LCA Tejas Mk1 & Mk1A - News and discussions
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Wondering if we ever looked at AL31FN as a power plant for the LCA MK2 untill a feasible home grown engine is built.. J10 like specs, and a TVC potential alleviating most of the low speed maneuverability issues. Also given there is an entire Koraput Division is just manufacturing AL31FP, ample support short lead time, enough spares, not prone to US sanctions, and simplified logistics with additional 544 engines in operational use?
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By 2020, No.45 Squadron to be moved to border with Pakistan says air chief.
LCA-Tejas Squadron To Be Moved From South To Air-Base Near Pakistan Border: Air Chief
LCA-Tejas Squadron To Be Moved From South To Air-Base Near Pakistan Border: Air Chief
I am sure the HAL Maestros must have looked at the option. But then logic in getting the airframe ready for deployment using existential capability beats the logic of taking 30 years in name of developing technology and then accepting that it failed but was a great learning curve. And that is an anathema for our learned people there. However, they surely have learned that the next failure can be 'crashed' to 25 years.
For a country that can put whole loads of stuff into space, I find it pretty hard to digest that we have been unable to use the knowledge and expertise that we have gained from AL31 to be able to manufacture equitable, if not better, engine till date
They still have a long way to go. Unlike the public feel good stories, LCA is not exactly that great a thing - yet.
Impossible. AL-31 is far too fat, far too long, far too heavy.
The Mk1 as it stands today is better than the Mig-21 Bison in a lot of ways. But yeah, it will be completely useless beyond 2020 against an advanced adversary. Even the Swiss Air Chief said the same thing about the Gripen C/D.
But the thing is Pakistan is not an advanced adversary.
In air defence, the LCA Mk1 is plenty enough to combat the J-7, Mirage III/V and JF-17 with its full flight envelop. So it can deal with more than 80% of PAF on its own.
And will be able to perform sneak attacks on better aircraft like the J-10, J-11A/B and F-16 B52 with the support of GCI, AWACS etc. All it has to do is get close, fire missiles and run away. So it's great for escort duties.
And it can provide ground support at FEBA. After Iron Fist and Gagan Shakti, the IAF has realised that even the Mk1 can provide excellent CAS, with as many as 6 sorties a day. So each LCA can drop at least 6 tons of ammunition a day at the lower end. Once the SANT is integrated with it, each LCA will be able to fly in with at least 12 missiles in support of ground troops per sortie.
Gotta be realistic. The footprint of the AL-31 is too big for LCA. Not to mention, the fuel consumption is much higher making the LCA irrelevant.
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Pakistan not sending JF-17 to LIMA 2019 after India agrees to send LCA-Tejas
Chinese designed and Pakistani manufactured JF-17 fighter jet will not be participating in Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) to be held in Malaysia even though JF-17 is one of the contenders for the supply of 12 (initial) +24 (follow-on) jets for Malaysian light combat aircraft (LCA) requirement for which it has already received requests for information (RFI).
Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) issued the RFIs in January this year and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) offcials were asked by RMAF Air Chief for JF-17 demonstration at LIMA 2019, last year in November which initially was agreed upon.
Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad will visit Pakistan on 21-23 March 2019 and also will be the Guest of Honour at the Pakistan Day where JF-17 will be demonstrated in fly past. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd LCA-Tejas, and Russian YAK-130 will be sending their fighter aircraft for demonstration purposes and it will be second-time LCA-Tejas will be demonstrated in the International market after it was first demonstrated in Bahrain three years ago which too was skipped by JF-17 demonstration team after confirmation of LCA-Tejas participation.
Military watchers feel that RMAF requirements are more inclined towards light fighter aircraft with a key focus on air to ground capabilities and which can also act as trainer aircraft to train pilots which are going to give an advantage to FA-50, YAK-130, and LCA-Tejas aircraft more then JF-17.
Pakistan not sending JF-17 to LIMA 2019 after India agrees to send LCA-Tejas – Indian Defence Research Wing
#LIMA2019 : 01 IL-76 & C-130J aircraft of IAF are providing the logistics support for induction of LCA aircraft to Langkawi, Malaysia.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) March 22, 2019
The Tejas aircraft will be participating in aerial display at LIMA 2019, showcasing its capabilities to a global audiencehttps://t.co/gkJjyd76do pic.twitter.com/Dp9YhELisd
Tejas LA 5010 is first of its type to land in Langkawi, Malaysia 🇲🇾 for @LimaExhibition Two aircraft made 3 circuits before landing. pic.twitter.com/NDmXRkgXRV
— Alert 5 (@alert5) March 22, 2019
As far as I know, the LCA's g tolerances and AoA limits are still lower than MiG-21's.
With FBW and a HMD combined with off-boresight missiles, a bit of maneuverability can be traded in, but then again, MiG-21 Bison has HMD+R73E as well.
Either way, I wouldn't consider it wise for the LCA to engage in dogfights, not while it still lacks a cannon as backup. Once the missiles are spent, the Mk-1 is all but defenceless. Mk-1A will be the same - unless an external gun pod is developed (and that will come with its own drawbacks - increased drag, 1 less hardpoint etc.)
When war comes calling, it will fight. But as a choice platform for air combat? I'd think a lot of pilots who love their gun will find it hard to put faith in the LCA.
I would think that as far as the external Elta jammer is concerned (EL/L-8222), you can tack that on to Mk-1 as well. Same will be the case for Mk-1A, external only. There's no new space created internally to accommodate an Internal SPJ.
As of MAWS, I believe there are to be included in the EW suite for Mk-1A. However, they will have to be tacked on to pylons or elsewhere. Because again, no internal space.
Like this -
Mk-2 however is meant to have internally-mounted MAWS apertures.
Nope.
If it could know without MAWS that a missile has been launched toward it, what then would be the purpose of MAWS?
Short answer: It won't know.
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2019 analysis: How good is the Block II Pakistan JF-17 fighter aircraft today compared to its peers and potential threats?
This is the Ultimate insult of JF 17 block 2
It is just equal to MiG 21
@vstol Jockey
@_Anonymous_
2019 analysis: How good is the Block II Pakistan JF-17 fighter aircraft today compared to its peers and potential threats?
This is the Ultimate insult of JF 17 block 2
It is just equal to MiG 21