HAL LCA Tejas: Updates, News & Discussions

[Magadh]

Indian Hawk GaN AESA radar with 2700 TR modules, featuring both mechanical and electronic steering, similar to the Captor-E radar of the Eurofighter.

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[Magadh]

All the MK1A batches produced have been using the EL/M-2052, when the first operational MK1A is in service with the Uttam them I will believe. I've been hearing "in production" for the last few years.

The "Radar configuration" was still being "confirmed" a few months back.

BEL Confirms Finalized Uttam AESA Radar Configuration for Tejas Mk1A – Indian Defence Research Wing

idrw.org

They are still negotiating on who will produce the radar once development/certification ends and it goes into serial production.

Astra Microwave to Manufacture 130 Uttam AESA Radars for Tejas Mk1A and MkII Programs - idrw.org

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG Astra Microwave Products Ltd, the selected production partner for...

idrw.org

There is no ETA on when the first MK1A with the Uttam radar will enter service.

They always say "its ready" its "in production", "cleared for export". Seeing is believing atleast for DRDO.

Orders for ELM-2052, which have already been placed, cannot be canceled midway. As a result, first batch of Tejas MK1A will be equipped with ELM-2052 radar, while the remaining units will feature indigenous UTTAM radar.

 

[Faceless]

Orders for ELM-2052, which have already been placed, cannot be canceled midway. As a result, first batch of Tejas MK1A will be equipped with ELM-2052 radar, while the remaining units will feature indigenous UTTAM radar.

oh come on now thats bullshit,
How come the orderbook ballooned to 40, early order was for just 20 ELM 2052,

Indigenous UTTAM AESA Radar Ready: Doubts Loom Over Initial Order Size | Delhi Defence Review

delhidefencereview.com

Even those 20 orders were hard to justify but made some sense as they were ordered as a precautionary measure but those additional orders are just pure criminal and most of the possible excuses are pure bullshit
One excuse (that even I used to believe was true) was Oh UTTAM was supposed to be GaAs but now we have upgraded tech so it will now be GaN based and those foundries are being setup only now and will take time, thats why additional ELM 2052 as stop gap
but Aero India 2025 posters confirm uttam for Tejas MK1A is GaAs not GaN and we have had GaAs foundries for over 10 years now

So the only possible reasons now are - either Uttam is not ready yet or something fishy is going on

 

[onlinpunit]

oh come on now thats bullshit,
How come the orderbook ballooned to 40, early order was for just 20 ELM 2052,

Even those 20 orders were hard to justify but made some sense as they were ordered as a precautionary measure but those additional orders are just pure criminal and most of the possible excuses are pure bullshit
One excuse (that even I used to believe was true) was Oh UTTAM was supposed to be GaAs but now we have upgraded tech so it will now be GaN based and those foundries are being setup only now and will take time, thats why additional ELM 2052 as stop gap
but Aero India 2025 posters confirm uttam for Tejas MK1A is GaAs not GaN and we have had GaAs foundries for over 10 years now

So the only possible reasons now are - either Uttam is not ready yet or something fishy is going on

Purchase order 40 nos of ELM 2052 was in the circulation since last many years.

 

[Faceless]

Purchase order 40 nos of ELM 2052 was in the circulation since last many years.

bullshit, are you saying HAL CMD is lying

Indigenous UTTAM AESA Radar Ready: Doubts Loom Over Initial Order Size | Delhi Defence Review

web.archive.org

the news of 40 ELM 2052 only became public in late 2023 just 1 years ago and some 6 months before Tejas MK1A's official 1st flight so cut the crap, no news related to uttam's delay was ever heard between 2022 to 2024

Tejas Mk-1A To Feature Homegrown 'Uttam' AESA Radar And 'Angad' Electronic Warfare Suite, Replacing Imported Components

In a significant development, amid the ongoing drive for indigenising military weapon systems, the 'Made-in-India' Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-1A will be equipped with the 'Uttam' radar and the 'Angad' electronic warfare suite, reported ANI

swarajyamag.com

 

[hyperman]

Orders for ELM-2052, which have already been placed, cannot be canceled midway. As a result, first batch of Tejas MK1A will be equipped with ELM-2052 radar, while the remaining units will feature indigenous UTTAM radar.

There is no production line for the Uttam. They are still deciding on that, as well as finalizing configuration, its not a matter of an Israeli contract.

BEL Confirms Finalized Uttam AESA Radar Configuration for Tejas Mk1A – Indian Defence Research Wing

idrw.org

 

[onlinpunit]

bullshit, are you saying HAL CMD is lying

Indigenous UTTAM AESA Radar Ready: Doubts Loom Over Initial Order Size | Delhi Defence Review

web.archive.org

the news of 40 ELM 2052 only became public in late 2023 just 1 years ago and some 6 months before Tejas MK1A's official 1st flight so cut the crap, no news related to uttam's delay was ever heard between 2022 to 2024

Tejas Mk-1A To Feature Homegrown 'Uttam' AESA Radar And 'Angad' Electronic Warfare Suite, Replacing Imported Components

In a significant development, amid the ongoing drive for indigenising military weapon systems, the 'Made-in-India' Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-1A will be equipped with the 'Uttam' radar and the 'Angad' electronic warfare suite, reported ANI

swarajyamag.com

The HAL MD are chosen as per their lying capability.

 

[kaku]

There is no production line for the Uttam. They are still deciding on that, as well as finalizing configuration, its not a matter of an Israeli contract.

BEL Confirms Finalized Uttam AESA Radar Configuration for Tejas Mk1A – Indian Defence Research Wing

idrw.org

What a bunch of ignorance. At AI, it was not even displayed by LRDE, but by AMP. And it was productionised version which was displayed by AMP.

 

[Ali_Baba]

Indian Hawk GaN AESA radar with 2700 TR modules, featuring both mechanical and electronic steering, similar to the Captor-E radar of the Eurofighter.

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Impressive - specially having a swashplate version. India is making good progress in radar technology and hopefully does not need to rely on Israel soon for for radars or anything infact (lol).

 

[Oscar]

Indeed, its there job, but dont be thankless, and start the blamegame. IAF knew very well why HAL giving such tight timelines, because of SEF contract (F-21). And no way they going to meet it, everyone knew about it, but why they acting suprised now? With all the facility like ASTE and all, IAF didn’t knew about this beforehand? Or they always try to pretend to be naive?

And no one questioning CAS's idiocies, what was this 2.5 engine? Why HAL buy an engine which requires to change after 4000 hours, and who bear the cost? IAF? Then why it is not in contract?
Just barating your juniors for sake of it. He knew very well, these test pilots respect his rank alot as being CAS, and they not going to utter a word. He did a cardinal sin in front of camera.

These test pilots are best of your best. I am quite sure he going to recieve riot act from above.

I repeat my suspicions - that video was not leaked as accident

 

[MirageBlue]

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[MirageBlue]

Tejas Mk2 cockpit. LAD, side stick and a new wide angle HUD. Carried over to the AMCA as well.

AMCA cockpit

 

[MirageBlue]

Heartening comments on the Tejas Mk2 prototype manufacture and AMCA as well by Air Marshal Philip Rajkumar, the man who put in so much effort into the development and flight testing of the LCA Tejas.

His book on the Tejas program is a gem, giving deep insights into just how much the Tejas program actually achieved. From almost nothing on the ground, to getting a 4th gen fighter into the air and finally into service.

QUOTE: AVM Manmohan Bahadur has written a nice article in today's TOI. Has written a nice article on the implications of the US's offer of the F-35 down the line. He ends the article by saying 'the GOI should push HAL to deliver on the LCA Mk2 and AMCA projects. I have some news to share on that front. On 30 January 2025, I was invited to speak to the personnel of the HAL fixed wing design bureau. After my taIk I was shown the progress of the LCA Mk 2 manufacture. All parts are being built on jigs using CATIA 5 software. Workers are looking at screens and carrying out their work. The air frame has a considerable proportion of composite parts and the finish is an order of magnitude better than in the LCA Mk1 days. They hope to start equipping the air frame with LRUs by Sep/Oct 2025 and commence ground runs around April 2026 leading to first flight later in 2026. On February 11th, I visited Aero India 2025 and was shown the full scale all composite air frame of the AMCA. After the show extensive RCS measurement tests are planned to fine tune the signature to the lowest possible figure. I sat in the LCA Mk 2 simulator and flew it with the side stick. The cockpit has a single large screen display which can be segmented as required by the pilot. The flight control computer is ready and undergoing qualification. Almost all hydraulic actuators have been indigenised and some have finished flight tests. The indigenous content has increased considerably. These two visits were heartening and shows we are moving in the right direction. We need to redouble our efforts to achieve true self reliance.

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[MirageBlue]

Impressive - specially having a swashplate version. India is making good progress in radar technology and hopefully does not need to rely on Israel soon for for radars or anything infact (lol).

This is an alternative to the Uttam AESA radar that is actually going on to the Tejas Mk1A and Tejas Mk2. Unlikely to be used for the Tejas Mk1A at least.

Astra Microwave Limited (AMPL) is the one that is actually setting up the production line to build the Uttam AESA for both Mk1A and Mk2. Data Patterns is a great company as well, so they may well look to try and export their version of the Uttam AESA radar.

 

[Magadh]

Impressive - specially having a swashplate version. India is making good progress in radar technology and hopefully does not need to rely on Israel soon for for radars or anything infact (lol).

It is by far the most powerful GaN AESA radar in the world, featuring 2,700 TR modules and capable of both mechanical and electronic steering. No other AESA radar comes close, the Captor-E radar of the Eurofighter, which is considered one of the most advanced fighter jet radars, has around 900 TR modules in comparison.