HAL Tejas Jet Fighter

Bltizo said:

Possible, but India doesn't have a history with exporting aircraft or real client states. And other aircraft like second hand F-16s or even JF-17 would be more available and maybe cheaper too.

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And should compounded with production capacity of HAL facility as well...Tejas need to fulfill the IAF demand first, then talk about export.
But when comes to export, how many components that HAL has control of? Plus, Tejas potential market is practically flooded with competitions, especially proven products like F-16 and JAS-39.
Thus, before talking about Tejas future, first HAL gotta get off their lazy arse and no more delays of the programme.

I stick with my POV that the Tejas is a great experience gaining opportunity. Indigenization couldn't be achieved overnight. The only problem is that there is no arms embargo on India and as a result, not as high of an incentive to indigenize.

siegecrossbow said:

I stick with my POV that the Tejas is a great experience gaining opportunity. Indigenization couldn't be achieved overnight. The only problem is that there is no arms embargo on India and as a result, not as high of an incentive to indigenize.

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It didn't help matters that the IAF kept on revising the LCA's requirements to make it even more ambitious (not bad as the program management of the Arjun tank, though)

What is the actual combat radius of Tejas? Its stated that this fighter has a range of 1840 miles, but doesn't specify whether it is ferry-range or combat-radius???

Tejas exports likely after induction into IAF

First Published : 09 Jan 2011 06:03:44 AM IST
Last Updated : 09 Jan 2011 11:01:46 AM IST

BANGALORE: The ingeniously built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas, is due for its initial operation clearance (IOC) on January 10. But the aircraft that has 40 orders already from the Indian Air Force (IAF), could also be sold to other friendly countries, as the "export options" would also be considered.

“We would also consider selling the planes to other friendly countries, but that would be decided only after the induction of the flights into the IAF,” sources said.

Sharing some of the features that make the LCA an attractive product, sources said, “The On Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS), is one of the highlights of the LCA,” he said and added, “Since carrying oxygen adds to the payload, this technology ensures that the same can be utilised for other purposes as there is oxygen generated inside for the pilot.”

They added that this technology was available with only three other countries. Sources said that besides this, the features of fly-by-wire, digital clock and other state-of-the-art technologies would add to the value of the product.

"India did not have a car that was produced here, and now we have some of the best aviation technologies in the world,” they said and added that “the LCA would leave a signature on the Indian sky."

The LCA would also be used in the making of other variants like LCA Mark II and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) among others. Sources also said that the development capability would be used for the unmanned aerial combat vehicle as well.

On signing of deals like the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), officials said the platform for the LCA would be used to create better and more efficient aircraft for the IAF.

“The LCA is a long-term investment and the light weight of the aircraft gives it the edge in manoeuvrability and efficiency,” they said and that this would add considerable value to the IAF and the aviation industry in the country as well.
And a surprise thing is that a medium amount of STEALTH is incorporated in Tejas by adding composite materials and from now on all IAF Fighters will have stealth, finally putting all the Tejas and PAK-FA technology to create a fully stealth AMCA.

Photos from IOC at HAL Airbase, Bangalore..

Very nice looking aircraft. Maybe Vietnam will want to buy some?

There're 3 core problems that plague the Tejas project:
1. Poor project management, which pretty much plagued almost every project India undertake, setting way too ambitious goals, without regard to the actual undertaking that'd make it happen, then followed by repeated alteration of the project - which, in short, they want to achieve the end result in one short, when taking it in phases would've been a far more sound approach.
2. No competition. Even in China the states-owned institutes/laboratories/companies have to compete for survival, thus a degree of efficiency is maintained, and growth is assured - but we don't see such environment in India. If you don't go to DRDO or HAL, then the only avenue is import, and we see the same pattern with navy and army projects.
3. Last but not least is the ease of import, and that'd make not just the component sub-projects of the Tejas, but the whole Tejas become a "toy-project" in reality.

how does this plane compare to the pakistan fc1?

noone536 said:

how does this plane compare to the pakistan fc1?

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Nobody know objectively about that, unfortunately. And until there's a situation when:
1. both entered in same bid
2. India and Pakistan goes to war, again
3. somehow both planes take part in some joint exercise, fight out mock battles...

Those would be only chance to get any objective assessment.