In our lifetime i hope.SFDR/Astra mk3 must be coming along well.
In our lifetime i hope.SFDR/Astra mk3 must be coming along well.
The prog has come a long way. Captive carriage trials are done. The next stage is flight testing. It is a priority project for the IAF after Op Sindoor.In our lifetime i hope.

HAL should be focussing on this instead of drooling over SCALPs. Yes, they must be integrated but we need our own stealth cruise missile to sustain a conflict for longer.Big shoutout to Vishnu and the team for this amazing video. It confirms that once Uttam is integrated with the LCA, MBDA is on board to share the source code for integrating the Meteor missile, and possibly the Scalp too. We might even see the first Mk2 aircraft by the end of this year.![]()

So, same status as 5 years back?. Yet to start test firing.The prog has come a long way. Captive carriage trials are done. The next stage is flight testing. It is a priority project for the IAF after Op Sindoor.
Might have something to do with Russia-Ukraine since SFDR is a joint dev project.So, same status as 5 years back?. Yet to start test firing.
Likes of brahmos are built with good degree of stealth. Unless you have total air superiority & absolute huge number of aerial assets present both on air and also available as back up across many bases , you can not afford to stay in flight for the duration it would take to complete the mission. A brahmos strikes 300km away within 5 minutes. Same target with a subsonic cruise takes 15+ minutes mission, more if many waypoints are added.HAL should be focussing on this instead of drooling over SCALPs. Yes, they must be integrated but we need our own stealth cruise missile to sustain a conflict for longer.
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BrahMos is way too heavy and is usable only by 40 aircraft. This CATS Hunter will fill the gap of a stealth ALCM for which we depend on imports. BrahMos also is way too expensive and lacks magazine depth at only one per aircraft. This otoh can be carried in 3 nos by the Tejas most likely.Likes of brahmos are built with good degree of stealth. Unless you have total air superiority & absolute huge number of aerial assets present both on air and also available as back up across many bases , you can not afford to stay in flight for the duration it would take to complete the mission. A brahmos strikes 300km away within 5 minutes. Same target with a subsonic cruise takes 15+ minutes mission, more if many waypoints are added.
Stealth shaping is also due to that, this aerodynamic shape can not sustain speed like Brahmos or Rudrams for a long duration.
About the price front curious to see how much Rudrams cost vs a turbofan/turbojet vs a ramjet. We are making all these types by DRDL now.
The core reason of making Brahmos universal usable for all inventory aircraft is the reason behind making a domestic LFRJ based system that can be carried by many jets & more than one by each jet. Now a high speed system will always have more survival chance in a highly contested airspace than a low speed stealth option. The two systems offer 2 unique set of opportunity.BrahMos is way too heavy and is usable only by 40 aircraft. This CATS Hunter will fill the gap of a stealth ALCM for which we depend on imports. BrahMos also is way too expensive and lacks magazine depth at only one per aircraft. This otoh can be carried in 3 nos by the Tejas most likely.
Unless BrahMos-NG becomes real (no chances as of now), this should be priority.
Its a propulsion JV for them to get data. Russians has nothing to do with the end product based on that.Might have something to do with Russia-Ukraine since SFDR is a joint dev project.
These are some extremely good pictures, a good handshake to the guy who took the pic and uploaded it.
Safe to say HAL has managed to exceed it's commitment of building 16 aircrafts annually and is on track to build 24-32 aircraft/year.
Can't they accept it tho?IAF was insistent the new contract should not be inked before deliveries of the earlier 83 jets begin, with HAL being held accountable. The defence ministry, however, must spend its budget within specified timelines…the initial payment will go to HAL once the contract is signed- "..weapon trials & integration with the Israeli-origin Elta ELM-2052 radar & fire control system will take time. I don’t see the delivery happening before year-end unless IAF is forced to accept the fighters without certification,” a senior officer said
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Rs 66,500 crore deal for 97 Tejas jets, largest ever, may be inked today | India News - The Times of India
India News: NEW DELHI: The largest-ever contract worth Rs 66,500 crore for 97 Tejas Mark-1A fighters is now all set to be inked with Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), .timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Can't they accept it tho?
Its not like you will immediately deploy these newly inducted fighters to Frontlines.
They can still be used for training the squadron even without weapon certification.
Brother Baba, the IAF wants Astra and the rest tested with the Israeli radar to confirm a successful trial so that the Weapons Integration issue can be put to rest. It is a fair demand. It has been close to 5-6 months since the first engine came.Can't they accept it tho?
Its not like you will immediately deploy these newly inducted fighters to Frontlines.
They can still be used for training the squadron even without weapon certification.