LCA Tejas Mk1 & Mk1A - News and discussions

Yes. Just imagine the whole fighter plane and for that matter even commercial planes are controlled by actuators driving control surfaces and so they need to be very reliable and if ADA, DRDO find Godrej actuators good enough then it also opens export market. Also with this I suppose all the things for aero industry are now in place except for a reliable turbofan engine and ejection seat, which is good enough for supporting future fully Indian fighter planes..☺

It won't last long though, 'cause future mechanisms will consist of electric motors instead of servos and actuators. So we have to keep up with the rest of the world in this arena. But at the very least, LCA and possibly MWF will use these actuators. It's definitely good news for indigenisation.
 
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"There are 358 line-replaceable units (LRU/ components) in the Tejas aircraft, out of which 53% have been indigenously developed in India "


This article gives a pretty decent and short overview of the level of indigenisation and critical technologies developed for Tejas, It's unclear though, how many LRU's the American GE engine, Cobham IFR, radome and ejection seat e.t.c. contains . However, the level of indigenisation will further increase in Tejasmk1a and Tejasmk2 as confirmed by DRDO chief.in an interview.
 
It was. But russians probably have made improvements to increase the range.

Yep. Mig-29S's range of 1450Km has been increased to 2100Km with CFT on Mig-29UPG. Ferry range has been increased from 2100Km to 3000Km. Mid-air refuelling has also been added. Heavy hydraulics have been removed and replaced with a triplex digital FBW. And the engine has been replaced with a more modern fuel efficient engine and has more life, enough to last airframe life. Impressively maintenance costs have reduced by 40%.

It's like a brand new aircraft.

@Picdelamirand-oil
 
Yep. Mig-29S's range of 1450Km has been increased to 2100Km with CFT on Mig-29UPG. Ferry range has been increased from 2100Km to 3000Km. Mid-air refuelling has also been added. Heavy hydraulics have been removed and replaced with a triplex digital FBW. And the engine has been replaced with a more modern fuel efficient engine and has more life, enough to last airframe life. Impressively maintenance costs have reduced by 40%.

It's like a brand new aircraft.

@Picdelamirand-oil
But again Mig 29 will not add any extra capability, Only addition is the squadron strength for a low-cost initial investment
 
But again Mig 29 will not add any extra capability, Only addition is the squadron strength for a low-cost initial investment
It will add extra capabilities against Pakistan. They don't have any thing that can take on mig29s. A squadron more of it will tie PAF fighters down while releasing 1 more squadron of more capable and longer range SU30MKIS to be placed against China.
 
It will add extra capabilities against Pakistan. They don't have any thing that can take on mig29s. A squadron more of it will tie PAF fighters down while releasing 1 more squadron of more capable and longer range SU30MKIS to be placed against China.
IF you say Paksitani don't have anything to take on these Mig 29, They already take on our MKI, and MKI came back with an empty-hand. I will always put my money on LCA MK1a against Mig 29. which comes with a more reliable engine and an AESA radar and a better bvr range but it's expensive.
 
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But again Mig 29 will not add any extra capability, Only addition is the squadron strength for a low-cost initial investment

The extra Mig-29 squadron is needed for proper distribution of firepower of the Mig-29 fleet. The current 3 squadrons are a bit uneven. Adding an extra squadron in Jamnagar will help the IAF better protect the area.

Due to the addition of the Bholari base in Pakistan, we need a new base at Deesa to counter an F-16 squadron placed there. We may also see the JF-17 in the near future. The extra Mig-29 squadron will provide a good stopgap arrangement until then. We may also see a detachment of Mig-29s in Ahmedabad.

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This was the cheapest method available to counter that new air base, so it most definitely adds to our capability 'cause the alternative is going to be very expensive and time consuming.
 
The extra Mig-29 squadron is needed for proper distribution of firepower of the Mig-29 fleet. The current 3 squadrons are a bit uneven. Adding an extra squadron in Jamnagar will help the IAF better protect the area.

Due to the addition of the Bholari base in Pakistan, we need a new base at Deesa to counter an F-16 squadron placed there. We may also see the JF-17 in the near future. The extra Mig-29 squadron will provide a good stopgap arrangement until then. We may also see a detachment of Mig-29s in Ahmedabad.

View attachment 16759

This was the cheapest method available to counter that new air base, so it most definitely adds to our capability 'cause the alternative is going to be very expensive and time-consuming.
The cheaper option to defend against PAF definitely a valid point for mig 29 acquisition but not sure where this squadron will be stationed. Once Rafale will be added to our inventory Pakistan will not dare to come near to our border and after S400 they will keep their fighter grounded. So investment in capability should be the priority.
 
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The cheaper option to defend against PAF definitely a valid point for mig 29 acquisition but not sure where this squadron will be stationed. Once Rafale will be added to our inventory Pakistan will not dare to come near to our border and after S400 they will keep their fighter grounded. So investment in capability should be the priority.

I don't think the IAF will waste money by placing it elsewhere. Jamnagar is now massively underutilised and has a lot of leftover place for Mig-29s. Adampur already has 2 squadrons. Anywhere else would require creating a supply chain to that base.

Of course the new squadron can also be placed in Adampur itself, with a detachment to Ahmedabad.

But that hole in our defences will still remain, and the MKIs in Jodhpur may not be able to manage two locations with just 1 squadron.
 
I don't think the IAF will waste money by placing it elsewhere. Jamnagar is now massively underutilised and has a lot of leftover place for Mig-29s. Adampur already has 2 squadrons. Anywhere else would require creating a supply chain to that base.

Of course the new squadron can also be placed in Adampur itself, with a detachment to Ahmedabad.

But that hole in our defences will still remain, and the MKIs in Jodhpur may not be able to manage two locations with just 1 squadron.
How's the Jamnagar AF base underutilized? Isn't it hosting the no 6 & no 224 squadrons of the Jaguar IS?
 
How's the Jamnagar AF base underutilized? Isn't it hosting the no 6 & no 224 squadrons of the Jaguar IS?

Yeah, but they don't do air defence.

Between Jodhpur and Jamnagar, now there's a new threat that hasn't been addressed yet. The Pakistanis have built a new air base in a very strategic location. Their earlier base in Masroor was in Karachi and threatened by the IN and their carriers. In order to counter that they built an air base further inland, at Bholari.

Bholari's location is special. It allows them to launch attacks in Central India and aircraft from Jodhpur and Jamnagar have to fly out of their way to counter that. So the 1 squadron of Mig-29 cannot perform air defence in two locations and also assist the Jaguars in performing strike missions at the same time.

There's enough space there for another squadron of air defence fighters, which can later be moved to Deesa, in case it's ever built some day. It's an air base with 2 runways, so it's a giant according to air base standards.

Of course, there's also a chance they will put LCA there and put the new Mig-29 squadron in Adampur. The LCA is a better support aircraft for the Jaguar due to the carriage of similar weapons and electronics. Even Adampur is underutilised from an operational perspective. All that extra range with the UPG gives it full access to the Chinese border. The base has been designed to operate as the first responder for the sector in case of a war with either country. Originally even the Jamnagar Mig-29s were supposed to be moved to Adampur, before Bholari was built.
 
Yeah, but they don't do air defence.

Between Jodhpur and Jamnagar, now there's a new threat that hasn't been addressed yet. The Pakistanis have built a new air base in a very strategic location. Their earlier base in Masroor was in Karachi and threatened by the IN and their carriers. In order to counter that they built an air base further inland, at Bholari.

Bholari's location is special. It allows them to launch attacks in Central India and aircraft from Jodhpur and Jamnagar have to fly out of their way to counter that. So the 1 squadron of Mig-29 cannot perform air defence in two locations and also assist the Jaguars in performing strike missions at the same time.

There's enough space there for another squadron of air defence fighters, which can later be moved to Deesa, in case it's ever built some day. It's an air base with 2 runways, so it's a giant according to air base standards.

Of course, there's also a chance they will put LCA there and put the new Mig-29 squadron in Adampur. The LCA is a better support aircraft for the Jaguar due to the carriage of similar weapons and electronics. Even Adampur is underutilised from an operational perspective. All that extra range with the UPG gives it full access to the Chinese border. The base has been designed to operate as the first responder for the sector in case of a war with either country. Originally even the Jamnagar Mig-29s were supposed to be moved to Adampur, before Bholari was built.

 

Doubt it's even begun, but then I'm not sure about this year.
 
Yes. Just imagine the whole fighter plane and for that matter even commercial planes are controlled by actuators driving control surfaces and so they need to be very reliable and if ADA, DRDO find Godrej actuators good enough then it also opens export market. Also with this I suppose all the things for aero industry are now in place except for a reliable turbofan engine and ejection seat, which is good enough for supporting future fully Indian fighter planes..☺
last week I visited nearby Godrej showroom to purchase an AC and it felt very good to see all their Achievements in Aerospace sector was on display in very neat way. felt good to buy an Indian top notch product.
 
last week I visited nearby Godrej showroom to purchase an AC and it felt very good to see all their Achievements in Aerospace sector was on display in very neat way. felt good to buy an Indian top notch product.
Sorry to burst your bubble. Most split air conditioners in India if not all have the indoor unit manufactured in China. And that's only the beginning. The compressors are manufactured in China. The PCBs & controls are manufactured in China. All that "Indian" companies do is label them with Indian brand names. The labelling is done in China as well.

Only assembly work is done here.
 
Sorry to burst your bubble. Most split air conditioners in India if not all have the indoor unit manufactured in China. And that's only the beginning. The compressors are manufactured in China. The PCBs & controls are manufactured in China. All that "Indian" companies do is label them with Indian brand names. The labelling is done in China as well.

Only assembly work is done here.
godrej, Blue star and Voltas have their own manufacturing plants. No bubble bursting needed.
just like bajaj and tvs or Tata and mahindra have for automobiles