HAL Tejas Jet Fighter
- Thread starter Delbert
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Re: Hal tejas
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.
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.
Re: Hal tejas
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.
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.
»Ø¸´: Hal tejas
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.
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.
Re: Hal tejas
Some news on the LCA. The naval variant is pressed ahead, althoung India seeks for an international partner for technical consulting.
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. ...
Some news on the LCA. The naval variant is pressed ahead, althoung India seeks for an international partner for technical consulting.
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. ...
Re: Hal tejas
I don't think HAL Tejas is doing too bad.
10 planes are flying in the air. (No crash at all, thus far).
Tejas proved successful on all tests (except for engine thrust required at sea-level - which is why a larger engine is sought). AoA upto 22-24 degrees is done successfully. AoA of 28 degress is under testing.
In case of a blockade from US for GE engines, Kaveri could still potentially be used on Tejas. (Similar to China, which has problems with WS10A in it's process of replacing Russian AL31FN engines for J-10 -- WS10A offers a safeguard to China, vis-a-vis Russia).
True, Tejas has to compete against other western fighters. China's J-10 has no competition from western fighters, which are not offered. Hence, J-10 is an obvious choice for PLAAF, good or bad.
But Tejas is not going too badly against those western fighters .... in terms of cost atleast. Tejas costs USD 21M against Super Hornet F-18 which costs USD 58M.
So, roughly 3 Tejas = 1 Super Hornet F-18.
Tejas is indeed meant to solve the numbers problem for IAF. Mig-21 will be replaced in bulk over the next 5-8 years.
J-10 is a good output from China .. in that it's the only 4th gen plane China has put up in the air (even though, it uses a Russian engine as it's most reliable powerplant).
Both India and China do need western technology inputs.. rather than try to re-invent the wheel. Eventually, both will make planes which are comparable to western planes.
But, it's also possible by the time India / China produce western standard planes .. those planes would cost similar to western planes.
So, as we improve the capability .... cost-wise the new planes won't come cheap.
(J-10 costs USD 28 million; HAL Tejas costs USD 21 Million) as per wikipedia.
I don't think HAL Tejas is doing too bad.
10 planes are flying in the air. (No crash at all, thus far).
Tejas proved successful on all tests (except for engine thrust required at sea-level - which is why a larger engine is sought). AoA upto 22-24 degrees is done successfully. AoA of 28 degress is under testing.
In case of a blockade from US for GE engines, Kaveri could still potentially be used on Tejas. (Similar to China, which has problems with WS10A in it's process of replacing Russian AL31FN engines for J-10 -- WS10A offers a safeguard to China, vis-a-vis Russia).
True, Tejas has to compete against other western fighters. China's J-10 has no competition from western fighters, which are not offered. Hence, J-10 is an obvious choice for PLAAF, good or bad.
But Tejas is not going too badly against those western fighters .... in terms of cost atleast. Tejas costs USD 21M against Super Hornet F-18 which costs USD 58M.
So, roughly 3 Tejas = 1 Super Hornet F-18.
Tejas is indeed meant to solve the numbers problem for IAF. Mig-21 will be replaced in bulk over the next 5-8 years.
J-10 is a good output from China .. in that it's the only 4th gen plane China has put up in the air (even though, it uses a Russian engine as it's most reliable powerplant).
Both India and China do need western technology inputs.. rather than try to re-invent the wheel. Eventually, both will make planes which are comparable to western planes.
But, it's also possible by the time India / China produce western standard planes .. those planes would cost similar to western planes.
So, as we improve the capability .... cost-wise the new planes won't come cheap.
(J-10 costs USD 28 million; HAL Tejas costs USD 21 Million) as per wikipedia.
Re: Hal tejas
I don't think LCA will cost USD21 million. I think the wiki has not updated on the price for long..
And the Kaveri engine has not even pass the design phase. It will probably take most optimistic 5-6 years to clear for mass production. If US start the blockade, it will have nothing to use at the moment.
I don't think LCA will cost USD21 million. I think the wiki has not updated on the price for long..
And the Kaveri engine has not even pass the design phase. It will probably take most optimistic 5-6 years to clear for mass production. If US start the blockade, it will have nothing to use at the moment.
Re: Hal tejas
I think the HAL Tejas is great for India to gain experience in 4th generation plane design so they could move on to bigger and better things. The aircraft itself, however, doesn't have a very good price vs. performance ratio. The tag of 21 million dollars is a bit too high for a plane that is supposed to replace India's vast fleet of obsolete Mig-21s. The main concern with the U.S. engine shouldn't be sanctions (I don't see a U.S. split with India anytime soon or India finding costumers for the LCA) but the high price and potential competition with domestic engines. My best advice would be to use the U.S. engine for now, just as China used Russian engines on the J-10s, and then move on to the Kaveri once the plane is proven to be capable.
I think the HAL Tejas is great for India to gain experience in 4th generation plane design so they could move on to bigger and better things. The aircraft itself, however, doesn't have a very good price vs. performance ratio. The tag of 21 million dollars is a bit too high for a plane that is supposed to replace India's vast fleet of obsolete Mig-21s. The main concern with the U.S. engine shouldn't be sanctions (I don't see a U.S. split with India anytime soon or India finding costumers for the LCA) but the high price and potential competition with domestic engines. My best advice would be to use the U.S. engine for now, just as China used Russian engines on the J-10s, and then move on to the Kaveri once the plane is proven to be capable.