SinoDefence Forum

Delbert

Is HAL TEJAS really a good aircraft and worth spending for?

HAL Tejas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Look at its price and the price of its Naval variant... Considering it was only a Light multirole combat aircraft.. It seems to be expensive for me...

flyzies

Im getting the impression that India is buying this aircraft more for political reasons, rather than strictly military ones. It would simply look unbearably bad if Indian military did not back its own indigenous fighter. I am not saying LCA is completely useless; I believe it just does not add up when compared side by side with other fighters in the same class, which India has access to.

Lion

Going for US engines sounds like a very bad move in the first place. Given US continue political change and the fact, US engines are far more expensive add up per unit cost of LCA and if HAL intend to export this aircraft. Plenty of restriction given that most western countries will opt for expensive F-16 or Gripen. Leaving third world county the only possible buyer but most thrird world country do not have friendly term with US.

Delbert

Looking at the price they weren't very far to F-16 variants...

And F-16 was a better fighter..

druid84

On top of the cost and engine problems the LCA is another fighter, India already owning Mig 27's, Mig 21, Mig 29's, SU 30MKI's, Mirage 2000's and Jaguar's and soon in the future you can add their MRCA fighter, PAKFA (FGFA in India) and the Indian fifth generation fighter, that's a lot of planes for one country.

India should just make the LCA an advanced trainer, get it in service immediately to reduce their pilots deaths, concentrate on next gen planes, and buy more Mig 29's and Mirages and scrap the whole MRCA competition which wont do anything to address the numbers situation.

Scratch

Some news on the LCA. The naval variant is pressed ahead, althoung India seeks for an international partner for technical consulting.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php...13&c=ASI&s=TOP

India To Seek Partners For Naval LCA Development

By vivek raghuvanshi
Published: 5 Oct 2009 17:02

NEW DELHI - India has decided to look for global partners in developing the naval version of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), as Lockheed Martin failed to get needed security clearances.

Meanwhile, the Indian Navy has ordered six naval versions of the single-engine LCA, giving a boost to the homegrown program. The move is seen as a further commitment by the Navy to the LCA program, said a senior Navy official.

[...]

The Navy only last month ordered six naval-version LCAs and has committed about $30 million for each aircraft. ...

optionsss

I give India credit for sticking it through. You can only get better by trying.