tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post4095049450972528720..comments2024-03-14T06:10:14.591-07:00Comments on Broadsword by Ajai Shukla - Strategy. Economics. Defence.: Finally, a deadline for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft's new engineBroadswordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076780076240598482noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-91851124778469187702008-08-31T16:24:00.000-07:002008-08-31T16:24:00.000-07:00The development of the F414 started in 1998, not i...The development of the F414 started in 1998, not in the 1970:s!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-33164655377730426982008-08-31T16:20:00.000-07:002008-08-31T16:20:00.000-07:00Saab choose the F414G for the gripen NG because of...Saab choose the F414G for the gripen NG because of<BR/>better grooth potential(+30% thust and more relieabiliy already in development)<BR/>more thust to begin with<BR/>more commonalitys with F404 <BR/>and better suited for a single engine craft(relieability, birdstrike etc.)<BR/><BR/>If EJ200 is choosen its only for political reason...and maybe for MMRCA(EF2000)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-31293816908044264122008-08-04T02:16:00.000-07:002008-08-04T02:16:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-39717584567261802008-07-23T01:24:00.000-07:002008-07-23T01:24:00.000-07:00Is the LCA in the background in the 2nd pic N-LCA?...Is the LCA in the background in the 2nd pic N-LCA? It seems to have smaller and lowered nose cone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-18756364509020166152008-07-16T22:35:00.000-07:002008-07-16T22:35:00.000-07:00More pictures please. They speak more than a thous...More pictures please. They speak more than a thousand words.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-38630323932324033312008-07-16T16:16:00.000-07:002008-07-16T16:16:00.000-07:00Hi Ajai, Thanks for all the info that you put up...Hi Ajai,<BR/> Thanks for all the info that you put up on your blog. Most of the readers and myself are interested in knowing about the status of the kaveri engine. Any info regarding the JV with either Rrench / Russian.Rajhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12802592587498005065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-28306211659610976822008-07-16T13:07:00.000-07:002008-07-16T13:07:00.000-07:00Ajaiji, can u clarify about the status of Kaveri.....Ajaiji, can u clarify about the status of Kaveri... has it been shelved or are the JV plans still hanging fire??sniperz11https://www.blogger.com/profile/11613739977706693094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-60809463627011704942008-07-16T12:53:00.000-07:002008-07-16T12:53:00.000-07:00Ajaiji, thank you for the amazing pics and info th...Ajaiji, thank you for the amazing pics and info that you've been providing us for a while now. I was hoping to see that LCA with the green nose cone (must be a TD, or PV-1, because I recall seeing this one without the RAM intake at the base of the fin when I was in B'lore in February) and at least its there in the background of one of your images. Do you have any better images of it? <BR/><BR/>Also, you'd do all of India's aviation industry a favour if you told them that they are very much in the limelight- a lot of people are watching them, and disinformation spreads very rapidly. So, if they could provide interviews where they give latest specs, and clarifications on lies being spread through general media with malafide intent, it would do the program a great deal of good in the public eye. <BR/><BR/>Regarding the weight issue, could you please clarify on the empty weight with no fuel, with full fuel load and the actual reasons for growth in weight? avionics and mission equipment seems one reason, but what about structural reinforcements based on flight test data? has that been done? <BR/><BR/>Another very important aspect is that there is a great deal of ambiguity over the radar..are they using the Elta E-2032 now and then later for the production batches they'll switch to MMR with some 2032 components? What is the future plan for incorporating an AESA radar on the Tejas- Elta 2052? it will again increase the weight due to its cooling requirements. If you could give info on this, it would be greatly appreciated. Also, what about the IRST? not seen any developments on that as yet.<BR/><BR/>I hope you realise that being one of the only conduits of actual information from HAL, we all expect a lot from you. Thank you once again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-91146164387291238502008-07-16T11:03:00.000-07:002008-07-16T11:03:00.000-07:00Though Tejas has taken lot of time, it is good to ...Though Tejas has taken lot of time, it is good to hear that at last these things are coming to an end. Let it fly with foreign engine be it ge414 or EJ200 (but I feel EJ200 would be a better option). We should keep developing Kaveri engine, even with foreign help. It is now clear that even Kaveri is developed, with current thrust it would not be able to fulfill the requirments.<BR/>Kaveri is a nice engine and everyone has understood this fact & its development should go as earlier. It should be made a technological demonstrator to develop further engines, may be for the MCA.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-28622444284128998922008-07-16T09:00:00.000-07:002008-07-16T09:00:00.000-07:00^^^Man, things people find to gripe about.^^^<BR/>Man, things people find to gripe about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-19957704601641086822008-07-16T08:53:00.000-07:002008-07-16T08:53:00.000-07:00Though you are clearing lot of misconception relat...Though you are clearing lot of misconception related to LCA with your articles,your pictures are putting HAL in poor light regarding appearance of HAL personnel. i have read many comments regarding the uniform is not good, ppl are not wearing protective helemts, no signs indicating FOD free zones, alomonard fans ,dust..etc.. etc...Your camera work needs improvement,which you have already confessed. please tell HAL personnel, about posting of the photos in your blog ,which will be watched by many and see that HAL is not portaryed poorly wrt to the above issues.its a wonderful job and keep it up!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-54081437698328867002008-07-16T08:19:00.000-07:002008-07-16T08:19:00.000-07:00"The Anglo-European Eurofighter, a leading contend..."The Anglo-European Eurofighter, a leading contender, is powered by two EJ200 engines. A single GE F-414 engine powers the Swedish Grippen fighter."<BR/><BR/>Also to be noted that 2XGE-F414 powers the super hornet, also a contender for the MRCA.<BR/><BR/>The current Gripen is powered by a variant of the F404. F414 powers the new generation Gripen (Gripen NG) which is still under development.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-81504304558046538412008-07-16T07:04:00.000-07:002008-07-16T07:04:00.000-07:00Everyone acknowledges that EJ200 is a better engin...Everyone acknowledges that EJ200 is a better engine. And it really is.<BR/><BR/>Viewing it politically, by forcing India to to take the 414, US can push the LCA program back by 3 years. They get to sell more planes and more engines.<BR/><BR/>Regarding weight increase, per IAF requirement, LCA had to carry much heavier bombs and missiles. Hardpoints and structure had to be strengthened.<BR/><BR/>Let Kaveri be 10% or 90% complete, we should continue investing time and money into it. At some point, we may be able able replace the engines of MMRCA crafts with our own!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-1502764873129642692008-07-16T06:26:00.000-07:002008-07-16T06:26:00.000-07:00By the way, there is a new version of the F414 in ...By the way, there is a new version of the F414 in the works called F414-EDE.<BR/><BR/>"the F414 EDE offers up to 20% thrust increase over today's F414-400 engine, or up to three times the life of today`'s hot section at current thrust levels. The ongoing demonstrator program also includes research into high-cycle-fatigue reduction technologies, and foreign object damage-tolerant fan and compressor airfoil designs."<BR/><BR/>http://www.geae.com/aboutgeae/presscenter/military/military_20061212.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-39389880511461184002008-07-16T06:23:00.000-07:002008-07-16T06:23:00.000-07:00Hey Ajai, great article on the Tejas.One of the qu...Hey Ajai, great article on the Tejas.<BR/><BR/>One of the questions that is still left unanswered is what is causing the significant weight growth. Is the Tejas going to get more hardpoints, fuel load, or etc? What is driving the weight growth?<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your effort.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-66886261692902722532008-07-16T06:00:00.000-07:002008-07-16T06:00:00.000-07:00Hello Shukla ji, its good information. EJ200 looks...Hello Shukla ji, its good information. EJ200 looks better choice & dont have risk of sanctions; but further development of EJ200 should start earliest in India(if chosen), otherwise again we will be left behind again. Thanks, Puneet shukla.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-4956475395787250602008-07-16T05:07:00.000-07:002008-07-16T05:07:00.000-07:00I hope atleast the Kaveri marine engine project is...I hope atleast the Kaveri marine engine project is still alive. It is disheartening to see the engine project die especially at the last lap. It will be even more difficult to start something like this after a gap.<BR/><BR/>There was a piece of information about the engine not being able to reach the final mile is due to non availability of single crystal blades. There is not even a single foreign vendor who wants to share this piece and we are awarding the very same people with a 11 bn dollar worth of fighter contract and few more billions for a new engine for LCA. This is our taxpayers' money. It will not return back to us unlike the investment in our own R&D.<BR/><BR/>Also consider me as a novice in this one: 2 tons worth of extra equipments in the standard airframe sounds unrealistic. I don't think there is any space to fit in all of them. I wonder what these additional instruments are.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-40917107005962831132008-07-16T04:19:00.000-07:002008-07-16T04:19:00.000-07:00i think that only under full load conditions will ...i think that only under full load conditions will the present engine of LCA be inadequate to make complex attack maneuvers. But if the weight is reduced by sending the fighter on strict mission specific roles like air to air combat or just ground attack etc.the fighter would come out very strong. All i seek ajayji is to know how are the electronic and weapon system being integrated into the LCA in terms of quality. Further what are the proposed weapons that can be carried under limited loading to maintain better thrust..i think the latter two inputs would settle a lot of doubts on how tejas would finally come out as a fighter. Thank you for this lovely article. take careAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-36189911686016649832008-07-16T03:16:00.000-07:002008-07-16T03:16:00.000-07:00HI ajaiThanks for the quick reply. I think the wei...HI ajai<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the quick reply. I think the weight you are talking about is the empty weight + internal fuel load. I believe it was to be 5.5 tonne + 2.4 tonne (fuel) = 7.9 tonne for the aircraft. How did it end up at 10.5 tonne? Was the internal fuel load increased? Otherwise the empty weight is 8 tonnes which is heavier than the all metal Mirage2000 and about the same as F-16 blk 30??su markethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14971895003796725915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-67794913933570877542008-07-16T01:23:00.000-07:002008-07-16T01:23:00.000-07:00Interesting article, thanks for it but som of it a...Interesting article, thanks for it but som of it are bit confusing. Correct F-414 is bigger than Ej-200 but is not bigger than F-404 LCA is using today. It is a little heavier but if the rest of LCA has gotten bigger it might just balance the CoG.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-3234569386284433232008-07-16T01:03:00.000-07:002008-07-16T01:03:00.000-07:00Just to clarify the weight issue for Figher: the L...Just to clarify the weight issue for Figher: the LCA was orignially conceived as a 7.8 ton aircraft. Today, the version which will get Initial Operational Clearance weighs in at 10.5 tons. The naval version will push 11 tons.<BR/><BR/>The GE F-404 would have been a perfectly adequate engine, had the weight been kept at 7.8 tons. The problem is that ambitious role expansion by everyone concerned caused the weight to go up... and the GE F-404 gradually found itself running short of power.<BR/><BR/>The IN-20 makes up some of that power shortfall. But not enough to give the LCA a sustained turn rate that would be acceptable in today's aerial battlefield.Ajai Shuklahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16488839157370084666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-41958397429993024212008-07-16T01:01:00.000-07:002008-07-16T01:01:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Ajai Shuklahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16488839157370084666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-64429884854175644032008-07-16T00:39:00.000-07:002008-07-16T00:39:00.000-07:00ajai,thanks for the article. might have been nice ...ajai,<BR/><BR/>thanks for the article. might have been nice to also add the f404in20 specs for comparison to the other two. <BR/><BR/>hopefully you'll be able to shine a little light on what is happening on the kaveri front in the 2nd part of this article.<BR/><BR/>i also echo kishore's sentiment. our def scientists deserve the kudos; they seem to amaze me every day. working on peanuts and still producing cutting edge tech is only possible out of love for the motherland.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-12938281728543148152008-07-16T00:30:00.000-07:002008-07-16T00:30:00.000-07:00First of all thanks for the LCA cockpit pictures. ...First of all thanks for the LCA cockpit pictures. It looks awesome. Could you clarify what you meant by weight increase of 2 tons? Since LCA uses 70 % composites by weight I find it difficult to believe that the empty weight has increased from 4.5 tonne to 6.5 tonne. That would not reflect well on ADA. Do you mean the MTOW (maximum take off weight) has increased by 2 tonnes? Which would bring the MTOW to 14.5 tonnes. In which case the total payload of LCA should have gone up from 4 tonnes to 5-6 tonnes. Thankssu markethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14971895003796725915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-68775966959858477032008-07-16T00:10:00.000-07:002008-07-16T00:10:00.000-07:00Dear Ajay,very informative article. can we expect ...Dear Ajay,<BR/>very informative article. <BR/>can we expect to see more news on FGFA? what will be HALs role will it be development manufacturing or design - development - manufacturing?<BR/>thanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com