HAL Tejas Jet Fighter

The Final Operational Clearance (FOC) for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is likely to be extended by a few months due to a delay in the arrival of two crucial components from the United Kingdom.
Highly-placed sources in the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) told Express that they are waiting for the air-to-air refuelling probe and nose cone from the UK to complete all tests required for the OFC. “According to earlier schedule, the FOC was expected by March. However, components from the UK will arrive in April, and after integrating them, various tests have to be conducted by DRDO and IAF. That may take around six months,” a source said.

When contacted, Dr K Tamilmani, distinguished scientist and DG (Aero), told Express that the process to obtain the FOC was on track. “Two aircraft are ready and have successfully conducted various tests, including the release of missiles and bombs. Once we get the components from the UK, we will integrate them and conduct the rest of the tests. The FOC will be obtained by this year end,” Tamilmani said.

In the FOC configuration, the LCA will be more agile and lethal as compared to the aircraft in the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) configuration. The Angle of Attack (AoA) has been enhanced from 22 to 24 degrees. In fact, the aircraft was recently tested up to an AoA of 26 degree and it performed well, a DRDO official said.

Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles Derby and Phyton, that will be capable of flying longer duration sorties and pull up to 8 G (G-Force), are being integrated to Tejas. In the IOC configuration, the aircraft is capable of doing up to 6 G. ‘G’ is the acceleration due to gravity that acts on an aircraft and the pilot when the latter does aerobatics.

Air Marshal (retd) P Rajkumar, who played an important role in testing the LCA in the initial stages of the project, said, “With Phyton5 BVR missiles, the LCA will be more lethal as compared to a frontline fighter like the MiG-21.”

On the possibility of DRDO not being able to meet the deadline for obtaining the FOC, the Air Marshal said the FOC is just a milestone and a delay by a few months won’t make much of a difference. According to him, the ability to produce the required number of aircraft within the timeframe is more important.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which recently handed over the first Series Production (SP-1) aircraft to the IAF, has sent a proposal to the Defence Ministry on scaling up its production capabilities. The PSU will hand over the second aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) by the end of March and four aircraft will be delivered in the next financial year. From then on, it will hand over eight aircraft every year.

Since the IAF is looking at Tejas as a replacement for MiG-21s, HAL has proposed a `1,200 crore project to scale up its production facilities to roll-out 16 aircraft a year. According to the proposal, the HAL will invest 50 per cent of the cost, while the IAF and the Navy will have to equally share the rest.

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GE Aviation is expecting certification of the F414 engine for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark II fighter by this year-end, Mr Nalin Jain, CEO of GE Transportation and Aviation told Defenseworld.net. GE F414 engine contract which was signed in 2011, features improved Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC), single Crystal blade design, single engine safety features and other electronic advances. The LCA Mk II will feature advanced equipment, such as the active electronic scanned array (AESA) radar, upgraded avionics and electronic warfare suite, while also being capable of carrying a larger payload than the Mk I LCA. GE’s F404 engine already powers LCA Tejas Mark I fighter. Nalin Jain briefed on GE aviation’s contracts with the Indian government. “We had collaborated with Aeronautic Development Agency (ADA) for the demonstration program of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas, started back in 1985.” GE Aviation is also involved with the Indian Navy programs. To date, it has delivered 11 LM2500 gas turbines to HAL for the navy till date, which powers INS Satpura, INS Sahyadri and INS Shivalik stealth frigates as well as INS Vikrant aircraft carrier. Nalin Jain added that the company is also exploring the helicopter side of the civil aviation sector as well. At Aero India, General Aviation will showcase live demonstration of 3D printed aircraft engine parts and other products.

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The LCA Navy makes its first appearance at

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starting today. Here's the NP2 landing at Yelahanka.

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The 1st full-rate production Tejas fighter jet getting all fitted out for a static at

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. Sweet.

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The Final Operational Clearance (FOC) of India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is on track and it ‘won't skip‘ the December deadline announced by Defence Minister Manohar Parrkiar.

Speaking to OneIndia on the eve of 10th edition of Aero India, P S Subramaniam, ADA Director, said that all the projected schedules in the programme are on the right flightpath.

"Tejas FOC is well on track and we will stick to the December deadline," Subramaniam said. He said at the Aero India 2015, LSP-3 and LSP-4 will take turns and enthral the crowd during the flying display. The first Series Production (SP-1) aircraft and the second naval prototype (NP-2, a fighter) will be on static display.

The project has come a long way

He said all the systems on Tejas have been updated to the contemporary mode. "We have come a long way and I am happy to have fulfilled my missions. The aircraft has undergone so many changes since 2001 and today the pilots say that it's a delight to fly Tejas," Subramaniam, who has been associated with the project for the last 28 years, said.

He said with the FOC, the capabilities of Tejas will be enhanced further. "The integration of an air-to-air refuelling probe, beyond visual range (BVR) missiles, additional low-drag bombs and gun shall be retro-complied on series production aircraft. The delivery of first Squadron of 20 Tejas shall be completed by 2018-19," he said.

Post-Aero India, the weapon trials of Tejas would continue to test some of the mandated mission(s) under FOC.
Manuals getting tweaked

When asked about his reaction to media reports that the SP-1 aircraft was handed over to IAF without any training manuals, the senior scientist said that the documents had to be tweaked further for the squadron pilots.

"So far Tejas was flown by experienced Test Pilots and now with the aircraft being handed over to the IAF pilots, they wanted some changes. The squadron pilots did not want too many technology details in the manuals (both tech and flight) and we are making changes to the same based on the IAF feedback," he said.

Activities completed towards FOC

• Integration of centre-line drop tank
• Gun integration & ground firing
• Integration of conventional & low drag bombs
• Integration of advanced LGB
•Hot & cold weather trials
•All weather certification
• Envelop expansion to higher angles of attack and load factor (g).
(Source: ADA)
Parameters to be completed during FOC phase
• Air-to-air refuelling
• Gun flight trials
• High speed low drag bomb with retarded tail unit
• Integration of supersonic drop tank
• Integration of BVR missile and Advanced Close Combat Missile
• Envelop expansion to higher angles of attack and load factor (g)
(Source ADA)

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Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said on Thursday that the Indian Air Force (IAF) would begin the Squadron formation of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas after receiving third series production (SP) variant.

It was for the first time that an IAF Chief spoke comprehensively about the home-grown fighter jet's squadron formation. "We have no doubt about the capability of the aircraft," Raha said.

The first two series production aircraft (SP-1 and SP-2) have some slight variations and from SP-3 onwards we will have them entering into the Squadron. The first squadron will consist of aircraft from SP-3 to SP-6," the Air Chief said.

As reported by this Correspondent earlier, the IAF will form the No 45 Squadron (Flying Daggers for Tejas. The same squadron last flew the MiG 21 Bison aircraft operating from Naliya in Gujarat.

The Tejas Squadron will be first raised in Bengaluru and later will be positioned at the Sulur Air Force base, near Coimbatore.

Full squadron strength by end of 14 5 year plan

Raha said the IAF would achieve the status of having required total operational squadron of 42 by the end of the 14th Five Year Plan. "We will form the second Tejas squadron when we receive the aircraft from the Final Operational Clearance block," he said.

The Air Chief said confirmed that in addition to the first order of 40 Tejas aircraft, 80 more will be ordered (Mark II version). He said the induction of the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) will play a crucial role in achieving the full operational capabilities.
On the sticky MMRCA (Rafale) deal, the Chief said that the Cost Negotiations Committee (CNC) is currently looking into the issues involved in the deal. "IAF needs MMRACAs and I am not saying it has to be Rafale.

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aksha said:

Naval LCA
arrestor hook has been integrated

@Jeff Head ,would love to know what you think about the hook,
it looks a bit strange to me.

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