LCA Tejas Mk1 & Mk1A - News and discussions
- Thread starter Ashwin
- Start date
-
- Tags
- indian defence forum
After delays, IAF set to receive first Tejas Mk1A fighter jet
Indian Air Force receives Tejas Mk1A, faces delays in HAL contract, eyes additional fighters, and progresses on MRFA acquisition.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to receive its first Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A on October 17 during a ceremony in Nashik, marking a significant milestone in India’s indigenous fighter jet programme.
THIRD Line of MK1A at NASIK is now fully functional
Maiden flight of the first Tejas Mk1A from the third production facility in Nashik. Accompanying it are the Su-30 MKI and HTT-40 jet.
Nashik, Maharashtra | On LCA Mark 1A, HAL Chairman & Managing Director Dr DK Sunil says, "... We are doing the weapon trials. The results are positive. I expect that in the coming months, we will be able to complete this task, and then we will be in a position to deliver the aircraft. Today, the aircraft is ready structurally... So, whatever changes are going to come are going to be software changes. Whether it's the weapon aiming, the radar, or EW, it's going to be software-related. It will be quite easy to quickly upgrade the software to the latest standard and deliver. The key issue here is we have built the capacity, we are building the aircraft, and if we do the weapon trials successfully, then the deliveries will fall quite easily..."
same old excuse, man i dont like getting cynical but this shit is depressing asf.
things are looking up though cause we now have at least 14 jets flying if not more so there is that ig.
Seems the mk1a are doing some weapon trials after all maybe , plus todays bomb explosion noise in Odisha.
A lot of things get fired at the test ranges besides Astra, and the air dropped containers are also tested there in Chandipur. Lets wait and see. There is likely the NASM-MR and the Rudram 2 with IIR seeker version test event very close at Dhamra.
Max Defense is a reliable source for Philippine military procurement. He is a former Filipino Naval Officer.
Earlier, there were some news reports that the IAFs SDI was already collaborating with ADA for weapons integration on Mk1A. Why can't the IAF accept initial deliveries and then upgrade the software?
This is the last mile for the LCA program. Hate to see it being put through the wringer.
A different perspective from a optics pov.
First proper indigineous FA when inducted will be scrutinised like none other. We've got critics in India and abroad , just waiting for some mishap and then do vulturism PR. Maybe, just maybe.. IAF doesn't wanna deal with it and would like to leave it to HAL which got cover as " under development" status.
Imagine NYT running a headline " India's first indigineous FA runs on outdated software".
A thought that came to my mind. Not an excuse or defense for anyone. An idle thought
But this sounds like more of a patch update than a major OS upgrade. Plus if the IAF can get the job done internally, why wait?
The jet has a rock solid safety record, good serviceability (based on reports from last year's Gaganshakti exercise), a functional BVR (Derby) and even an SDR. Nothing to justify any more delays, imo.
Weapon trial is probably HAL's workshare, indeed the integration part is. HAL in turn is likely dependent on DRDO where the delay can happen due to many internal agency at work (software, DAS, QA etc)
^^All of that considering Mk1a is majority HAL own work so maybe that is why IAF is not happy ie they are ignoring any delay coming thru DRDO side (Astra integration part). Initially the firing trial it seems ASRAAM & gun fire as basic capability and even that was probably pending due to no engines. Bombs JDAM LGB etc are not that heavy issue. Astra can be done later since integration is DRDO dependent. But the primary weapons also had delays for a proof firing.
I read somewhere that due to Israeli radars in current batch of Mk1A.. they need IAIs approval and expertise to integrate ASTRA with MK1A. It was **** I suppose. Dubious website, but seemed like something babus would overlook.
Now they have to get their engineers to integrate the software.
Yup. Could be. Neither are innocent in LCAs delay saga or any other procurement tbh