Bharat Rakshak

BenG

Thank you so much, Cain Marko. I really appreciate that. ADA/DRDO has a mandate within their charter which says that it should say yes to every r&d project. This was a reply Kalam sir had given to a now prominent but then a young defence correspondent. I can't remember the name of the journalist...

BenG

... You missed the most important point - ... the parts-commonality between Mk1A and Mk2 is merely 25-27% - whereas between Mk2 and AMCA is 75%+ ... ... https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/images/f35_technology_commonality.jpg F-35-A models had utmost commonality of 40% after d...

BenG

Agreed completely which is what makes the engine choice all the more galling! The mirage despite carrying an AL31 sized engine, was always underpowered. Why they heck did they not use an AL31 to power the MK2 when they very well knew that the tejas would come close to mirage weight class anyways? E...

BenG

... And Tejas mk1 was also designed to occupy the footprint of mig21 and its blast pens.If those 400 or so blast pens are still there to use, it is preudent to design HLFT-42 smaller than Mirage -2000 with Kaveri engine to use those old pens. Forgive my ignorance but i have never understood this re...

BenG

The hlft idea is beyond stupid! I will clarify. I am not saying to develop HLFT-42 within tejas mk2 timeline. I am saying stop tejas mk2 and put efforts into 83+97 production of mk1a now and in future with Kaveri engine for mk1B in place of mk2. Devote all scienctists of DRDO who have been groomed ...

BenG

Rs 9000 crore or $ 1.2 billion is earmarked for the programme and not yet spent. Knowing how our finance ministry, MOD officials work. They would not have paid the vendors for already completed work. So after paying vendors for current work done, money left can be diverted to new project without the...

BenG

Hlft 42 is there to fill role of tejas mk2. Amca is far more important since there's no fallback option. Tejas mk2 was a jobs programme parrotted by successive drdo/Ada chief like Dr Girish Deodhare to further their career goals within the organisation. I agree with prodyut das about Chinese fighter...

BenG

Wait till the GoI/MoF/MoD get a sticker price shock on how much MRFA 100+ Rafales will cost :twisted: In the first MRCA, GoI/MoF/MoD had budgeted $10-12 billion for 126 Rafales :roll: As a “compromise” face-saving gesture, the PM did a G2G for 36 Rafales at a cost of $8 billion. So anyone thinking ...

BenG

In 2009, Tejas mk1 was deemed a complete failure without Kaveri and a new turbofan was needed. Tejas mk2 was sanctioned because a new turbofan means a new plane. With mk1a, the failure has been overcome. So Tejas mk2 necessity no longer exists . Now DRDO is trying to put cart before horse. Here too...

BenG

https://bnnbreaking.com/world/turkey/turkeys-defense-leap-maiden-flight-of-kaan-the-fifth-generation-stealth-fighter-jet/ Even turkey runs a better fighter programme than DRDO Babus. The time line for Tejas MK2 is rollout in end 2024 or early 2025 and flight an year after that in 2026. I am not goin...

BenG

I am laughing because my "perceived" deference to the IAF, has no bearing even on the IAF :) Do you think BRF can change anyone's opinion in the MoD, the PMO or even at Air HQ? I find it funny that anyone's response on this forum - mine, yours or anyone else's - is going to change the rea...

BenG

What you and I think or even inclined to think is irrelevant to Air HQ. We can voice our opinions on a forum, but if you take this to Air HQ...they will throw this bravado talk you are giving above in the dustbin. Any questions asked - easy or hard - is done behind closed doors, to which we are nev...

BenG

Have you asked why it took so long? They didn't get the funds required to make it to the CDR stage and IAF did not want the Tejas so they did everything they could to sabotage it. So I lay the blame of the delay at the feet of the IAF. Yup! This Happened! So how can we find the financial backing to...

BenG

It would be wonderful if IAF inducted 20 odd heavily commercial aircraft like 777 or 747 in transport roles. IAF pilots would love it as well, as they would be type trained to fly commercial when they retire, and it would be cheaper and leave the C17 hours for all military equipment only. This exac...

BenG

US Govt is upto it's old tricks again. Shylock it seems will get his pound of flesh. HAL should be able to spare a couple of f404 in20 engines delivered for first 40 tejas mk1 orders to get mk1a certifications completed without delays. It is circumstances like this that make me see Kaveri engine as ...

BenG

@BenG Bhai, you're wrong. If the conception of AMCA in 2005 is the excuse for it becoming obsolete by the time of its induction in 2040, then LCA MK1/1A should have been obsolete by the time of their induction in 2015/24!! But are they!? They're not. I will say AMCA will be even more potent than we...

BenG

I disagree with that statement. While many posters have already countered this arguement with various reasons, one reason I want to add is that I believe IAF is looking at AMCA as a replacement of Su30MKI. Given the way things are moving with respect to Tejas Mk2, I believe the timelines of AMCA mi...

BenG

I am also saying the same. There could be 1-2 squadron with just 2 seaters for conversion plus lift training. We have 18 LCA 2 seater on order, we may need another 20-40 (if all our rookies get additional LIFT training then 40) double seaters. It makes sense to have a couple of dedicated trainer sq...

BenG

Apparently, there were some deliveries made of the F414 turbfoans to India. Ramana-ji has also indicated that in the post above. I am looking for an official source to find out how many were delivered and when they were delivered. The first flight of the Tejas Mk 2 is expected in 2026 or 2027 I bel...

BenG

Can you please advise what this 20 F414 turbofans agreement is? When we are planning to run 3 fighter jet programs on F414, we should have planned to buy at least 20 Engines outright. This will help with spares as well as against supply chain disruptions like Covid or shooting ourselves in the foot...

BenG

'd like to know what is the basis for this line of thinking. Even assuming "the will to assist us" exists, its fair to pause and ask why? Why should the US assist India ? Whats in it for them? US did dispatch its aircraft carrier when Nehru asked for help during Indo-china war of 1962. Us...

BenG

Interesting post BenG and I agree on a lot of points. I also have to caution against HAL or any other entity’s desire to learn and iterate on any new technology. HAL has been manufacturing western and Russian maal for decades and they have done nothing other than screwdrivergiri. There is no incent...

BenG

That is true. But would you say that engine on a a fighter is only 5% of the product? If the IAF has been reluctant to get US mrca to avoid being at the mercy of supplier whimsy, maybe that applies to LCA too? IAF may have its concerns about US as a supplier. But that is not its purview. As Air Chi...

BenG

I am afraid I have to go against the flow here and suggest something which might feel controversial. I feel the cynicism and animosity towards engagement with US govt is unwarranted. The jingoistic nature of our current political dispersion and thug life quotes of Dr Jaishankar seem to be pushing th...

BenG

Are you referring to the AL-31FP? HAL does a license production of that turbofan at Koraput. https://hal-india.co.in/Product_Details.aspx?Mkey=54&lKey=&CKey=30 Rd- 33 and Rd -33 mk engines are manufactured in HAL Koraput alongside AL-31. Navy Bought Mig-29 K and notorious short life of the ...

BenG

https://twitter.com/Firezstarter1/status/1631935711086800897?s=20 ---> Note the common systems and modules. LCA AF Mk2 is critical to both de-risk the AMCA and also make it's key items affordable with a larger production run. Tejas Mk2 IRST currently being tested by HAL Air Intake Test Certificatio...

BenG

Company Parameter Status
HAL On-time Delivery NA
DRDO On-time Delivery NA

*NA - Not applicable

BenG

hemant_sai wrote:This assembly line has not appeared out of nowhere.
HAL chairman is well aware of it and still he has given the timelines very recently.
...
Sometimes this forum disappoints me w.r.t. raising obvious questions.

Yup! DRDO/HAL should learn to shut up and let their work do the talking.

BenG

..... Ball is in IAF to place the 50 mk1a second batch order. Some seniors quoted IAF doesn't have the capacity to absorb more than 1 squadron an year . Hope IAF fixes this soon.. Fantastic IAF staff we have. Such worthy Air staff should be cashiered for exhibiting such unobtainium poweress. :rotfl...

BenG

I was looking forward to nashik production line. Nashik line was conceived for exports. Though Malaysia did not work out, HAL has made a wise decision. Oficially 24 Tejas per year is the capacity, could be 28 if Kiran hanger continues. Ball is in IAF to place the 50 mk1a second batch order. Some sen...

BenG

VinodTK wrote:^^^^
In a first, indigenously-developed Tejas aircraft to make debut at foreign air exercise

What were the results of the exercise?

BenG

Much needed good news! Because, there is some bad news as well. The IAF will not only return unused funds for 2022-23, but has also reduced the projected requirements for 2023-24 by a whopping 26000 Crores. https://swarajyamag.com/defence/iafs-budget-takes-a-hit-of-rs-26000-crore-delayed-delivery-o...

BenG

IMHO, TEDBF seems to be evolving into Rafale-M design with wing-folding. It makes sense to buy 114 or 90 Rafale-M + 26 Rafale M and currently use them in Indian Air Force and Navy respectively. About 18 2-seater Rafale-B can be bought out-right as a common conversion trainer for Navy and Air-force. ...

BenG

~12 per year. See below. https://twitter.com/livefist/status/1630920151028891648?s=20 ---> BREAKING: Indian Govt approves procurement of 70 indigenous HAL HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft for the Indian Air Force in a deal worth Rs 6,828.36 crore. The aircraft will be supplied over a period of six yea...

BenG

basant wrote:Dry thrust is more relevant as afterburner is used only for a very small duration. Here, the difference is around 7 kN only.

Afterburner is important for take-off in stobar configuration.

BenG

Great news on TEDBF. The 26 RafaleM will ease schedule pressure. Glad the TEDBF numbers are firmed up at 100. Just taking a contrarian view here. Given HAL and ADA's penchant for stretching development timelines like a soap opera. I'm not convinced 26 Rafale-M will be enough to be fielded on 2 airc...

BenG

https://twitter.com/Defencecore/status/1625832014871146497 Tejas-Mk1a : 133 (50 more to be ordered) 133 is incorrect. Tejas mk1a is 73 now. The order is 10 FOC twin seater + 73 mk1a. So it should be 73+50. Imho, the next 50 order should have upgrades like new mission computer, new radar and jammers...

BenG

If timeline for mk2 is slipping, IAF should evaluate progress of Tejas mk1 trainer and order 40 mk1a trainers. Tejas mk1 is the bird we have in hand. Too much of criticism by IAF has not done any good these 3 decades. It'll not do any more now. We need numbers in fighter aircraft and the twin-seat v...

BenG

Anoop wrote:

Talk by Lt. Gen. Ravishankar (R) to Northern Command on technology and organization for the future.

Amazing work happening in our lifetime. This is a very good way to keep upgrading weapon systems to prevent obsolence.

BenG

KSingh, When the PM of India has to point out the import addiction of the Indian armed forces. You know that things are not good. The government is aware of the fact.... It may not be to the time line of our liking. But it will happen. Well said. Crystal clean opinion on the state of our armed forc...

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