ADA AMCA - Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft

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Yeah its intended to be basic, since the position of some of the sensor suite etc is probably not fixed yet. ADA is about to start some detail design level work and have tendered out for this too. A more mature model will likely come in .. next Aero India :unsure:

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etc

This is very confusing. What does this mean? CDR is complete, metal cutting done, the prototype is under construction, right? That means all components are in place. Then what is this "detail design for center fuselage structure", etc? 🤔🤔:rolleyes:
 
This is very confusing. What does this mean? CDR is complete, metal cutting done, the prototype is under construction, right? That means all components are in place. Then what is this "detail design for center fuselage structure", etc? 🤔🤔:rolleyes:
In the early phase its about the aerodynamic design, not the physical hardware prototype. Once the design is validated via independent verification and validation via a committee, the general design config is frozen. ie airframe how much load can take, things like that I guess.

Next is you start realising the various engineering parts for the prototype building since you are not 3D printing it as a whole. So the prototype jet hardware is sort of combination of thousands of parts, right ? There you start first doing this cfd study on those smaller parts individually, everything is defined including the tiny fasteners of which engineering drawing is made. Many of those airframe parts are needed to be designed with specific tolerance level in mind, so the mfg company can test it to confirm and prove the same.

Hence at first you need detailed engg design of entire airframe variety of sections like cockpit fuselage wings elevator rudder stabilizer everything, then go by each subsystem based. Material choice is up to the design committee and the manufacturing agency (HAL or its vendors) will be qualifying the said parts as specified per the engg design team via testing under strict QA. This QA will be prepared by the engg design team, which is usually outsourced by ADA to a reputed Aero engg firm.

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In the early phase its about the aerodynamic design, not the physical hardware prototype. Once the design is validated via independent verification and validation via a committee, the general design config is frozen. ie airframe how much load can take, things like that I guess.

Next is you start realising the various engineering parts for the prototype building since you are not 3D printing it as a whole. So the prototype jet hardware is sort of combination of thousands of parts, right ? There you start first doing this cfd study on those smaller parts individually, everything is defined including the tiny fasteners of which engineering drawing is made. Many of those airframe parts are needed to be designed with specific tolerance level in mind, so the mfg company can test it to confirm and prove the same.

Hence at first you need detailed engg design of entire airframe variety of sections like cockpit fuselage wings elevator rudder stabilizer everything, then go by each subsystem based. Material choice is up to the design committee and the manufacturing agency (HAL or its vendors) will be qualifying the said parts as specified per the engg design team via testing under strict QA. This QA will be prepared by the engg design team, which is usually outsourced by ADA to a reputed Aero engg firm.

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Well, that's making a jet from outside 1st towards inside.
Some ADA guys might have said - let's make it like YF-23, some said - no keep it like YF-22. :ROFLMAO:

But when AMCA was initiated in 2010, then all these detailed process, CAD, CFD, etc would have completed by now in 15 years.
Anyways, keeping the internal process aside, the citizens think that metal cutting happened in 2022, so the prototype will roll out say in 2027. So are we on that time-frame track or not?
 
Well, that's making a jet from outside 1st towards inside.
Some ADA guys might have said - let's make it like YF-23, some said - no keep it like YF-22. :ROFLMAO:

But when AMCA was initiated in 2010, then all these detailed process, CAD, CFD, etc would have completed by now in 15 years.
Anyways, keeping the internal process aside, the citizens think that metal cutting happened in 2022, so the prototype will roll out say in 2027. So are we on that time-frame track or not?

CDR is composed of the macro elements of the airframe, this program deals with the micro elements of the structure that mainly deal with interfacing the mechanical parts and electrical parts.

Metal cutting may have happened in 2022, but there were delays in construction of the demonstrator. Plus all ADA dates are tentative, don't expect first flight until 2028. The first TD is expected to roll-out next year but will require a year plus of ground testing and taxi trials before it can fly.
 

No custom weapons of IWB, its capacity not increased, no CCM interally, no EOTS, DAS, IRST but external pod. This is unacceptable for 5gen & a step backwards. ⚠️🔔🚨The public reactions are already disappointing, waste of income taxes.:mad:

impossible to guess its scale.🤔
 
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This infographic shows EOTS + 2 external cyindrical pods, which has created massive public confusion.
EOTS = LD + IRST.
Some say it will be jammer, some say it can be DEW pod. Either ways it can be given hexagonal shape for stealth with RAM, RAS.


Turkey, China are way behind USA in materials. As per documentaries, interviews, podcasts, etc, SR-71 is said to be gen-1 stealth with shaping & RAS, F-117 is considered gen-2 stealth, B-2 is considered gen-3 stealth, F-22/35 are considered gen-4 stealth, B-21 & NGAD are gen-5 stealth. This gen is only for stealth aspect, not for entire jet.

USA may also have evolved from usual layered paint approach.
But in everyday life we see most features, quaity = more cost.
The RAM paint might be costly to maintan but it also certainly contributes to reduce RCS, hence R&Ded & invested upon. Those nations who can't afford is their bad luck, just like there the citizens may not have cars & other stuff like Western people.

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But no matter who does what, ultimately the RCS return numbers matter.
F-22 has RCS= 0.00015 sqm.
F-35 has 0.0015 sqm.
Let's see AMCA's RCS tested & quoted in future.
 
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For the private industry to step in, either the IAF should order more than the promised 150 or have the govt convince another country to step in with additional orders. Preferably both.

Although people keep saying such projects are expensive, from the industry's perspective, a batch of 10 jets a year is $1B in yearly revenue and the profit is barely even $150M, and that's for something like 200-300 companies sharing this revenue between them. Just double that for a full squadron. It's not enough without long term production until capabilities are fully established.

So AMCA needs to climb up to 200 under IAF's hands, and then another 100 exported. So that will give a decade plus production cycle on 3-4 lines.
 
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Godrej to manufacture flight control actuators for AMCA


The aerospace business of Godrej and Boyce, a part of Godrej Enterprises Group, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) for manufacturing flight control actuators for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.

Under the MoU, the company will undertake comprehensive development of flight control actuators for AMCA, including precision manufacturing, procurement of aerospace-grade raw materials, assembly and testing, and development of test rigs for qualification tests.

Maneck Behramkamdin, senior vice president and business head, aerospace business of Godrej and Boyce, said: “This partnership exemplifies our commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat in the aerospace sector. We are proud to be at the forefront of India’s aerospace revolution, turning the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat into a reality through cutting-edge engineering and precision manufacturing. We continue to enable and elevate India’s manufacturing capabilities and competitiveness at a global level.”
 
After potential stealthy SAM hunter, AMCA has potential to engage naval & other surface targets also from stand-off distance.
If we compare some present weapons like AGM-158A JASSM, JSM/NSM, Storm-Shadow/SCALP-EG, Taurus KEPD-350, SOM-J, etc then they're still bigger than IWB, but they can be scaled down.

Below is example of JASSM & JSM with their original dimension compared to 4.2m long IWB:

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But their adjusted size variants are being integrated in F-35. Similar weapons can be developed for AMCA too.

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Continuing the chain of posts for weapons in AMCA's IWB which is officially quoted 4.2m X 2.2m,
After observing the designs of all BVR-AAMs made globally, and intention of F-35 & J-35 to increase their IWB capacity to 6 AAMs, I had shown by diagrams that only 4 big-fin Astr-1/2 AAMs can fit in IWB but,
6 staggered Astr-2 short-fin AAMs (like AIM-120-D in F-22),
or 6 modified Astr-3 SFDR,
or 8 folding-fin Astr-2 AAMs can fit in (like Chinese PL-15).

I took the CAD of Astr-2 big-fin by artist "Akela freedom" & edited in Paint to match short-fin version made by artist "Kuntal Biswas" which is also identical to AIM-120-D. So the forward fixed fin has been shortened & shifted forward & rear fin leading edge more swept back, that's all, simple quick edit.

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Now we can see the comparison more clear & precise, 4 & 6 big-fin AAMs vs 6 short-fin AAMs in the outine of official dimension of IWB. Unfortunately an updated CAD is not released yet by any artist or DoD.

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I did this few weeks back but I waited for Aero-India, hoping they would officially increase the IWB capacity & showcase, but didn't happen. But this is not an up-hill task & can be done easily till IOC jet.

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There is no separator wall in the IWB. 1 door panel slightly overlaps on the panel of other side door, means both doors have to open full to drop any weapon, exposing full IWB.
I hope this gets corrected in IOC jet
 
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Just adding for reference, the VEM technologies made the 1:1 model, which is ready to fly, building the AMCA structure with actual aero material. So on the basis of that, ADA is expecting the 1st prototype to be completed in 2028. Also, the SPV model is going to be finalized soon.



 
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