Well in the famous words of Indira Ji to the Indian navy "if its a war, its a war", yes Tejas will be used if need be, that is why it’s a combat aircraft.
That is the reason for spending all the money on Israeli - lightning pod, that very famous EL/M 2032 radar, electronic warfare equipment, missiles and foreign cooperation on the Kaveri engine.
In the area it will have to operate in possible hostile sky (not flying against F22-35) - It can hold its own when mixed with other aircrafts like the SU 30(modified for India) and whatever the MoD chooses as the 126 MRCA aircrafts. Again I think a combination of these aircrafts in a possible combat will be more effective, especially with the potentially neighbors we have (Pakistan-China) neighborhood its not like a F35 or F22 class plane is going to be around any time soon.If you see the avionics, sensors on it, it's really a very smart little bird.
Further more something from the one man who actually knows what he is talking about: Vice Admiral (retd) Raman Puri.
"LCA is India`s numero uno project"
27 September 2007
Asserting that the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is India's numero uno project, Vice Admiral (retd) Raman Puri said that we must succeed in inducting these aircraft into armed forces.
"Capabilities in aviation technology are extremely important in the component of national power," Puri said while delivering a lecture on strategy for indigenous capability building in aeronautics at HAL here.
"Can we possibly make claims in this sense to be an air power without operating a single fighter aircraft of our design. LCA, therefore, is today to my mind a numero uno project and succeed in its induction, we must," he said.
Puri said, technology component of the training of military commanders and those engaged in high defense management does not enable them to realize early in their careers that one key feature of future military requirements is that these cannot be based on a mere "read across from foreign concepts of deterrence--either conventional or nuclear--or from foreign theaters of conflict or combat experience."
Therefore a "reverse conceptualization" approach to defining technological features of future operational requirements is foredoomed not only to domestic technological unachievability but also to large mismatches between actual theatre requirements and operational performance of composite man-machine systems deployed in these theatres, he noted.
"Such technological features have, therefore to be generated from a deep domestic s and t effort, with its foundational r and d being explored and performed by young people in our academic institutions--and not derivatively arrived at from reverse conceptualization, much less reverse engineering philosophy",he said.
"What we have today in a sense is a system which defines our needs based on what one may call the 'the best of brochure claims'-- the finely honed art of combining the most extremely capable features of an equipment as claimed in glossy brochures of different foreign weapon developers into the minimum acceptable specifications as the 'goal' or 'staff target' for domestic R & D-cum-production," Puri said.
"We need to recognize that what has to be organized for is the ability to deploy military capability along the locus of engagement with the enemy--the weapon, equipment or engagement techniques are means by which that ability is exercised".
The acquisition of these means is not an end goal in itself. The locus of engagement will, in turn `re figure' with changes in military doctrine. This requires our developing the necessary capabilities to conceptualize our mission needs in the first place, he said.
India therefore must seek, nurture and strengthen scientific and technological expertise, wherever they currently are or where they can most beneficially be augmented, he said.
Speaking about the "triple trap" he said what is developed abroad will not suit our requirements, what is suitable will be denied and what is not denied will be un affordable and called for efforts to achieve self reliance.
Though there has been a dramatic growth in the civil aviation industry, the industry is dependent on aircraft and maintenance services sourced from developed countries, resulting in a huge net outflow of foreign exchange, he said.
Source:
http://www.idrw.org/2007/09/27/lca_is_indias_numero_uno_project.html
So for those having doubts over the status of Tejas, do not worry seems like some in the IAF know a thing or two about combat aircrafts and the need for domestic production.
This is the solution for HAL Tejas by GE, new engine modified by GE for the production variants of HAL Tejas, modified for Indian conditions (perhaps you will see why India went for a western engine):
F404-GE-IN20 turbofan engine
Applications: Indian Tejas Light Combat Aircraft
Performance Specifications (sea level/standard day)
- Thrust Class: 19000 lb, 84 kN
- Length: 159 in, 404 cm
- Airflow: 153 lb/sec,70 kg/sec
- Weight: 2365 lb, 1072 kg
- Inlet Dimension: 28 in, 71 cm
- Pressure ratio: 28:1, 28:1
FE404-GE-IN20 engine is an enhanced production version the F404-GE-F2J3, which powered the LCA demonstrator.
The highest thrust variant of the F404 family, the -IN20 incorporates GE's latest hot section materials and technologies as well as a Full Authority digital Electronic Control(FADEC) with proven single engine features for maximum sa fety and relaibility.
It provides the Tejas LCA with reliable power outstanding operational and handling characteristics. Its simple, modular sesign is reliable and easy to maintain.
The IN 20 is a derivative of highly successful F404 turbofan, with over 11 million flight hours experience on the Boeing F/A-18 and other combat aircraft.
Source: GE.
dum dum dum.
Another joint venture to run.
Will they go Russian?
or will french have some fun?
The Hindu
Kaveri engine for Tejas: more talks on French, Russian offers
Monday, Oct 15, 2007
"Another meeting among key officials from the GTRE, the Indian Air Force and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is expected to be held next week, will hopefully enable the TAC to make up its mind on who — between the French aerospace company Snecma and Russia’s NPO Saturn — will join the GTRE in developing the engine. One of India’s most crucial aeronautical programmes, Kaveri is expected to power the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. Around 300 engines are scheduled to be manufactured."
The DRDO’s preference for the Snecma offer is because it is “offering technology that is slightly superior to what the Russians are providing,” said the source
любовь к России
amour pour la France
source:
http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/15/stories/2007101570041100.htm
Hey they are putting weapons on the bird, finally great.
Tejas fires its first missile
Written on October 25, 2007 – 6:53 pm | by FIDSNS |
The Light Combat Aircraft ‘TEJAS’ program achieved the most significant milestone yet when it successfully test fired the Close Combat Missile R-73 today at the air to air range off Goa coast. The historic event marks the beginning of weaponisation, which is the focus of the current initial operational clearance (IOC) phase of the program. Air to Air missile integration and testing especially on a fly by wire aircraft is a very complex task involving interfaces with aerodynamics, engine air intake, control laws, flight control system, avionics system, electrical and other general system of aircraft. Today’s successful test firing is the culmination of preparatory work under the guidance of Mr. JJ Jadhav, DPD (Weapon Systems) and Mr. Balasubramanyam, AGM (HAL). Accordingly the main objectives of test firing were to validate:
•Safe separation of the missile from the parent aircraft.
•Effect of missile plume on engine air-intake
•Functionality of store management system (SMS) including safety interlocks
•Effect of missile plume on composites structures
•Handling quality assessment during missile launch
http://frontierindia.net/tejas-fires-its-first-missile/
This seems like the final touches before the first few come into the IAF, great and by 2012 the new radar(via Israel), and the new engine (via France or Russia), will be on this lil bird.
the official link to the test fire.
http://www.ada.gov.in/r73-testfire.mpg
this is the famous mirage 2000 and the infamous HAL Tejas.
Source: Internet.
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