India AMCA Program

[Bhartiya Sainik]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1891128618207604907

HAL shys away from rapid prototyping so we don't see them putting out frames faster. HAL has the capability to put out a flying prototype without the necessary sub system but that's does not fit into HAL Philosophy of manufacturing

1:1 mockup, engineering model, static model, exhibit model, etc, whatever people wan't to call it, this exhibit model is made with wood &/or fiber. There are hardly any joints, rivets, real panels, etc. The static model is not for development into flight model.
As per DRDO & PSU info on various forums + AMCA bulkhead metal cutting happened in 2022 + as per these ADA guys it'll take 4 more years to roll out the prototype = no full structure available yet.
So beware of Youtubers, journalists saying something semantically wrong like "in THEORY... FLIGHT with THIS Aero India model".
Flight is practical, not theory. Makers reveal a flyable prototype only at the manufacturing facility with runway obviously, but Yelahanka is just a simple airbase.

 

[Bhartiya Sainik]

A collage of AMCA's CAD 2D front view projections from various artists, in different resolutions, some resized.
If anybody has more 2D front views, diagram, sketch, etc, please share.

 

[Bhartiya Sainik]

Continuing the chain of posts for weapons in AMCA's IWB which is officially quoted 4.2m X 2.2m,
After observing the designs of all BVR-AAMs made globally, and intention of F-35 & J-35 to increase their IWB capacity to 6 AAMs, I had shown by diagrams that only 4 big-fin Astr-1/2 AAMs can fit in IWB but,
6 staggered Astr-2 short-fin AAMs (like AIM-120-D in F-22),
or 6 modified Astr-3 SFDR,
or 8 folding-fin Astr-2 AAMs can fit in (like Chinese PL-15).

I took the CAD of Astr-2 big-fin by artist "Akela freedom" & edited in Paint to match short-fin version made by artist "Kuntal Biswas" which is also identical to AIM-120-D. So the forward fixed fin has been shortened & shifted forward & rear fin leading edge more swept back, that's all, simple quick edit.

View attachment 73595

Now we can see the comparison more clear & precise, 4 & 6 big-fin AAMs vs 6 short-fin AAMs in the outine of official dimension of IWB. Unfortunately an updated CAD is not released yet by any artist or DoD.

View attachment 73596

I did this few weeks back but I waited for Aero-India, hoping they would officially increase the IWB capacity & showcase, but didn't happen. But this is not an up-hill task & can be done easily till IOC jet.

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There is no separator wall in the IWB. 1 door panel slightly overlaps on the panel of other side door, means both doors have to open full to drop any weapon, exposing full IWB.
I hope this gets corrected in IOC jet.

So far we have seen multiple CADs & static models with slight differences.
Neither ADA nor the 3D artists release basic schematic diagrams, cross sections, configurations, etc. The ones available so far are low resolution & inadequate.

It is difficult to confirm how the inducted jet will look like & its capabilities.
So taking the most convincing CAD front view & superimposing the IWB dimension of 2.2m width & 0.75m depth, along with BVR-AAMs from TEDBF CAD, it seems 6x Astr-2 short-fin version with 178mm body diameter would fit in IWB easily with or w/o staggering.
SWB is also possible.
With 1.5 ton IWB capacity, 6x BVR-AAMs + 2 CCMs = 6x154 + 2x88 = 1,100 Kg, 1.1/(12+6.5+1.1)=5.6% of STOW.
Wet T/STOW ratio = 2x98 KN / 9.8 / (12+6.5+1.1) = 1.02
With 50% fuel used & firing 4 BVR-AAMs, with 2 CCMs & 2 BVR-AAMs left, wet TWR = 2x98 KN / 9.8 / {12+3.25+(4x154 + 2x88)/1000} = 1.24