HAL LCA Tejas: Updates, News & Discussions

DDG-80 said:

Despite engine delays, production of indigenous LCA jets on​


Despite delays in the deliveries of jet engines, India is marching on with the production of indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA) to meet requirements of the air force, with 14 airframes and integrated systems expected to be completed in the current financial year.

The latest version of the aircraft-LCA Mk1A-is currently undergoing extensive flight tests and the first fighter is likely to be delivered within two months. The air force has ordered 83 of these aircraft. While airframes are being manufactured and all other systems integrated on production aircraft, the delay in supply of GE 404 engines by the US manufacturer has led to a lag in delivery. The first LCA Mk1A was scheduled to be handed over in July.

Sources said GE, which is facing supply chain issues in manufacturing the engines as some suppliers closed production due to Covid-related complications, is expected to start supplies by September-October this year.

It is learnt that manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which had been mandated to deliver 16 aircraft this financial year, has devised a plan in which the manufacturing of air frames and integration of all other systems will go on, with the engines to be fitted at a later stage when GE manages to streamline supplies. As per projections, at least 14 air frames in a ready-to-go state should be available within the financial year. For now, the aircraft maker will keep manufacturing the aircraft and completing all tests with standby engines that it has in inventory. Once the engine supplies start coming, they will be integrated on the completed airframes-a process that can take a few weeks-before being handed over to the air force.

Two production lines for the LCA Mk1A are currently active in Bengaluru while a third at Nashik is likely to be operational by October. The first aircraft from the Nashik line is expected to be ready this financial year as well. Each of the lines can make eight aircraft per year. Even with the engine delays, the delivery of all 83 jets on order is expected to be completed within the 2028 deadline. Sources said that at present, the first LCA Mk1A aircraft is undergoing flight tests and will shortly demonstrate firing of indigenous weapons such as the Astra beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile.

The second production aircraft is undergoing ground trials while four more are in an advanced stage of manufacturing. India is already in talks with GE for significantly increasing the order for its GE 404 engines that will be required for an additional order of 97 LCA Mk1A aircraft that has been approved by the government. The approach is to place orders well in time to avoid any delays in deliveries.

air force: Despite engine delays, production of indigenous LCA jets on - The Economic Times

India is pushing ahead with the production of indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA) despite delays in jet engine deliveries, aiming to complete 14 airframes with integrated systems this financial year. The LCA Mk1A is undergoing extensive flight tests, with the first fighter expected to be...
m.economictimes.com m.economictimes.com
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Faceless said:
Just so that I am getting it right :
HAL will manufactue 14 airframes and park them so that whenever the engines become available the completed Jet will be delivered to IAF.

Makes the most logical sense
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I have heard previous order of MK1/Trainer still ongoing with 5 more plane yet to be delivered. If true this might be the actual reason behind delay (if production lines are same) which is cover-up by opportunity arised through engine delay by GE. Can someone confirm?
 
silicon0000 said:
I have heard previous order of MK1/Trainer still ongoing with 5 more plane yet to be delivered. If true this might be the actual reason behind delay (if production lines are same) which is cover-up by opportunity arised through engine delay by GE. Can someone confirm?
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Same problem as that with the Tejas Mk1A. HAL just doesn't have new GE F-404-IN20 engines to equip Tejas Mk1 trainers whose airframe and equipment integration is done.

As of now, the only fall back option is that they're looking at all available reserve F-404-IN20 engines and those used on the Limited Series Production prototypes (called Category B engines) and after suitable checks, these will be used on new Tejas Mk1 trainer and Tejas Mk1A fighter airframes.

Basically GE has screwed IAF and HAL over royally.

But there is no real option but to accept the delays and for GE and HAL to work together to try and mitigate the delays from getting worse. And for GE to somehow crank up it's F-404 engine production which is needed for the IAF and HAL to order another 97 Tejas Mk1A.
 
As I had mentioned earlier, HAL will keep chugging along, manufacturing the Tejas Mk1A airframes and integrating the avionics, radar, equipment etc. Then when the GE F-404-IN20 engines begin arriving, they'll integrate them, power up the fighter, test all the systems and then on to ground testing and flight tests.

This is from Economic Times, a much better source of news than IDRW which regularly cooks up it's own news.

HAL is on course to build 14 Tejas Mk1A airframes this financial year (April 2024-March 2025), 2 less than the contracted 16 that were to be built in the financial year.

So instead of getting 1 Tejas Mk1A per month for the year, the IAF will get a surge of Tejas Mk1A fighters at the end of this year and then upto March 2025.

Despite GE F-404 engine delays, production of indigenous LCA jets on


Despite delays in the deliveries of jet engines, India is marching on with the production of indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA) to meet requirements of the air force, with 14 airframes and integrated systems expected to be completed in the current financial year.

The latest version of the aircraft-LCA Mk1A-is currently undergoing extensive flight tests and the first fighter is likely to be delivered within two months. The air force has ordered 83 of these aircraft. While airframes are being manufactured and all other systems integrated on production aircraft, the delay in supply of GE 404 engines by the US manufacturer has led to a lag in delivery. The first LCA Mk1A was scheduled to be handed over in July.

Sources said GE, which is facing supply chain issues in manufacturing the engines as some suppliers closed production due to Covid-related complications, is expected to start supplies by October this year.]



It is learnt that manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which had been mandated to deliver 16 aircraft this financial year, has devised a plan in which the manufacturing of air frames and integration of all other systems will go on, with the engines to be fitted at a later stage when GE manages to streamline supplies.

As per projections, at least 14 air frames in a ready-to-go state should be available within the financial year. For now, the aircraft maker will keep manufacturing the aircraft and completing all tests with standby engines that it has in inventory. Once the engine supplies start coming, they will be integrated on the completed airframes-a process that can take a few weeks-before being handed over to the air force.
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HAL Nashik's production line is likely to be operational by October. That will eventually take the max that HAL can produce per year to 24.

Two production lines for the LCA Mk1A are currently active in Bengaluru while a third at Nashik is likely to be operational by October. The first aircraft from the Nashik line is expected to be ready this financial year as well. Each of the lines can make eight aircraft per year.

Even with the engine delays, the delivery of all 83 jets on order is expected to be completed within the 2028 deadline.
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Astra Mk1 test firing from a Tejas Mk1A is planned to be conducted "shortly".
Sources said that at present, the first LCA Mk1A aircraft is undergoing flight tests and will shortly demonstrate firing of indigenous weapons such as the Astra beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile.
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Second Tejas Mk1A is undergoing ground trials while 4 more are in advanced stages of manufacturing and once engines are received, should be ready to be delivered fairly quickly.

The second production aircraft is undergoing ground trials while four more are in an advanced stage of manufacturing.

India is already in talks with GE for significantly increasing the order for its GE 404 engines that will be required for an additional order of 97 LCA Mk1A aircraft that has been approved by the government. The approach is to place orders well in time to avoid any delays in deliveries.
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MirageBlue said:
As I had mentioned earlier, HAL will keep chugging along, manufacturing the Tejas Mk1A airframes and integrating the avionics, radar, equipment etc. Then when the GE F-404-IN20 engines begin arriving, they'll integrate them, power up the fighter, test all the systems and then on to ground testing and flight tests.

This is from Economic Times, a much better source of news than IDRW which regularly cooks up it's own news.

HAL is on course to build 14 Tejas Mk1A airframes this financial year (April 2024-March 2025), 2 less than the contracted 16 that were to be built in the financial year.

So instead of getting 1 Tejas Mk1A per month for the year, the IAF will get a surge of Tejas Mk1A fighters at the end of this year and then upto March 2025.

Despite GE F-404 engine delays, production of indigenous LCA jets on
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Add 5-6 remaining MK1/Trainer also in this period.
 
silicon0000 said:
Add 5-6 remaining MK1/Trainer also in this period.
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Yes, those airframes will be mostly ready, but awaiting engines as well. Priority may however be given to the Tejas Mk1A fighters to be engined, since a new squadron has to be re-equipped.

The 4 remaining Tejas trainers would've gone to the existing 2 Tejas Mk1 squadrons. That will probably be on lower priority.
 
MirageBlue said:
Same problem as that with the Tejas Mk1A. HAL just doesn't have new GE F-404-IN20 engines to equip Tejas Mk1 trainers whose airframe and equipment integration is done.

As of now, the only fall back option is that they're looking at all available reserve F-404-IN20 engines and those used on the Limited Series Production prototypes (called Category B engines) and after suitable checks, these will be used on new Tejas Mk1 trainer and Tejas Mk1A fighter airframes.

Basically GE has screwed IAF and HAL over royally.

But there is no real option but to accept the delays and for GE and HAL to work together to try and mitigate the delays from getting worse. And for GE to somehow crank up it's F-404 engine production which is needed for the IAF and HAL to order another 97 Tejas Mk1A.
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HAL had enough time to procure 100+ engines welk in advance. But no one bothered till last minute.
The whole incident also raise the availability of Tejas in case of any conflict with USA.
 
Bhojpuranchali said:
India doesn't make any serious military purchases from USA because USA is allied with Pakistan. Even when buying systems for fighter jets, India may purchase engines for the Tejas, but the radar and mission computer will never be of US origin because a US-origin radar cannot be integrated with Indian and Russian weapons.
It’s true that Pakistan is now leaning towards China, but it has been the biggest non-NATO ally of USA in the past. Even today, it maintains an alliance with USA, though not as strong as it once was. US does not want India to completely dominate and control Pakistan, as Pakistan borders India, Afghanistan, and Iran, making it strategically important for the USA and NATO.
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Doesn't make serious military purchase lol? So why you have C-17/P-8I/AH-64/PREDATORS etc etc, these are called SERIOUS MILITARY PURCHASES LOL
 
Bhojpuranchali said:
Should I quote the source of my information? Everything I say has a source, unlike the claims of J-20 being a fifth-generation fighter jet, which no air force in the world believes. A fighter jet that can be detected by PESA radar of Su-30MKI cannot be considered a fifth-generation fighter jet by any definition.
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At which range your raptor of the east MKI detected J-20 please tell me
 
Bhojpuranchali said:
They call it a sixth-generation fighter jet, but it's essentially an upgraded fifth-generation fighter jet, just like an upgraded fourth-generation fighter jet is called a 4.5-generation fighter jet. There is no significant difference in the basic design of a fourth and a 4.5-generation fighter jet. The Indian Su-30MKI is currently called a fourth-generation fighter jet, but after the Super Sukhoi upgrades, it will be classified as a 4.5-generation fighter jet.
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You know what's 6th generation jets?
 
onlinpunit said:
These are secondary support items.
Primary means: Fighter Jets, Tank, Missiles etc.
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Apaches and Predators are "secondary support items", so they will not be on the frontline facing the enemy?

Are you sure?
 
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