LCA Tejas Mk1 & Mk1A - News and discussions
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Quid pro quo.?
China Recruiting French Military Pilots To Train PLA Aviators For Carrier-Based Ops: French Media
Following revelations of former British and Australian fighter pilots training the PLA Air Force, the latest story from French local media now suggests that several former French pilots have also been instructing the PLAAF in China.
www.eurasiantimes.com
If only we had the foresight and shamelessness to copy products.
In fact, this is the problem, Indians can certainly use China to copy the SU 27 to justify their backwardness, But India still has to contend with almost all of its main rival's air fighters being 4.5-generation and 5-generation fighters. And their own fighter is only 4 generation aircraft-based.
We have a sufficient air force considering our GDP, buddy. We do not have a superpower watching over us, ready to choke you over a small island.
First, take on taiwan with your copy-paste airforce then talk.
Well, the size of your army is based on your enemies, not your economy. After 2017 India make China to your main enemy, India must have to increase the size of its military, not as it is now, fighters completely behind in both quality and quantity
In fact, Indians say that the Chinese copy Su 27, and can not provoke China, Su 27 this platform we like, Especially now that we know the technology, China is free to make what it wants
What an idiot. Does democratic China aka Taiwan, have an army to counter Communist China? Any Middle Eastern country to counter Israel? Poland to Russia? Philippines to China? Ukraine to Russia?
It's been like that in the last 2000 years, you will go broke if your standing army is not proportional to your economical might. Very basic concept actually.
We still have a bigger standing army compared to party army of china. That too way better trained and experienced. As the GDP goes the quality will increase.
Walk the talk buddy. Show us by challenging taiwan. Why cant winnie the pooh take back some self respect. If history is any indication, cheap Chinese products will easily crash down.
IAF flags concern over delay in new Tejas LCA
IAF expresses concern over delays in Tejas LCA Mk-1A programme by HAL, citing risks to combat capabilities.The Indian Air Force (IAF) is unhappy with the current pace of the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA Mk-1A) programme because of the possible risks a delay in the induction of new fighter planes could pose to the air force’s combat effectiveness, and has flagged the hot-button issue to plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), calling for timely execution of the ₹48,000-crore contract for 83 jets, senior IAF officers aware of the matter said on Thursday.
“We have told HAL that delay is unacceptable as it will affect our fighting capabilities. IAF is still waiting for the first Mk-1A aircraft that was to be delivered by March 31, 2024,” said one of the officers cited above, who asked not to be named.
The state-run firm is now targeting the first delivery in August after completing the necessary certification requirements, and says it will deliver 16 of these fighters to IAF in the financial year 2024-25 as per schedule. It also hopes to deliver all the 83 aircraft on order by 2028-29, HAL officials said.
Many in the air force are, however, sceptical about the LCA Mk-1A deadlines being met, and one of the main reasons for that is the lingering delay in the supply of the F404 engines to HAL by US firm GE Aerospace. The delivery of the engines is delayed by around 10 months, HT has learnt.
The LCA Mk-1A made its maiden sortie from an HAL facility in Bengaluru on March 28.
“There are some observations relating to the LCA Mk-1A’s maiden flight and then there is the engine issue. HAL doesn’t have enough engines to deliver the 16 aircraft this year,” said the IAF officer cited above.
The single-engine Mk-1A will be a replacement for the IAF’s Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 fighter.
“IAF should have started phasing out the last of its MiG-21s and raising the first LCA Mk-1A squadron by now. The conversion to new aircraft for pilots, and the training of technicians and maintenance crews will take time. If we don’t get the new aircraft on time, the capability drawdown will be drastic. IAF doesn’t have a Plan B for the MiG-21 replacement,” said a second IAF officer, who also asked not to be named.
To be sure, IAF’s leadership has firmly backed the LCA programme and more Mk-1 aircraft will be ordered. In a review last year, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari described the fighter aircraft as the flag-bearer of the air force’s efforts towards the indigenisation of its combat fleet.
IAF’s endorsement, however, does not absolve HAL of the delays in the project, said a third IAF officer.
LCA Mk-1A is an advanced variant of the LCA Mk-1, which has already been inducted by IAF.
“You must cut us some slack as the Mk-1A is more or less a new aircraft,” said one of the HAL officials cited above, asking not to be named.
“This means there is a comprehensive certification process for the new systems and that is taking some time. HAL has ramped up its production capacity to be able to meet IAF’s requirements for new fighters. The project is a top priority for us,” he added.
HAL has set up a new production line in Nashik for LCA Mk-1As to meet IAF’s growing needs. HAL says it can build 16 LCA Mk-1As every year in Bengaluru, and the Nashik line will help it ramp up production to 24 jets.
HAL officials acknowledged the engine delay issue but said that the plane maker was working towards resolving it and has plans in place to ensure that the project doesn’t suffer.
“We are hoping to get some F404 engines to deliver 16 Mk-1A aircraft in FY 2024-25. If there is more delay, HAL will still keep building the planes and fly them with Category B engines (reserve ones). When the GE engines come, we will fit those on the aircraft and deliver the planes to IAF. We are confident of sticking to the overall delivery schedule (by 2028-29),” said a second HAL official.
There was no response from GE Aerospace to a set of queries from HT on the reasons for the engine delay till the time of going to print. Engine deliveries are believed to have been delayed because of supply chain challenges.
Even as doubts shroud the delivery schedule of the LCA Mk-1A jets, more are likely to be ordered soon. In April, the defence ministry issued a tender to HAL for the proposed acquisition of 97 more LCA Mk-1As to strengthen the air force’s capabilities at a time it is grappling with a shortage of fighter squadrons. The new fighter planes are expected to cost around ₹67,000 crore.
LCA is set to emerge as the cornerstone of IAF’s combat power in the coming decade and beyond as it is expected to operate around 350 LCAs (a mix of Mk-1s, Mk-1As and the future Mk-2).
Forty Mk-1 jets operated by IAF are in the initial operational clearance (IOC) and the more advanced final operational clearance (FOC) configurations --- the first variants of LCA.
IAF recently relocated its last MiG-21 fighters from their home base at Suratgarh in Rajasthan to the sprawling Nal desert fighter base near Bikaner, where the only other remaining Indian MiG-21s are based, as the world’s fourth largest air force prepares the ground to pull these iconic planes out of service and begins raising its new LCA-Mk-1A fleet.
Both squadrons operate the MiG-21 Bison, the last variant of the single-engine workhorse.
The LCA project was sanctioned in 1983 as a replacement for MiG-21s. IAF raised its first LCA Mk-1 squadron in Sulur with two aircraft in July 2016. While the existing Mk-1 and the new Mk-1A variants will replace MiG-21 fighters, the Mk-2 aircraft is planned as a replacement for the MiG-29s, Mirage-2000s and Jaguar fighters that will start retiring in the coming decade.
Seems first Mk1A to be delivered by August instead of July.
As per Alpha defense tweet
As per Alpha defense tweet
Overdependence on the American engines is going to bite us in our backsides, unfortunately! We should have chosen EJ200 for MK2 rather than another GE product.
Well, one thing that is beyond the imagination of most Indians is that Taiwan's air force is much stronger than India's. Taiwan has more than 250 F16Vs, whose performance is far superior to India's su30, and about 50 new block70s have the same performance as Rafale. The same Mirage 2000 Taiwan also has 2000-5s, while most of India's models are older, not to mention that Taiwan's about 30 battalions of long-range surface-to-air missiles are several times that of India.
As I said before, the Indian army is not large. What is large is its large number of ordinary infantry units. It does not have many high-tech weapons. India's well-trained soldiers are more due to their long years of service, which does not mean that they can adapt to modern warfare.
This is the contradiction in China. From the perspective of national sentiment, national interests and geopolitics, China and the West are bound to confront each other. However, China needs Western markets and funds to help it upgrade its industries. Therefore, China does not want to completely break off relations with the West like Russia did. Therefore, it can only maintain a situation of fighting but not breaking. Under such circumstances, it is difficult for Taiwan to unify.
Why are you rambling? Complete the original point before showing your hidden love for western equipment.
Or, are you saying that the small capitalist Chinese air force can easily destroy the communist air force? If that's the argument, I agree.
Please refresh your social credit score, its been lowered.
womp womp, We have a better-trained army because they are well-trained and more motivated since they are volunteers.
It is basically difficult for the Taiwan Air Force to destroy the Chinese Air Force, but it is easy to destroy the Indian Air Force. This is what I want to say. Open your eyes and look at the world. This is already the era of 4.5 generation fighters and 5 generation fighters. Especially the Russian-Ukrainian war, it has been proved that the performance of su30SM is backward. Russia's main air superiority fighters are still su35 and mig31
So why did Modi want to carry out the reform? The only reason is that India's military service system is not only useless but also consumes a lot of funds.
There were some reports that Su-30MKI is still superior in both WVR(2:1) and BVR(1.4:1) vs upgraded M-2000s. And our upgraded M-2000s are more advance than -5 version. Also, no upgraded F-16(of any block) can hold a candle to Rafale in any aspect of aerial combat.
Fact is, Taiwan air force is no match to IAF. PLAAF is superior only because of J-20 and PL-15. Once we get our stealth fighters and Astra 2, the playing ground becomes level and our superior training and tactics shall prove too much for your air force.
Not true. Indian army is one of world's most battle trained and experienced armies. IA also has great experience of fighting over the mountains. Certainly they're well trained and equipped to break the teeth of the dragon.....err.....Panda, when the time comes.
Take your propaganda to PDF or SDF. This ain't a place for it brotha.
To be honest, I don't want to evaluate Rafale. In most Indian forums, Rafale is already a god, not an objective fighter. India can take a look at some information released by the Slovak Air Force, Rafale is not as strong as you think, block 70 is not as weak as you think, If I were an Indian, I would not buy Rafale at all, but save money to change the su 30
Well, I think 250 fighters using APG 83 and AIM 120D are a bigger threat than the Indian Air Force,
Besides, only god knows when the Indians will upgrade the Su 30
i
Indians are so good at mountain warfare, why haven't they developed light tanks for mountain warfare until now, And an assembly consisting of American Cummins engines and Belgian turrets
You can ask Modi why he changed the 20-year military service to four years, changing the volunteer system that so many Indians are proud of
Indians are so good at mountain warfare, why haven't they developed light tanks for mountain warfare until now, And an assembly consisting of American Cummins engines and Belgian turrets
Our organization is such that no one is willing to take the responsibility.
China did it the right way and continues to do so.