so that makes them artisan craft jets
According this India Today podcast, HAL has no assembly line for Tejas and 40 deliverd aircraft are handbuilt units, resultantly all of the these planes are unique 40 prototypes. So what's the point of grounding the fleet?
Tejas single seater seems to have crashed earlier this month in February with the news only being reported now from ET.
Not sure if the whole fleet is grounded or not but the article does say "the fleet [is] now undergoing extensive checks" because of that crash landing during a training sortie making this incident a third lost airframe.
Tejas single seater seems to have crashed earlier this month in February with the news only being reported now from ET.
Not sure if the whole fleet is grounded or not but the article does say "the fleet [is] now undergoing extensive checks" because of that crash landing during a training sortie making this incident a third lost airframe.
Air brake???
Truly the Hermes / Audemars Piguet / Ferrari of fighter jets: HAL should charge the IAF 100x what mass produced western industrial junks like Rafale cost per jet for the Tejas - the finest Indian craftsmanshipso that makes them artisan craft jets![]()
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Union Ministry of Defence have agreed to grant Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) certain exemptions from contractual obligations, so that the long-pending delivery of the Tejas Mk1A can start early next fiscal year, ThePrint has learnt.
Sources in the defence and security establishment said that no compromises will be made on “must-have” capabilities in the aircraft—an understanding reached between the IAF, and Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and HAL in 2016. ADA has designed the fighter jet, and HAL is the manufacturer.
Sources further told ThePrint that under the new understanding reached, IAF will accept the aircraft if ADA and HAL complete the missile firing tests, integration of radar to the Electronic Warfare systems, and the weapons package. They said that firing trials have been completed and the certification process is underway. They described the three tasks mentioned above as “completely essential” and non-compromising.
“The IAF has already granted exemptions to HAL for faster delivery of the aircraft, 180 of which have been ordered for,” a source said. IAF is fine with accepting the aircraft without completion of other pending work, which will take at least one year more to be completed, the sources added.
HAL has argued before the defence ministry and IAF that much of the pending work is being overseen by ADA, and is not a manufacturing delay. Major capabilities incorporated are undergoing the certification process and should be completed by April.
I wonder what are these supposed must-haves, not like in a sarcastic way but like actually curious
I am reminded of the comments from then Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa back in 2019: “IAF has not shifted any goal posts as alleged. The development has taken such an incredibly long time that armament and technology has gone obsolete… I as the service chief can make concessions to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Will the enemy make concessions to me when I go and meet the enemy?"