HAL LCA Tejas: Updates, News & Discussions

[harpy1]

I think we all have to admit flying a home built fighter with indengious radar and weapons is better than buying junk cheap fighters from across the worlds air forces which have long passed their useful life now deemed obselete

I take a Tejas that's late any day over a russian mig or obselete mirage or rusty old falcon

We are building a complete eco system
Tejas started in 1990 India was importing migs jags mirages and screw driver assembly if flankers
Russian missles and radars that
dont work half the time and french missiles costing a fortune

Thank god modi drove the make in India initiative from 2014 onwards decade later
We have Indian Aesa radars and next generation missles helicopters and combat planes
Dam the Amca looks good
If was slow and late but we have arrived no turning back now
Get the massive Indian private mega industrial power houses involved watch Indian aerial power touch the sky next decade

 

[Ak01]

Tejas Amca will arrive in numbers in small blocks so each block is improved
We dont want 140 block 1 and 2 with poor radars and fatigued cracking airframes ...then only buy 30 block 3
Better arrive late with most glitches removed in first forty planes ..yes it's late but it's better to be late and ready than too much rush of poor end product

Do you have a credible source for poor radars and cracking airframes, or are you trolling?

let me know so i can decide what action to take against you next.

 

[SiliconBit (silicon0000)]

The 3 Tejas displayed were MK1A standards with all the internal changes(43 improvements across avionics, weapons & maintenance) done, but the Astra Asraam/weapon integration trials are pending.

Dear I quoted the exact words of the IAF Chief, who thinks it's not what the IAF expected.

It's not about what has been done and what hasn't. It's about what was promised, what was expected, and what was provided.

 

[Yasser76]

Dear I quoted the exact words of the IAF Chief, who thinks it's not what the IAF expected.

It's not about what has been done and what hasn't. It's about what was promised, what was expected, and what was provided.

It is clear the IAF CAS sees this as a structural and fundamental problem with HAL and he basically pointed out that none of the "MK1As" were actually "MK1As" but just "MK1" with a single software change (his words).

Now realistically, and considering HAL wants to move on to MK2 and AMCA soon, where does that leave Tejas MK1A? Can HAL resolve all this and get back IAF confidence in a year or so?

Lets be honest here, probably not.

As I said several times last year, 2025 will see this project die a slow and painful death, the CAS's comments are just the first major salvo in eventual termination of this project

 

[SiliconBit (silicon0000)]

It is clear the IAF CAS sees this as a structural and fundamental problem with HAL and he basically pointed out that none of the "MK1As" were actually "MK1As" but just "MK1" with a single software change (his words).

Now realistically, and considering HAL wants to move on to MK2 and AMCA soon, where does that leave Tejas MK1A? Can HAL resolve all this and get back IAF confidence in a year or so?

Lets be honest here, probably not.

As I said several times last year, 2025 will see this project die a slow and painful death, the CAS's comments are just the first major salvo in eventual termination of this project

Yes, that's my point. With all the complaining about engine delays, are they (HAL) hiding their failure to provide the expected capability upgrade? If so, that's a much bigger failure.

Regarding the termination of this project, I personally feel your other comment is more appropriate, where you said this project is too big to fail. So, the Tejas will likely still be produced, perhaps in smaller numbers, but its role in Indian doctrine will be downgraded.

 

[Michael]

The problem is HAL not the aircraft. .
In PDF also many indian users do criticize the HAL and other govt managed Defence Companies.

Looking back at the history of India's military industry, almost every so-called indigenously developed weapon has similar problems. This is not just a problem with the LCA series of fighter jets, but also with main Arjun tanks, aircraft carriers and so on.
So, if we attribute the root cause of the problem purely to HAL, it is clearly inappropriate.

I am sure that every weapon program of the Indian military industry will eventually materialize. It's just that this time ...... It will keep delaying, delaying and delaying again ...... By the time it is officially in service, it will be completely behind the times .......

 

[Raj-Hindustani]

It is clear the IAF CAS sees this as a structural and fundamental problem with HAL and he basically pointed out that none of the "MK1As" were actually "MK1As" but just "MK1" with a single software change (his words).

Now realistically, and considering HAL wants to move on to MK2 and AMCA soon, where does that leave Tejas MK1A? Can HAL resolve all this and get back IAF confidence in a year or so?

Lets be honest here, probably not.

As I said several times last year, 2025 will see this project die a slow and painful death, the CAS's comments are just the first major salvo in eventual termination of this project

You missed the whole testing being done for the past years.

Nothing major, left for integration; ASEA radar and others are already completed, even other missile tests were completed, but since Astra missiles were tested with older radar.

Now Astra missile integration is happening and likely will complete within a month and the electronic warfare suite testing only

 

[Yasser76]

You missed the whole testing being done for the past years.

Nothing major, left for integration; ASEA radar and others are already completed, even other missile tests were completed, but since Astra missiles were tested with older radar.

Now Astra missile integration is happening and likely will complete within a month and the electronic warfare suite testing only

Issue with this is no one (not even IAF now) believes anything anymore. You may as well say you have a new Death Star being made operational next week.

No one has any confidence in HAL, so anything you say is pretty much, by default, worthless.

 

[Raj-Hindustani]

Looking back at the history of India's military industry, almost every so-called indigenously developed weapon has similar problems. This is not just a problem with the LCA series of fighter jets, but also with main Arjun tanks, aircraft carriers and so on.
So, if we attribute the root cause of the problem purely to HAL, it is clearly inappropriate.

I am sure that every weapon program of the Indian military industry will eventually materialize. It's just that this time ...... It will keep delaying, delaying and delaying again ...... By the time it is officially in service, it will be completely behind the times .......

If you claim that HAL Tejas is "behind the times," you should be able to elaborate on that statement with more technical details.

Do you know what the configuration requirements were when HAL Tejas was in its planning stage before the 1990s? I believe you don’t. While delays have occurred, they were not solely due to HAL; the Indian Air Force (IAF) also contributed by frequently changing its requirements.

Initially, HAL Tejas was never designed to carry an AESA radar, and even today, most fighter jets in China and Pakistan do not feature AESA radars. This is without even considering other electronic and advanced systems.

If you are calling Tejas "behind," I assume you are referring to fifth-generation fighters. However, HAL Tejas was developed for a specific category and role—it was never intended to compete at the level of fifth-generation aircraft.

 

[Trailer23]

The problem is HAL not the aircraft.
In PDF also many indian users do criticize the HAL and other govt managed Defence Companies.

Buddy, no Pakistani talks trash about the JF-17, however, for some odd reason according to Indians - 70% of PAF's JF-17 Fleet are Grounded.

I think it would be wise that you guys sort out the crap in your backyard (engine problems) & whatsoever, rather than focus on whats across the street.

I take a Tejas that's late any day over a russian mig or obselete mirage or rusty old falcon

I suppose the only reason why Argentina took those "...rusty old Falcons" (Block 10's - made by Fokker) over the TEJAs was because they asked the most obvious question: Where's the Engine?

MiG - Yes
Mirage - Perhaps
Viper - Hell f#*kin' NO.

I don't think there is an Air Force in the World that would pick the "State-of the-art" TEJAs over an old Viper.

Not a chance in Hell.​

All variants (future ones) will always remain 4 Gen Jets, not matter how many Stealth Coatings you do.

You cut the ears off a mule, don't make him a horse.

 

[Yasser76]

Yes, that's my point. With all the complaining about engine delays, are they (HAL) hiding their failure to provide the expected capability upgrade? If so, that's a much bigger failure.

Regarding the termination of this project, I personally feel your other comment is more appropriate, where you said this project is too big to fail. So, the Tejas will likely still be produced, perhaps in smaller numbers, but its role in Indian doctrine will be downgraded.

Yes, it will basically become the "Arjun Tank" of IAF. A few MK1 Sqds will be kept so Modi/BJP/HAL/India Forum members can save some face.

 

[Raj-Hindustani]

Issue with this is no one (not even IAF now) believes anything anymore. You may as well say you have a new Death Star being made operational next week.

No one has any confidence in HAL, so anything you say is pretty much, by default, worthless.

Why can’t I call the JF-17 Block 3 a "dead star" when it operates with almost the same technology?

I'm confused—how can the same technology be considered outdated in one aircraft while being happily inducted in another?

There's no need to justify ego—please focus on the technology and provide evidence through comparisons with other aircraft in the region, rather than simply dismissing it as "not worthy."

 

[SiliconBit (silicon0000)]

India plans to crank up Tejas production to stem IAF’s depletion in fighters | India News - The Times of India

India News: India plans to increase Tejas jet production with deliveries of GE aero-engines starting March. Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) aims for 20 jets per year,

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Source of news is Indian and of Feb 6, 2025.

GE has now promised to begin the delivery next month, with 12 engines to be delivered in 2026, and 20 every year thereafter, another official said.

They haven't announced a number for 2025. In 2026, it's 12 engines, and then 20 engines per year after that. So, how is HAL going to produce the number of jets they've committed to—24 per year starting in 2025?

 

[Yasser76]

Why can’t I call the JF-17 Block 3 a "dead star" when it operates with almost the same technology?

I'm confused—how can the same technology be considered outdated in one aircraft while being happily inducted in another?

Damn right, you are one confused chap, we can both agree on that

 

[Raj-Hindustani]

Damn right, you are one confused chap, we can both agree on that

I am looking for a technical discussion rather than an emotional one.

I criticise HAL and am completely unhappy, specific details on delivery delays, but if someone claims that Tejas is technologically our outdated and behind compared to other fighters, I would appreciate detailed insights and a proper discussion instead of vague statements.

People keep saying it’s not good technically—my question is, how?