CAG Report
A Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report of 2015 commented, “LCA Mk-I, which achieved Initial Operational Clearance in December, 2013, had significant shortfalls to the tune of 53 permanent waivers/concessions” in meeting Air Staff Requirements (ASR) as a result of which it will have reduced operational capability. Listing the shortcomings, the CAG said that the LCA Mk-I failed to meet the electronic warfare capabilities sought by the IAF as the Self-Protection Jammer could not be fitted on the aircraft due to space constraints. Also, the Radar Warning Receiver/Counter Measure Dispensing System fitted on the aircraft had performance concerns.
The CAG said that the manufacturing facilities at HAL cater presently to only four aircraft per annum as against the envisaged requirement of eight due to delays in procuring plant and machinery, tools and also construction of production hangars…
The shortcomings in the Mk-I included increased weight, reduced internal fuel capacity, non-compliance of fuel system protection, pilot protection from front and reduced speed, are all expected to be overcome in the Mk-II model. The ASR deficiencies were now expected to be met in LCA Mk-II by December 2018, the report said. While DRDO had always showcased LCA as an indigenously-developed aircraft with indigenous content of 70 per cent, it “actually was about 35 per cent” as of January 2015. Systems taken up for indigenous development such as the engine, Multi-Mode Radar, Radome, Multi-Functional Display System and Flight Control System Actuators taken up for indigenous development did not fructify resulting in LCA’s continued dependence on foreign manufacturers. Talking about lack of trainer aircraft, the CAG said that the IAF was in the interim, using an upgraded Full Mission Simulator (FMS) at ADA for pilot training, pending supply of an FMS by HAL at the LCA operating base.
Long gestation period forced change of weapon systems on the LCA, necessitating acquisition of new ones. It also led to design changes on the aircraft coupled with delay in integrating R-73E missile with the radar and HDMS. Delayed identification (December 2009) of Beyond Visual Range missiles also contributed to the delays in achieving IOC/FOC. The CAG said that the manufacturing facilities at HAL cater presently to only four aircraft per annum as against the envisaged requirement of eight due to delays in procuring plant and machinery, tools and also construction of production hangars. Criticism of the Tejas was unfounded, say DRDO officials. The Tejas has had an outstanding safety record with no accident till date.
Tejas MK II & III
The Tejas Mk II will have the more powerful GE F414-GE-INS6 engine with 98kN thrust and refined aerodynamics. It will also incorporate some fifth generation features imbibed from the FGFA and AMCA programmes. The Tejas Mk II at 14.2 m will be a metre longer incorporating a stretched nose section and a modified fuselage section aft of the cockpit for housing an expanded complement of mission avionics LRUs. Its height will be 4.6 metre as opposed to 4.4 metre of the Tejas Mk 1, to accommodate an enlarged vertical tail-section. External stores capacity will be boosted to 5,000 kg as opposed to 4,000 kg for the Tejas Mk 1.
With China and India emerging as global powers, comparisons are being drawn between the JF-17 Thunder and LCA Mk I…
The two air-intake ducts will be minimally enlarged to cater to the increased airflow requirements of the F414 engine. The IAF is committed to procuring an initial 83 Tejas Mk IIs and the Indian Navy has expressed its firm requirement for 46 LCA Mk2 (Navy). The Mk II may feature indigenously developed AESA fire control radar named Uttam. The Mk II will also see the incorporation of a new electronic warfare suite which is being jointly developed with Israel. The Mk II is scheduled for flight testing by 2018, but this may be delayed by two or three years to allow time to engineer the installation of the GE 414 engine.
The Tejas Mk II is a new aircraft and will require extensive testing. Initial batch of F414 engines will be supplied directly by GE and the remainder is to be manufactured in India under a technology transfer. To obtain FOC, Derby and Python BVR missiles and GSh-23 gun would have to be integrated. The limit angle-of-attack will increase from 24 to 28 degrees, the braking system will be enhanced and the existing nose cone radome will be replaced by a quartz model in a bid to increase the current radar range of 50 km to over 80 km. The aircraft will also be fitted with improved radar to give it the capability to take on BVR targets.
Currently, a hybrid version of the Israeli EL/M-2032 radar with a range of 150 km is onboard the LCA. The IAF wants AESA radar to fire long-range BVR missiles. The development of AESA radar is expected to begin after selection of a partner between the short-listed European Airbus Defence and Space and Israel’s Elta. The Electronic Warfare (EW) suite is being developed by the Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE). Called ‘Mayavi’, it includes a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), Missile Approach Warning (MAW) and a Laser Warning Receiver (LWR) system. It also will have Infrared and Ultraviolet Missile warning sensors, self-protection jammer, chaff and flares dispenser, an Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) suite and a Towed Radar Decoy (TRD). It could take few more years to develop all these. In the interim, a few EW suites had been purchased from Israel’s Elisra. In view of acute shortage of onboard space, the Tejas will have podded systems that will include an Infra-red Search and Tracking (IRST) sensor, FLIR targeting pod, ECM pods, Flares/Infrared decoys dispenser pod and chaff pod, EO/IR sensor pod and LITENING targeting pods.
The fact that the MoD is already talking of a ‘Make in India’ single-engine fighter, indicates that the IAF is looking for something of a better class than the LCA to fill the gap…
The LCA has been over 30 years in the making but it will be at least another five years before the Tejas Mk II will be available to the IAF with FOC. The Tejas Mk III is planned to be stealthier than Mark II and have composite usage up to 70 per cent. Also it is expected to have reduced infrared signature.
JF-17 VS LCA MK 1
With China and India emerging as global powers, comparisons are being drawn between the JF-17 Thunder and LCA Mk I. Both Indian and Chinese-for-Pakistan projects are meant to replace similar vintage aircraft and give boost to indigenous capability. Both have had to use a foreign engine and airborne radar. The JF-17’s RD-93 engine availability and reliability is low and the Chinese radar is of lower technology. Comparisons are flawed. While JF-17 will be Pakistan’s main fighter accompanied by the upgraded F-16s (Mk 52+), Chengdu FC-20 and possibly Sukhoi Su-35 if offered, whereas LCA Tejas will be India’s additional aircraft for medium role combat missions after SU-30 MKI, MiG-29, Mirage 2000, Rafale, FGFA and under-development AMCA.
The Tejas uses several new technologies such as composite materials, advanced avionics and a unique aerodynamic configuration and has good potential to be expanded into variants. Nearly 90 JF-17 aircraft are already in service with the Pakistan Air Force and have logged over 20,000 hours of flying including operations in the North-West. It is a good contender for low-cost, third-generation aircraft ideal for classic Russian MiG-21 budget militaries. Myanmar and Nigeria have already placed orders 16 and three aircraft respectively. China is helping market it to some other smaller countries. The LCA is at least five years behind in operational usage. The unit cost of the JF-17 is $15-20 million vis-à-vis the LCA’s $25 million.
The current rate of LCA production by HAL is still at eight aircraft per year. It is proposed to increase the annual production rate to 16 by 2019. All this indicates that there is a long way to go…
Miles To Go
As things stand, the IAF will not see a full squadron of Tejas Mk1 operational until 2019, while the first operational Tejas Mk II squadron is at least a decade way. The Navy LCA Mk1 aircraft are scheduled for completion by 2020/2021. An interim variant evolved by HAL is the LCA Mk 1A which will have the improved version of the Israeli EL/M-2052 AESA radar and an electro-optic EW Suite. It will also incorporate weight reduction along with easier servicing and maintainability, and have a mid-air refueling probe. The IAF has placed orders for 83 LCA Mk IA. Induction of this variant will begin in 2020.
Four squadrons of the LCA Mk II are planned. It is unlikely to be ready induction before 2024. Finally, the IAF requires 14 LCA Squadrons with 294 aircraft (including two-seaters) to replace the MiG-21s. Six LCA squadrons are expected by 2024. The IAF should have around 100 LCAs in Mk 1A standard and another 80 in Mk II standard flying in 2030. The IN has expressed its firm requirement for 46 LCA Mk II (Navy).
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The current rate of LCA production by HAL is still at eight aircraft per year. It is proposed to increase the annual production rate to 16 by 2019. All this indicates that there is a long way to go. A stealthier LCA Mk III is still a distant dream. The fact that the MoD is already talking of a ‘Make in India’ single-engine fighter, indicates that the IAF is looking for something of a better class than the LCA to fill the gap. Success of the LCA is of great national importance. The IAF waits with fingers crossed.
Please wait...
Well, Actually speaking FOC Tejas seems quite good enough now performance’wise with +8.5G/-3.5G manouvering capabilities; 26 degrees Angle of Attack; 30 degrees per second ITR and 16 degrees per second STR, with new Supersonic Drop Tanks carrying more fuel thereby increasing its range quite a bit. Biggest issues now is to integrate Astra; iDerbyER, MICA-RF & R27M BVRAAM’s as also- R74 and ASRAAM IR CCM’s. I believe NGARM and Garuthmaa-Garuda DRDO ammunitions would be a piece of cake to integrate into Tejas Elta 2032 or 2052 radars and Main Computers of ADE make. However, I wish to see the STR increased to at least 20 degrees per second- if at all possible since compound delta cranked wings are so large it would be very difficult unless F404 engine thrust gets increased somehow OR ELSE< a GTRE-Safran Kaveri version engine with 110KN Max. wet thrust can be developed soon for MK1A at least! MIG29 rated for 28 degrees per second STR and F16 is around 26 degrees per second. Delta winged jets are NEVER EVER supposed to go into turning aerial dog fights at lower altitudes against "T-Birds" such as F16-JF17. Deltas must always engage such jets at higher altitudes with thinner rareified air and use strong ITR's to radar-lock-in and destroy these jets with IR CCM's or RF A2A missiles!
seems like the “Tejas” is turning out to be the real Trainer, while direct govt purchased Western Aircrafts – be it F-16 , or Rafale or Grippen or the new MIGs …. being the actual combat aircraft 🙂 … which is more like match fixing. If you cant win (achieve technological breakthoughs) then rig the match (buy foreign tech, and pat yourselves on the back).
The IAF already knows it. DRDO and Indians in general have “Emperor’s new clothes syndrome”, to actually admit it.
What this whole “Tejas” saga has demonstrated is the utter uselessness of Indian R&D …. be it DRDO or private sector, the result of Indian Technological defecation is the same.
‘Indian’ Private sector has not achieved miraculous breakthroughs in any technology – be it core Engg, or IT. In fact i read an article somewhere that ‘Indian’ coding in IT is quite cumbersome compared to Chinese or Asian Coding…
We the Indians are quite innovative when it comes to scams though. That at the moment seems to be our strength.
A good article by the Air Marshal whom I know well being in the same squadron. There have been IAF engineers, not fighter pilots alone who contributed. The Flight Test engiineers of NFTC have more than significantly contributed in this effort. Further, the Project Monitoring Team of IAF established in 2007 has been a pioneer in the contribution towards the improvements of the LCA which needs to be mentioned. I myself have been a part of the IAF – PMT in two separate sessions of 3 years and 2 years alternating.
The Mk 2 is a government sanctioned project and IAF has approved the Preliminary Design Review in June 2014. There was therefore no need to scrap or delay this project two years back and give priority to Mk 1A. The take off of the Mk1A programme itself is on a failed note and undue delays have already occurred, The GoI must tread with caution and not fall in to the trap of HAL promises on Mk 1A. Rather the GoI should give full support to ADA and the private industry to go ahead with the Mk 2 design and development followed by manufacture, of course with the support of a foreign OEM, more like SAAB. We should also ensure that we get the Kaveri engine of the 95kN class into this aircraft and not the GE F 414.
Nice article however we must live in real world & not in ‘Alice in Wonderland’. We must openly look around & see all the ongoing programs their history, evaluation with developed countries. They all will reveal that every programs has some or the other short comings. None of the aircraft made till today can be labelled as the best aircraft ever build. In IAF today we operate SU 30 MKI, Mirage, Jaguar etc whether these aircraft offers flawless performance (we all know issues with SU 30 MKI engine and Fly by Wire system) and has all the necessary features that IAF is so hell-bent to achieve with Tejas.
In ever advancing technology environment & to maintain the parity with the technologies of enemy one has to upgrade the equipments frequently like we intend upgrade Sukhoi 30 MKI to Super Sukhoi or Jaguar Engine and ASEA radar upgrade.
In my personal opinion, we must take up a defence equipment development model such a way that we must make user embedded in the development process right from conceptualization, design, development, manufacturing, prototype and testing in the given budget so that they will also feel what does it mean to develop something from scratch than just sitting on fence and criticising. There is a big difference between writing a wish list and realising it.
I can understand IAF’s frustration with HAL which it considers as an inefficient supplier but the solution to that cannot be killing local programs and go for imported equipments. With such attitude we can’t ever build our own defence industry and we will be always a slave to western nations for technology and equipment.
We need smart solutions and ‘out of box’ development model where we can have better synergy between all concerned parties for growth of our defence sector. And most importantly the media is not a platform to resolve issues or to decide who is right and who is not.
The Commies in India has entered every nook and Corner of the Govt departments. Where ever they work they expose their true character by writing this kind of myth. In any future war, nobody gives any importance to the dogfight. He wrote “The limit angle-of-attack will increase from 24 to 28 degrees” IAF officers have raised this kind of issue in order to delay the project. Has anybody tested the angle of attack of Gnat fighter plane before raising this issue? In the future war, this not a big issue because there will be no dogfight using a gun. In a dogfight, f16 fighter plane performed better than F35 stealth plane. The USA did not reject F 35. because they give importance to stealth body, BVR missiles, radar, sensors, jammers and connected avionics.Perhaps Tejas angle of attack claimed to be less due to stealth body. So whatever issues raised by IAF against Tejas is not a big issue.at all. Nobody is talking Tejas stealth capability and Unit cost of Tejas. If we analyze Tejas it is a far better plane than J20. How many IAF officers know the basic thing required to get stealth effect on fighter plane.? I say Tejas is superior to J 20 in many ways.
Though I am a civilian but an engineer, I must say that first and foremost duty apart from manufacturing of 48 planes is to concentrate everything on “Engine Kaveri”. Take help from anyone, steal from anyone but make it. Then only eighty percent problem is over. No one can blackmail us not even the lobbyists inside IAF.
No one has said anything about manufacturing Drones in India. I wonder why. Outfit them with Brahmos missiles and you have a drone to reckon with.
Too long Mr Chopra. Keep it small and direct next time. But Tejas needs to be kept alive and encouraged. We canot go running to foreign powers when war is started. The supplies and manufacture must be able to provide the Aircraft and ammo in Thousands. Not a few squadorns. Planes will fall from skies like flies and will need to be replaced. The one with most planes will win as most wars are fougt with air force fiore power first. Missiles also will play an important role and so do AWACS. India is going in the right direction. Tejas must be made better and manufacturing faster. Modi Govt needs to increase defense expenditure.
Dear Sir
With the highest respect to the defence force of which you were serving.Speaking against the slant in your article.
Unlike the indian navy IAF has not imbedded itself fully in the LCA programme from its inception. ASR is not quite enough
The small size and range of this aircraft are what the airforce stipulated.
The size was stipulates so that the LCA could use the ground structures that currently house our mig21s When you ask for a small size that has its advantages and disadvantages.
The only way the IAF can reach its designated strength of 42 squadrons if if we buy locally designed and produced craft.
All airforces use multiple types of aircraft for the different threat perceptions they face.
The LCA even with its current capabilities outmatches nearly all the aircraft that the PAF and PLAF have, Get real and get behind the programme,The deficiencies of the aircraft if any are to be blamed on multiple agencies the airforce being a large partner in this aspect.
Which major airforce in the world consists only of imported aircraft.
Since all of us are rooting for our airforce to attain the status of a major airforce, you might want to reconsider your slant.
Life is not perfect never was and never will be. It might be in the interest of all if the IAF gave firm orders of a large magnitude such that the supplier base andmanafacturing capability can be generated to achieve our 42 squadron strength. Otherwise if we are still alive 20 years hence we will still be crying that our squadron strength is slipping
JAI HIND
:p
can you please elaborate it
The LCA even with its current capabilities outmatches nearly all the aircraft that the PAF and PLAF have,
“The LCA even with its current capabilities outmatches nearly all the aircraft that the PAF and PLAF have,”
This is the type of idiotic and unfounded comment that clearly shows why Indians are the butt of all jokes. It obviously is the other way around. PLAAF’s J-10, J-11, J-16, clearly are on par or superior to India’s Tejas, Su-30MKI,MiG-29, and Dassault Mirage 2000. And while PLAAF continues to induct more of their 5th gen J-20s to their already numerous lethal arsenal inventory, IAF’s is still hesitating on the purchase of Russian Su-57 or on the drawing board with AMCA.
The IAF is the only repository of comprehensive military aviation knowledge in the country, yet its expertise was taken only in small bits.
I totally disagree with the above view. The problems with the IAF officers are they think matters like pilots and not like managers. Their writings have no base. I think they lag the capacity to find out the truth. They have enough time for reading. There was no war after Kargil war in 1998. The majority of the public including you do not know the background of Tejas development and writing all sorts of comment against Tejas. So far as my knowledge goes the designer of Tejas has made the plane almost a stealth. In a stealth plane, the size of the plane is also a big factor. This we have observed in the case of Gnat fighter plane. After the 1971 war, the PAF reported that their radars were not able to detect the movement of the plane because it was very small. The designer has taken this aspect very well and designed the aircraft as small as possible and also used stealth material and paint. Similarly, Tejas manoeuvrability also good like Gnat. But all these good points never discussed by the media.
“The airframe’s high usage of composites (which do not reflect radar waves), a Y-duct inlet which shields the engine compressor face from probing radar waves, and the application of radar-absorbent material (RAM) coatings are intended to minimise its susceptibility to detection and tracking.” Perhaps they want to keep as a war secret. The following deficiency noticed in Gnat fighter plane.
1) Fuel tank capacity and range. Its range was 800 Km
2) Its gun was getting a jam in the nick of the moment. On two or three occasions they lost the golden opportunity to shoot PAF starfighter planes.
3) The dash light illumination in the cockpit was so poor pilots used
torchlight
In Tejas most modern cockpit has been provided.
4). Wireless communication. failure was very frequent.
GPS has solved the problem of Communication.
Tejas
Even Gnat was a stealth aircraft. Indians have been fooling the world by suppressing this fact. Strange!!