will be designed to carry upto 1800 kg payload. A new heavy stand-off precision weapon named Rudram-3 is in development and MWF will need to be able to carry it.

Rudram-1 is an anti-radiation weapon

Rudram-2 is another stand-off weapon

Member for

4 years 5 months

Posts: 233

MWF cockpit simulator at DefExpo 2020

LAD with center console for control of Net-centric Tactical Situation and for control of unmanned wingmen in the future. As per HAL Test Pilot, Grp Cpt HV Thakur. 

Interestingly, Direct Voice Input, which was developed and demonstrated on the Hawk-i demonstrator of HAL, will be used in the MWF cockpit.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EP67aUxVAAEi9VJ?format=jpg&name=900x900

From Ananth Krishnan's Twitter

1. ADA-HAL combo will begin the metal cutting for India's #MWF in Feb 2021.

2. Long lead activities towards metal cutting (procurement of raw material) have commenced.

Mk-2 cockpit has a unique MFD below the large area display for control of Net-Centric Tactical Situation & the mother aircraft's Unmanned-Wingmen. Equipped with voice command, pilot's decision support system & AI-based displays, Mk-2 cockpit workstation is truly contemporary.

Member for

4 years 5 months

Posts: 233

As per 2 Test Pilots, the Tejas Mk1's radar (Elta 2032 back end, MMR antenna front end) is top notch. Considered the best in the IAF as of now. And the IAF is trialing the Tejas Mk1 against other IAF types in integrated exercises.  Air to Air modes considered "tops" and Air to Ground modes "bang on".

Member for

4 years 5 months

Posts: 233

Finally some confirmation that HAL has planned to increase the rate of production from the 16 Tejas fighters per year that they're currently close to getting to.

HAL plans to outsource 35% of LCA manufacturing to private sector

HAL has put in place the infrastructure to double its capacity to produce 16 of the fighter jets every year and has a contingency plan to increase it further if the need arises. “The second (production) line has been set up. With two lines we can manage 16 a year and if really required we can put up a third line as well,” said Madhavan.

Member for

4 years 5 months

Posts: 233

A couple of really good quality CG renderings of the upcoming Medium Weight Fighter (MWF)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EP5q5s3U8AAOGKL?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EP5q44XUwAAs0om?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

Member for

15 years 8 months

Posts: 2,626

Safran to deliver full engine ToT?

Leading French engine manufacturer Safran has said that it is ready to transfer the full technology for jet engines that can power next generation fighter jets and has initiated talks on the matter

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/ready-to-partner-india-transfer-technology-of-jet-engine-safran/articleshow/73950370.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Member for

4 years 5 months

Posts: 233

MWF specifications

Longer than Tejas Mk1 by 1.4 m,

Wing Span 0.3 m larger than Tejas Mk1

Height 0.46 m more than Tejas Mk1

MTOW- 17,500 kgs. i.e. 4,000 kgs more than Tejas Mk1

Empty Weight- 7,850 kgs i.e approx 1250 kgs more than Tejas Mk1

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/675x900q90/921/sEvstg.jpg

Member for

4 years 5 months

Posts: 233

It seems that the negotiations between HAL and the MoD have finally been wrapped up and will now transition to the CCS for the final nod before the deal is officially signed.

Rs 39,000 crores for 83 Tejas Mk1A and the associated support ground support equipment, spares and simulators. Works out to $5.57 billion @ Rs 70 to the US $. 

HAL to provide IAF with 83 Tejas fighters in Rs 39k crore deal

“With the contract price now settled at Rs 39,000 crore, the procurement file is being sent to the Cabinet Committee on Security for final nod. It should be cleared before this fiscal ends on March 31. Once the contract is inked, HAL promises to begin deliveries of the Mark-1A jets in three years,” said a source.

Member for

12 years 3 months

Posts: 5,905

It's quite a story by itself to say the least. From $9 billions downto 5+ and gov deep scrutiny into Hal commercial practices, we have there something atypical.

As an example, why wouldn't Hal make a profit on sensitive foreign items it has helped secured for import? 

So, as an example, if tomorrow I have the opportunity to sale  luxurious imported corporate  cars to the Indian governement, I would have to do so for free?! 

In many WTO countries, any items or service procured can't be re-offered without a margin. It's normal business practice that helps to  fight corruption and keep a sane accountability. 

Member for

4 years 5 months

Posts: 233

HAL is a Public Sector Unit. It is owned entirely by the GoI. It's profits end up with the GoI itself. the IAF gets it's budget from the GoI and has to pay for what it wants from HAL using those funds. So basically, adding a profit margin to it doesn't make sense from the GoI POV. It just goes from one pocket to another pocket. But, the IAF just has less funds then to procure other items it badly needs using it's capital purchases budget.

Member for

12 years 3 months

Posts: 5,905

No. Hal need capital for long term planing and to sustain a right level of R&D or strategic investment.

A public company (owned in full or  in majority) by the gov is not an administration.

Administrations don't build planes, even in India. 

 

Member for

4 years 5 months

Posts: 233

SP-21, the first serial production Tejas Mk1 FOC fighter

https://img.manoramaonline.com/content/dam/mm/en/news/nation/images/2020/2/27/MM-Air-Chief-01-(Lead-Pic).jpg

link

 

 

 

Member for

4 years 5 months

Posts: 233

LCA Navy NP2 on INS Vikramaditya

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ESV25sKUcAABmLz?format=jpg&name=small