It's not because you lack of finance that the study will be cheaper, but it is what Indian believe.
The R&D cost is fine when it comes to domestic programs. They penny pinch only in programs where costs can be avoided altogether. For example, let's not build a wind tunnel of this type when we can hire one in a foreign country, and so on.
Import programs are underestimated since costs are decided by bureaucrats rather than scientists. Not the case with domestic R&D programs.
400 crore or around 50 million USD, that's way too low. Koreans had more amount just for the 1st year of their stealth jet development. That grew every year to more than 500 million USD till 2018 I think.
And we are talking of 50 million USD for like 5-7 years? Do we want a stealth fighter or a glider ?
And we are talking of 50 million USD for like 5-7 years? Do we want a stealth fighter or a glider ?
cost of development is more in korea than India. But still AMCA programme would cost nearly 60k cr
That's purely the cost of designing, and doesn't include salaries and all other associated costs since a govt-owned lab's budget is spread out over different overheads. Whenever you see a rate for a DRDO project, all of that is the R&D component only.
The main criticism about funding R&D programs for DRDO projects is not the funding of the program itself but the lack of funding for test facilities. So scientists are forced to use foreign facilities instead, and the MoD is willing to pay for renting out such facilities rather than paying for it. Fortunately, that has changed. Now MoD is funding the facilities and many have been built. Naturally, those costs are not covered under the R&D costs.
Orange to add teeth to India’s gen-next weapon systems
Orange to add teeth to India’s gen-next weapon systems.
DRDO investing Rs 1,000 cr in testing, quality facilities
Economy News:DRDO investing Rs 1,000 cr in testing, quality facilities
The Koreans have likely spent less than we have in the same period and with lower effectiveness of each dollar spent.
Sanctioned cost vs spent cost of LCA as of 2011.
There was a iDEX challenge to develop an IRST replacement for the Su-30MKI, don't know what happened to it. Podded EOTS system from domestic & foreign sources already exists. As for body conformal EOTS, no such system has ever been spoken of in public.
I think BEL is developing IRST. EOTS is combination of FLIR, CCD, LRF and LD I don't think any domestic source can develop it except drdo.
Not sure about that.
IRDE had a project on that EOTS, not sure if its for airborne applications. They were developing extremely sensitive micro-bolometers for the FLIR. Saw some FESEM micro-graphs of the micro-bolometers. IRDE has in the past worked on CCDs, compared to bolometers CCDs are easier to make. LRFs already exists, both BEL & IRDE makes them.
One challenge is making the transparent IR window radome of the EOTS. Using a traditional Zinc Sulphide(ZnS) radome will be sub-optimal. Artificial leuco-sapphires are most preferable, but incredibly expensive. Using something like doped Anatase is economical but technologically risky proposition. Between rock & a hard place. If & when we make an airborne EOTS it will be interesting to see which way we go for.
what about using transparent ceramics as IR window . drdo has developed magnesium aluminate spinal which offers detection capability in MWIR range.
Transparent Ceramics: Enabling Large, Durable, Multifunctional Optics
Single-crystal sapphire has been the material of choice for defense and other applications that require extremely durable optics, but aluminum oxynitr
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Spinel is a good alternative. However it has an affinity towards calcite (CaCO3) layer formation on top of it. The Calcite removal is not difficult but it takes time & effort.what about using transparent ceramics as IR window . drdo has developed magnesium aluminate spinal which offers detection capability in MWIR range.
Transparent Ceramics: Enabling Large, Durable, Multifunctional Optics
Single-crystal sapphire has been the material of choice for defense and other applications that require extremely durable optics, but aluminum oxynitrwww.photonics.com
But then 5th gen fighters are maintenance intensive anyway. They could layer up Spinel with PTFE to prevent calcite formation. This will work assuming the fighter doesn't do supersonic cruising for too long. PTFE has a relatively low melting temp. Still think doped Anatase it a better option. We will see I guess.
Does the KF-X even count as a 5th generation fighter? It doesn't have an internal weapons bay which negates any stealth features... isn't the major selling point of 5th gen stealth?
Like AMCA, it's split into 2 phases. What you're describing is Phase 1. However, AMCA has yet to move off the drawing board whereas Korea after having launched its prototype will move on to Phase 2 & meet their schedule of inducting a true blue 5th gen FA by 2030-35 timelines.
