HAL Tejas Jet Fighter
- Thread starter Delbert
- Start date
^^ The two are certainly comparable, being light fighters and such.
BAJRANGBAL
New Member
I think so -- both are small fighters, they have similar payloads, some degree of FBW, both have their pros (LCA might use some more composite materials, JF-17 has DSI) which are debatable, and both have good BVR and WVR capabilities as well as being able to drop PGMs. I believe the LCA as of now uses a mechanically scanned array, as does the JF-17 but both are also destined for eventual AESA upgrades.
The two planes almost look identical from the side view as well, and are very close in size -- both are good examples of late 4th generation aircraft, incorporating some more recent technology, but also which don't quite reach the .5 mark but have the potential to do so.
I personally prefer the JF-17 over the Tejas, it's development and price has been a lot more complimentary than the LCA, and seems like a nice tight package with some nice features like DSI and LERX (which improves performance while also making it look cool). One area where the JF-17 dominates all other aircraft is it's current in service paint scheme -- man it looks awesome, the best 4th gen colours in the world at the moment.
Indianfighter
Junior Member
Well, 40 Tejas Mk1 units have been ordered by IAF. These will have the GE-F404 engine.
100 GE-F414 engines have been ordered from GE in October. These are intended for the more advanced Tejas Mk2.
So, 40 Mk1 + 100 Mk2 makes 140 Tejas jets in the IAF. IAF may increase the order even more if needed.
LCAs will basically replace all MiGs in the IAF (not just MiG-21). Only the MiG-29s are being upgraded as they still have some life left. But to arrest rapidly dropping numbers, 126 MRCAs are also being purchased (though most would say that isn't necessary with Tejas Mk2).
Miragedriver
Brigadier
It’s good to know that the Tejas will be using the reliable GE F414 engine and that production is final getter underway. The only drawback is that India is again at the whim of a possible US embargo, which could delay or halt the production. Too bad the indigenous engine is not finalized.
In order to decrease their unit costs for this aircraft, to around $20m, they will need to consider a production run of around 200+/-. This will most likely be accomplished with orders from the Navy and replacement aircraft.
It would be nice to see this aircraft exported (Latin America and Africa) however, how do any of you see that as a possibility with the use of the GE power plant and other foreign components within the airframe?
In order to decrease their unit costs for this aircraft, to around $20m, they will need to consider a production run of around 200+/-. This will most likely be accomplished with orders from the Navy and replacement aircraft.
It would be nice to see this aircraft exported (Latin America and Africa) however, how do any of you see that as a possibility with the use of the GE power plant and other foreign components within the airframe?
The problem with non-indigenous powerplant was not just for the fear of the engine parent country's embargoment but also a limitation to who you could export the aircraft to. Thus in answer to your question, the answer is a "it depend on who your orders came from?" If the country that place the order or show interest in the fighter was a friendly nation to US and whoever the foreign components came from, then there is truely a possible deal. However if the country that show interest in placing an order is a country that is in US's blacklist, then perhaps the deal could not materialise.
(PS. The HAL Tejas is a mighty good looking plane!)
Indianfighter
Junior Member
Miragedriver, US sanctions came in 1998, or 13 years ago. Today, the world and India have changed a lot and India is not as easily "sanctionable" as it was way back in 1998.
Given GE's other massive investments in India recently, sanctions are even more unlikely.
For this order, GE beat Eurojet by a whisker when everyone thought that Eurojet would win, given that EJ-2000 was a newer engine. Eurojet actually lost because they submitted their revised bid a day after the last date.
As I said earlier, there are 140 confirmed orders for the IAF version of Tejas (40 with older GE-404 engine, and 100 with new GE-F414 engines). This is not a final order, which could be extended if needed. But its not going to bring costs down to as low as $20 mn. Its acquisition cost is $40 million per unit, but that's INCLUDING the development costs since the past 25 years. Standalone unit costs would be $30mn in my own estimate.
The Navy has expressed interest for 2 squadrons so far.
For Navy Tejas, you can look at this superb inaugral video :
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Miragedriver
Brigadier
Thanks! I concur with you that it all depends on who the possible buy is such as Venezuela NO and Brazil YES. But at 30M USD per aircraft (as Indianfighter explained above) it seems like the possible export potential is limited. However, India has developed a locally produced fighter that is adapted to its requirements. The replacement of the Mig-21, Mig-23, and Jaguar by one aircraft will be a tremendous savings in maintenance alone.
Yes it is a nice look aircraft, there’s just something about that delta wing
Yes it is a nice look aircraft, there’s just something about that delta wing
Indianfighter
Junior Member
Actually smaller countries like Venezuela, Bulgaria, Vietnam and Bangladesh are now buying Su-30s, F-16s and MiG-29s. Just see how Sweden is aggressively marketing its Gripen fighter all over the globe. The F-16 seems to be the new MiG-21.
In this scenario, an LCA priced at $30 mn will give Gripen and F-16s good competition, in these new emerging markets.
Well, Tejas got its initial consultancy from Dassault itself !