We have already seen the initial projection of the jets and like any other single engine jets , both the tejas versions will be built in hundreds. There is no doubt. But it will be on par with IAF need/affordance and IAF certainly do not need ~1000 number of the two combined. Impossible to maintain such numbers in our scale esp when 2 other programs also will have numbers in hundreds, maybe little less for tedbf.
LCA Tejas Mk1 & Mk1A - News and discussions
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When, 14 years on, IAF got its first trainer jet for LCA Tejas
The delay forced the IAF to induct the LCA Tejas without the trainer version. HAL now aims to deliver the first eight of the 18 trainers by mid-2024
Angad', 'Uttam' to replace imported systems in indigenous LCA fighter jets
ANI | Updated: Oct 15, 2023 18:21 IST
New Delhi [India], October 15 (ANI): In a significant development amid the ongoing push for indigenisation of military weapon systems, the made-in-India Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mark1A would be fitted with the 'Uttam' radar and the 'Angad' electronic warfare suite, replacing the imported systems installed previously.
The Uttam Active Electronically Scanned Array radar and Angad electronic warfare suite are being developed indigenously and will be ready to be integrated with the LCA Mark-1A aircraft very soon, defence officials told ANI.
The Indian Air Force has already placed orders for 83 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets and going to place orders for another 97 in the near future.
"From the 41st aircraft onwards to the order for 83 LCA Mark1A planes, the electronic warfare suite and the AESA radar would be made in India, enhancing the extent of the indigenous content in these aircraft, replacing the imported systems," a source said.
The projects are being implemented by different laboratories of the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
The push for retrofitting the LCA with indigenous weapon systems is also tipped to save millions in foreign exchange while creating employment opportunities in the defence industry.
The Uttam radar has also shown very promising results in the development phase and has even been considered for deployment in high-end fighter jets, sources informed.
According to plans of the Indian Air Force (IAF), these made-in-India aircraft will replace the MiG-series fighter jets in its fleet, sources said, adding that the plans have been submitted to the Defence Ministry and before all other stakeholders in the national security establishment.
The Indian Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari also held a review meeting recently with all involved parties, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, with regard to the indigenous fighter jet program.
The Indian Air Force would also be using a more capable version of the Uttam radar on the LCA-Mark2 and future indigenous fighter aircraft being developed by Indian agencies. (ANI)
ANI | Updated: Oct 15, 2023 18:21 IST
New Delhi [India], October 15 (ANI): In a significant development amid the ongoing push for indigenisation of military weapon systems, the made-in-India Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mark1A would be fitted with the 'Uttam' radar and the 'Angad' electronic warfare suite, replacing the imported systems installed previously.
The Uttam Active Electronically Scanned Array radar and Angad electronic warfare suite are being developed indigenously and will be ready to be integrated with the LCA Mark-1A aircraft very soon, defence officials told ANI.
The Indian Air Force has already placed orders for 83 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets and going to place orders for another 97 in the near future.
"From the 41st aircraft onwards to the order for 83 LCA Mark1A planes, the electronic warfare suite and the AESA radar would be made in India, enhancing the extent of the indigenous content in these aircraft, replacing the imported systems," a source said.
The projects are being implemented by different laboratories of the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
The push for retrofitting the LCA with indigenous weapon systems is also tipped to save millions in foreign exchange while creating employment opportunities in the defence industry.
The Uttam radar has also shown very promising results in the development phase and has even been considered for deployment in high-end fighter jets, sources informed.
According to plans of the Indian Air Force (IAF), these made-in-India aircraft will replace the MiG-series fighter jets in its fleet, sources said, adding that the plans have been submitted to the Defence Ministry and before all other stakeholders in the national security establishment.
The Indian Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari also held a review meeting recently with all involved parties, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, with regard to the indigenous fighter jet program.
The Indian Air Force would also be using a more capable version of the Uttam radar on the LCA-Mark2 and future indigenous fighter aircraft being developed by Indian agencies. (ANI)
Known for wine, Nashik is the next aircraft manufacturing hub as HAL spreads wings
HAL has a capacity to build 16 LCA Mk-1As every year in Bengaluru, and the Nashik line will help the firm ramp up production to a total of 24 jets.
Nashik, India’s wine capital, is set to emerge as the next hub for aircraft manufacturing in the country, with Bengaluru-based state-owned plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) preparing to activate new production lines for the indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A and Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) planes to meet the Indian Air Force’s growing requirements for fighter jets and basic trainers, senior officials aware of the development said.The new plant for the Mk-1As will enable HAL to advance the deliveries of the 83 such fighters ordered by IAF for ₹48,000 crore in February 2021 by at least a year, HAL chief CB Ananthakrishnan said in an interview. His comments came days after IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari announced plans to order 97 more LCA Mk-1As at an estimated cost of ₹67,000 crore.
HAL has a capacity to build 16 LCA Mk-1As every year in Bengaluru, and the Nashik line will help the firm ramp up production to a total of 24 jets.
The first Mk-1A will be delivered to IAF in February 2024, and the last of the 83 jets by 2028 (instead of 2029, the contracted delivery schedule), Ananthakrishnan said. Timely delivery is a top priority for IAF, which is grappling with a shortage of fighter squadrons.
“We are hoping to achieve a targeted minimum capacity of building 24 fighters. Nashik has been a big aircraft division that was earlier manufacturing Sukhoi-30s. Building eight LCA-Mk-1As every year with an additional production line is not going to be a difficult job. This will help us make more fighters available to IAF at the earliest,” he said.
The aircraft manufacturing division at Nashik, set up in 1964, has produced MiG variants and Su-30s under licence.
The new Mk-1A production line is being set up fast to begin deliveries from Nashik.
“We have already started installing the jigs, fixtures and other equipment. We expect the first assembly to happen in December 2024. Our target is to deliver three aircraft from Nashik in 2024-25 and eight every year thereafter,” Ananthakrishnan said.
The ancillary industry ecosystem in and around Nashik is good, and several micro, small and medium enterprises will be involved in LCA Mk-1As production, especially in supplying structural parts and components, he said.
If LCA Mk-1A production rate increases to 24, then the timelines will be met considerably, said former IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major (retd). “But it should be a constant effort to ensure that HAL maintains a 24-aircraft per year production rate. This will help IAF reach the desired force levels,” he said.
IAF’s plans to go in for 97 more LCA Mk-1As reflected its confidence in the firm’s ability to fulfil orders within the stipulated timeline, he said.
Will the Mk-1As to be ordered come with improvements over the first lot of 83 jets? “HAL hasn’t gone into those details yet. The existing (83) Mk-1As will come with additional systems and features IAF wanted in LCA Mk-1. Once we get to the technical discussions, we will have to see whether any further improvements are required. If IAF wants it and if it fits within the design, we should be able to accommodate the customer’s needs. Improvements are possible (in the next 97).”
On October 4, HAL handed over the first trainer version of LCA Mk-1 to Chaudhari in Bengaluru, with the twin seater set to fill a key training role and double as a fighter if needed. The aircraft is part of an earlier order for 40 Mk-1 jets in the initial operational clearance (IOC) and the more advanced final operational clearance (FOC) configurations — the first variants of LCA. Of the 40 Mk-1s, IAF has inducted 32 single seater jets and raised two LCA squadrons. The remaining eight aircraft are trainers. Seven more twin seater aircraft will be delivered to IAF by March 2024.
LCA is set to emerge as the cornerstone of IAF’s combat power in the coming decade and beyond. IAF, the world’s fourth largest air force, is expected to operate around 350 LCAs (Mk-1, Mk-1A and Mk-2 versions), with a third of those already ordered, some inducted, and the rest figuring prominently on the air force’s modernisation roadmap and expected to be contracted in the coming years. The newer variants, Mk-1A and Mk-2, will come with significantly improved features and technologies over the Mk-1 aircraft.
“LCAs will be a very formidable part of the future fighter fleet. Given their design architecture, the aircraft can be continuously upgraded to meet IAF’s requirements,” Major added. Basic trainers will start rolling out of Nashik in 2025-26, said DK Sunil, director (engineering and R&D), HAL.
In March, the defence ministry awarded a ₹6,838-crore contract to HAL for 70 HTT-40 planes. The new aircraft, a longstanding need, will be used for ab initio training of IAF pilots.
“HAL will deliver 12 trainers to IAF in 2025-26. Ten of those will be built at Nasik and the remaining two in Bengaluru. Deliveries will follow at the rate of around 20 every year, with 15 of the aircraft to be built in Nashik,” Sunil said.
Currently, ab initio training of all rookie pilots is carried out on Swiss-origin Pilatus PC-7 MkII planes and Kiran Mk-1/1A trainers. Those training to become fighter pilots further train on the British-origin Hawk advanced jet trainers.
A repeat order for 35 HTT-40s is likely, the officials said.
The LCA project was sanctioned in 1983 as a replacement for the Soviet-origin MiG-21 fighter fleet. IAF raised its first LCA squadron with two aircraft in July 2016. The existing Mk-1 and Mk-1A variants will replace IAF’s MiG-21 fighters. IAF currently operates more than 50 MiG-21 Bison aircraft (three squadrons), the latest and the last variant of the MiG-21. It is set to retire these squadrons by 2025.
The Mk-2 aircraft is planned as a replacement for IAF’s MiG-29s, Mirage-2000s and Jaguar fighters that will start retiring in the coming decade.
IAF to deploy LCA at frontline fighter bases in western sector
The deployment is intended to fill the gap left by the phasing out of the MiG-21 fighter jets and will include the advanced variant LCA Mk-1A.
IAF is getting more confident of Tejas' abilitiesIAF to deploy LCA at frontline fighter bases in western sector
The deployment is intended to fill the gap left by the phasing out of the MiG-21 fighter jets and will include the advanced variant LCA Mk-1A.www.hindustantimes.com
Bodes quite well for our future indigenous aviation
Tejas at Dubai airshow. Look how Al Tariq pgm is shown beside. Must be in plans.
Tejas is performing better in-terms of horizontal Roll , Vertical Charlie, Negative G, and Recovery after slow speed compared JF 17
LCA Tejas Flight show at Dubai Air Show....
It always was a better plane both in terms of build quality as well as maneuverability. LCA Tejas has RSS, quadraplex Fly By Wire system, carbon composite frame and skin for higher 9+ G performance against non RSS, single chanel fly by wire, all metal frame of JF-17, which is not suitable for even 8 G if done airframe will get cracked. So JF-17 is not even comparable, the only fighter with which its performance needs to be compared is Gripen C. The fly by wire is completely Indian and is still undergoing modification and flight envelope may be further opened with reduced weight and we may see much more better performance than this in LCA MK1A...
JF-17 is a Dud not suitable for long duration wars as the airframe will start cracking and engine not suitable for sustained sorties which LCA Tejas Excel in...
JF17 may be using a better engine now in Block 3... If you see, the engines are less smoky and may have a little higher thrust. That's why they came this year to participate in the air show. We have to bring MK2 ASAP.It always was a better plane both in terms of build quality as well as maneuverability. LCA Tejas has RSS, quadraplex Fly By Wire system, carbon composite frame and skin for higher 9+ G performance against non RSS, single chanel fly by wire, all metal frame of JF-17, which is not suitable for even 8 G if done airframe will get cracked. So JF-17 is not even comparable, the only fighter with which its performance needs to be compared is Gripen C. The fly by wire is completely Indian and is still undergoing modification and flight envelope may be further opened with reduced weight and we may see much more better performance than this in LCA MK1A...
JF-17 is a Dud not suitable for long duration wars as the airframe will start cracking and engine not suitable for sustained sorties which LCA Tejas Excel in...
Its using the same old engine without FADEC. In every other way its a proper 4th gen fighter.
RD-93MA with 93kn thrust. Earlier versions were flying with RD-93 with 83kn thrust. But I have doubts on reliability of this engine in comparison to GE-404 & GE-414 which are one of the most reliable Aero engines in the world right now. RD-93 is based on RD-33 which is notorious for in flight failures in Mig29s but due to twin engines Mig29s somehow survived many such failures but on single engine JF-17 it's a disaster in waiting. Only time will tell...
They did not get MA version yet. At this point i think they will go for WS-13.RD-93MA with 93kn thrust. Earlier versions were flying with RD-93 with 83kn thrust. But I have doubts on reliability of this engine in comparison to GE-404 & GE-414 which are one of the most reliable Aero engines in the world right now. RD-93 is based on RD-33 which is notorious for in flight failures in Mig29s but due to twin engines Mig29s somehow survived many such failures but on single engine JF-17 it's a disaster in waiting. Only time will tell...
JF-17 Thunder & PAF : Updates & Discussions
Again, don't have AESA seeker or 200 km range.