Mk1A delivery is only for 3. There's plenty of production capacity to deliver all 18 trainers before the first Mk1A squadron is fully equipped.
LCA Tejas Mk1 & Mk1A - News and discussions
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Mk1A delivery is only for 3. There's plenty of production capacity to deliver all 18 trainers before the first Mk1A squadron is fully equipped.
Well we do not have the current Q3 update yet, but in November call HAL explained delivery schedule as below, now of course there can be some changes here & there which is expected. There is a delivery schedule they are committed to, failing which tough penalty is awarded so schedule is usually kept.
One thing also , the mk1a test beds, those need to fly 1-1.5yrs itself with all systems onboard despite those being on FOC jets. So the execution of mk1a 73 orders will start from february 2024, ie towards the end of FY24. First delivery is 3 jets, then picks up from next FY cycle 16 per annum.
One thing also , the mk1a test beds, those need to fly 1-1.5yrs itself with all systems onboard despite those being on FOC jets. So the execution of mk1a 73 orders will start from february 2024, ie towards the end of FY24. First delivery is 3 jets, then picks up from next FY cycle 16 per annum.
With 2 FOC and 4 trainers this year and 4 next year alongside 3 Mk1As, I guess half the production capacity will be unused over the next 2 years. That's unfortunate. As long as the 50 additional aircraft can allow a 3rd line, which I believe is being built, it can more than make up for the difference.
Third line is conditional . It won't be set up without the IAF confirming additional orders now or within a year besides setting a deadline of say 2029 - the third line won't be activated . I mean what's the incentive or otherwise for the IAF to set up a third line & incur costs if delivery schedules are relaxed.
All of which goes to show HAL can deliver 25 nos / yr even with Mk-2 which effectively means once production details & kinks are ironed out , they can go full stream ahead & deliver 108 by 2035-36 if not earlier . I think once production of the Mk-2 commences between 2028-30 , they need to launch a marketing blitzkrieg . We need a good amount of exports to feed this line. Hopefully IAF sticks to it's original commitment of 200 nos .
All of which goes to show HAL can deliver 25 nos / yr even with Mk-2 which effectively means once production details & kinks are ironed out , they can go full stream ahead & deliver 108 by 2035-36 if not earlier . I think once production of the Mk-2 commences between 2028-30 , they need to launch a marketing blitzkrieg . We need a good amount of exports to feed this line. Hopefully IAF sticks to it's original commitment of 200 nos .
Half of what? i thought the lines will be directed to mk1a after completing the trainers. FOC were already completed & out of the line, now for the past 3 months they were making trainers only.
For Mk2 Nashik line can be used too. That's a big facility. I can guarantee that if enough orders placed that line alone can assemble like 18 fighters a year.
Pls don't give RST ideas . He's already activated a third line . You suggest Nashik too for Mk-2 & before you know it , we'd be swamped with posts that HAL can deliver 43 FA / yr . Which effectively means they can polish off 108 FAs in 2.5 yrs .
I am secretly rooting for HLFT 42 from Nashik line.. After HTT 40 from there..
The latter would come from Nashik. Frankly the HLFT-42 is a bit of mystery to me. It's not an IAF project but the IAF would definitely buy a couple of squadrons if not more or to be more precise would be forced to buy, to boost it's export prospects.
Then again the original idea behind it's development was to design a LIFT with secondary FA capabilities given the cost of the Mk-1 was high as it wasn't a LIFT to begin with but a pure FA which was to have been downgraded to get a LIFT out of it - pun totally unintended. However, the configuration seems to suggest the opposite.
I suspect HAL is trying to build up it's design capabilities going ahead. What better way to do so than work with an existing design they're all too familiar with? Once they've accomplished their mission, they'd come up with a downgraded LIFT version.
Otherwise how many LIFTs comes with FBW FCS or AESA radars though KAI is offering the latter to Malaysia based on their specifications. No idea if the former is part of the package.
Damn that's fast.
900 TRM instead of 700..
As in Mk2, seems like optimized the space available.. With either improved power / cooling..
Maybe the reason for additional 50 Mk1A.
The second line has been operational since Feb last year.
Rajnath Singh Opens New Plant To Double Homegrown Fighter Plane Production
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today inaugurated a new plant at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bengaluru to double the production of India's indigenous fighter jet - LCA Tejas.
www.ndtv.com
Another advantage with the 2 lines set up is they can expand the 8pa lines to 12pa each. This will be based on more IAF orders or an export order.
HAL plans to set up a 3rd LCA Mk1A line in Nashik. It will be 5pa.
So 8 + 8 + 3 + 5, with the ability to increase the first 2 by another 8 in total. That's 24-32pa at peak. It's currently at 19.
Article from 2018:
HAL plans 3rd LCA line to keep workforce engaged | India News - Times of India
India News: BENGALURU: Conceding that its employees trained to work on fixed wing aircraft will see a reduction in work once it delivers the remaining Su-30 MKI p.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Pretty good clue here:
Rajnath Singh Opens New Plant To Double Homegrown Fighter Plane Production
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today inaugurated a new plant at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bengaluru to double the production of India's indigenous fighter jet - LCA Tejas.
www.ndtv.com
Although HAL has pushed for AMCA assembly in Nashik, I suppose IAF will stick with their own base in Sulur, at least we know both Mk1A and Mk2 will be assembled there for now.
This was always expected, once people learnt that Uttam Mk1 is larger than Uttam Mk2 but has fewer TRMs. Mk2 is simply far more optimised.
Details about LCA Mk-1a GaN based ASPJ displayed at Aero India 23
(Same news is also reported by Indian Defence Research Wing, but I was not able to share its link.)
I hope they don't miss this opportunity this time.
I hope they don't miss this opportunity this time.
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In future hope they integrate it with the internal system & not base it on external pod.
Anyway, some pics from an old presentation of Dr NNSSRK Prasad sir of ADA from 2020, of tejas aesa radar integration & testing for a positive Monday start.
Anyway, some pics from an old presentation of Dr NNSSRK Prasad sir of ADA from 2020, of tejas aesa radar integration & testing for a positive Monday start.
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