Congratulations!The first of 18 FOC-standard twin-seat Operational Conversion Trainers has taken flight:
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looks like some vintage VHS tape stuff somehow, maybe a bit too crisp, but I like it
So this means 170+ LCA if this get's approved? Considering that original LCA requirements called fo a 1 to 1 replacement of Bisons, I guess it came back to where it was supposed to be. I might want to ask though, what was the projected IAF demand for LCA during the 1980s?
So this means 170+ LCA if this get's approved? Considering that original LCA requirements called fo a 1 to 1 replacement of Bisons, I guess it came back to where it was supposed to be. I might want to ask though, what was the projected IAF demand for LCA during the 1980s?
Also, may I ask if the Mk-1 can be upgraded to Mk-1A standard? I know that there are some very notable differences between the two, though they are structurally same so it would still be in the realm of possibility that the Mk-1 aircrafts are upgraded to the 1A standard right?
That's a great diagram. Thank you. Also, yes, I'd also agree that if Mk.1 upgrade to a common configuration happens, it would probably be during MLU. Though at that point of time they might as well be interested in developing something like a "Mk.1B" which both 1 and 1A aircraft could be upgraded into.Yes. More or less a 1:1 replacement of Bison with the new order (still to be confirmed, but should be this year I think).
During the 80s/90s, the total squadrons in the IAF was around 40 (the peak it ever had), around half of these would be interceptor role that Mig 21 filled (i.e around 300 - 400), so the Tejas requirement broadly looked at 1:1 replacement here over the course of the following decades as Mig 21s were retired....and of course everything going to plan (it didnt, and we have serious total squadron strength drop to about 30 soon, hopefully wont drop below that).
The total Tejas requirement (mk1, 1A and mk2) is currently announced as ~324 airframes, about 18 squadrons of 18 each. So about 150 mk2 Tejas are required after the current + proposed mk1A orders are delivered.
This (Tejas) side of things is again expanding from the MRFA (~ 118 a/c or 6 squadrons or so) deadlock w.r.t budgeting and bureaucracy. Fine by me, though I wish it was done earlier.
The mk-1 can be upgraded to mk1-A (or something very close to it). When and how that is to be done (say during MLU) depends on the analysis done on the production line capacity and component supply chain then I suppose w.r.t cost benefit.....it would make sense to bring the Uttam AESA while there is MLU downtime for sure, hopefully things are more streamlined with the investments needed by then compared to how they have been so far w.r.t the relative slow progress and chokepoints that have dogged the whole project though showing signs of improvement now.
From: https://twitter.com/AnchitGupta9
Whenever I see any content about the Indian Defense Industry, all Indians say that defence companies must be privatized in the comments .I see there are some issues with bureaucracy but where does this neoliberalism come from?If you want to sell LCA series of fighter jets abroad including 1A, 2 and AMCA then it is essential that HAL is privatized. Bureaucrats are bad salesmen. We already lost Malaysian contract in-spite of a superior aircraft. We are not sure yet about Argentinian and Egyptian contract.