LCA News and Discussions, 22-Oct-2013

[shiv]

"@ajaishukla: Recd terrible news that my friend Air Cmde Parvez Khokhar found murdered in Banglr. Was LCA chief test pilot and India's air attache to Pak."

shit. that man was a strategic thinker

[Ramu]

Sorry, wrong thread. One more to add to this list

Director of Research and Development Establishment (Engineers) or R&DE, Pune, Dr S Guruprasad—was killed during the 21-day annual palki yatra to Pandharpur last year.

[Kartik]

"@ajaishukla: Recd terrible news that my friend Air Cmde Parvez Khokhar found murdered in Banglr. Was LCA chief test pilot and India's air attache to Pak."

shit. that man was a strategic thinker

That's really bad news!

[Rahul M]

really sad news. Air Cmde Khokar was director flight tests IIRC.
always looked forward to his no nonsense opinions.

RIP Sir.

p.s. I used to be a skeptic but now am not so sure that there's no larger campaign at work against our defence & nuclear research program. someone higher up needs to take note.
if he was already overpowered what was the need to murder him ?

[JTull]

What's going on? Clearly, outsiders are at work. Too much of a coincidence!

[nishu]

some one please share all the recent deaths of defense personal and scientists with me . I will try to make a news story through channels i know . please share

[Sagar G]

Sorry, wrong thread. One more to add to this list

Director of Research and Development Establishment (Engineers) or R&DE, Pune, Dr S Guruprasad—was killed during the 21-day annual palki yatra to Pandharpur last year.

Chup be he is alive and kicking where the FAQ did you get this quote from ???

[kit]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city ... 263257.cms?

A 1971 India-Pakistan war veteran, Air Commodore Parvez Khokhar, 70, was found murdered in mysterious circumstances on Monday morning, in his villa in Huskur, off Hosur Road.

The villa, part of the Estate Club Smilee Greens gated community, is 21km southeast of Bengaluru.

The former project director of India's indigenous fighter aircraft Light Combat Aircraft was found lying on his cot in his bedroom, his hands and legs bound with cloth. There were strangulation marks on his neck. Police suspect he was smothered as well.The investigators are baffled by the ease with which the assailants gained entry, breaching the two-layer security: one at the main entrance and another at the entry of the lane leading to Khokhar's villa

[Victor]

Big loss for us, RIP. Trust all his gyan and experience was recorded and transmitted to up and comers. Sqn Ldr Baldev Singh, HAL test pilot, was supposed to have committed suicide and one theory doing the rounds was that he was depressed with his job as HAL Director since he couldn't fly . Haven't seen anything definitive about it. Another test pilot, Gp Capt Neluri fell to his death in a lift shaft. Both in 2011. Hope we get to the bottom of these.

BTW, his full name was Parvez Hamilton Khokhar and he was a Christian from Punjab.

[srai]

some one please share all the recent deaths of defense personal and scientists with me . I will try to make a news story through channels i know . please share

India's Unexplained Deaths: Terrorism Suspected

1. G K Kumaravel of the Combat Vehicles Research Development Establishment (CVRDE), Avadi, head of the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MBT) Mark 1 and 2 programmes
2. Squadron Leader (Retd) Baldev Singh, Director (Corporate Planning & Marketing) at HAL; former Executive Director Flight Operations and the Chief Test Pilot (Fixed Wing) at HAL's Bangalore Complex
3. KK Josh, 34, chief engine room artificer (CERA) at Shipbuilding Centre
4. Abhish Shivam, 33, a chief engineer working at INS Arihant, India's first nuclear-powered submarine.
5. Air Commodore Parvez Khokhar, 70, former project director of India's indigenous fighter aircraft Light Combat Aircraft

[srai]

For those who were advocating exporting LCA Mk.1 with only a few token orders from the IAF, here is a case study to ponder ...

Trouble for the Twin-Engine Giants?

...
Even if one platform was to win all four of the major remaining competitions, the lifespan of these jets is likely running out, as domestic orders have mostly dried up. But as Saab can testify, it takes only one significant order to change the fortunes of a fighter program.

Based on current sales, Super Hornet production will end in 2016. Typhoon production is secure until the end of 2017. Rafale’s domestic orders end in 2016, with exports needed to keep the line open to 2019.

“When your home market implodes or terminates, it’s tough to sustain the exports,” Aboulafia said. “The more you look at the history of fighter programs, the more you realize what freak cases the F-15s and F-16s were. You had several decades of production sustained by exports only. That’s extremely unusual.”
...

[Philip]

A truly shocking piece of news.Air Cmde.Khokar was a great hero and made immense contributions to the LCA programme with his flight testing.He was a prolific write ,his memoirs shed much light on many issues of aircraft development in India and the IAF,and in recent times wrote a few penetrative articles on the LCA programme in Vayu.

His death is clearly connected with some of his work/research and if one report is true,that the murderers were looking for important documents which they apparently never found,the GOI must mount a most concerted effort to find the killers who were clearly anti-national and could possibly involve both local and foreign hands. Our sincerest condolences to his grieving wife and family.May his murder be swiftly avenged.May his patriotic soul RIP .

[srai]

A bird in the hand

July 22, 2013 Last Updated at 21:44 IST
...
Says Air Commodore (Retd) Parvez Khokhar, who was for years the chief test pilot of the Tejas programme: "The Tejas Mark I is far superior to the MiG-21 fleet that the IAF would have to operate to the end of this decade. In key respects, it is a better fighter than even the Mirage 2000. The Tejas Mark I should enter the IAF's combat fleet in larger numbers and the Tejas Mark II scaled down. This would allow the air force to retire the MiG-21 fleet sooner."
...

[Austin]

25-November, 2014 15:37 IST ( MOD Press )

Delay in LCA Project

The ambitious project of developing Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is running behind schedule. The current status is as follows:-

• Initial Operational Clearance II (IOC-II) for Tejas Aircraft Air Force version has been obtained on December 20, 2013.

• More than 2700 flight tests have been completed utilizing 13 Tejas.

• All trials are progressing well towards Final Operational Clearance (FOC) of LCA Tejas.

• Aircraft build standard documents have been released for Series Production (SP) aircraft.

• On March 31, 2006, Indian Air Force has executed a contract with HAL for production of 20 Tejas aircraft SP powered by GE-F404-IN20 engines in IOC configuration and production activities are in progress. Defence Acquisition Council has cleared for 20 more aircraft in FOC configuration.

The expenditure incurred for LCA (Air Force Mk-I) Programme i.e. Full Scale Engineering Development (FSED) Phase – I and Phase – II till October 31, 2014 is Rs. 7399.69 crores.

FSED Phase –II was sanctioned with original Probable Date of Completion as December 2008 which has now been extended upto March 2015.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Shri CM Ramesh in Rajya Sabha today.

DM/HH/RAJ

[srai]

Code: Select all

Month       Total Flights
---------------------------
Jan 2014       9
Feb            20
Mar            31
Apr            17
May            49
Jun            31
Jul            37
Aug            35
Sep            29
Oct            40
Nov-25         32
Dec            N/A
-----------------------------
Total (2014)   330

Avg/Month      30


[Vivek K]

The MMRCA purchase will be the most ill advised purchase in India's history. We will pay for this folly for generations in economic and strategic terms. India will never again be in a position to realize the dream of self-reliance that its founding fathers had visualized.

The determination of a man of Air Cmmde Parvez Khokar's stature give an idea about the potency of the weapon that will have no future once the MMRCA is purchased.

[Viv S]

Sorry, wrong thread. One more to add to this list

Director of Research and Development Establishment (Engineers) or R&DE, Pune, Dr S Guruprasad—was killed during the 21-day annual palki yatra to Pandharpur last year.

Chup be he is alive and kicking where the FAQ did you get this quote from ???

I think he got it from here.

[Viv S]

DRDO developed this hi-tech chariot and ‘donated’ it to Alandi Temple in June after a bullock...was killed during the 21-day annual palki yatra to Pandharpur last year. He accepted that the chariot was built by the laboratory which he heads.

Exactly.

[Asit P]

20-30 Tejas aircraft to be commissioned soon: Parrikar

NEW DELHI: As many as 20-30 indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, which will replace the aging MIG fighters, will be commissioned soon, government informed the Lok Sabha on Friday .

Defence research and development organisation (DRDO) is working on the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Programme, which has been running behind schedule.

During question hour, defence minister Manohar Parrikar said "20-30" Tejas aircraft are to be commissioned soon.

Once ready, Tejas would replace the aging MIG fighers. Noting that concerns over light combat aircraft would be taken into account, the minister said negotiations are going on for the 126 Rafale fighter jets deal.

[deejay]

^^^ Now what is this 20 to 30 aircraft will be commissioned soon. That is a very vague answer both on numbers and time line that too in Parliament.

[rohitvats]

Any news on the street about when SP-2 is likely to be handed over to IAF?

[member_28911]

I have a question -
IAF has ordered 40 Tejas Mk1. So how many are these single-seater and how many trainers? If all 40 Mk1 are single-seater fighter version then has IAF ordered any trainer version yet?

[Neela]

http://www.oneindia.com/india/lca-navy-all-set-for-ski-jump-trials-at-sbtf-goa-1584964.html

[srai]

I have a question -
IAF has ordered 40 Tejas Mk1. So how many are these single-seater and how many trainers? If all 40 Mk1 are single-seater fighter version then has IAF ordered any trainer version yet?

The LCA Tejas Trainer

...
rainers are powered by GE-F404-IN-20 engine. It had its maiden flight on 26th Nov 2009 and the handling qualities of the aircraft are excellent as per the number of IAF pilots. This aircraft is expected to complete Initial Operational Clearance by end Dec 2011. Indian Air Force has already placed order for 8 trainers.
...

[member_28911]

So 40 Tejas Mk1 (single-seater) + 8 Tejas Mk1 (trainer) + 8 (+8) Tejas Mk1 (Naval). Not bad .

[sankum]

It is 32 single seat+ 8 trainers for IAF=40 LCA mk1 and 4 single seat and 4 trainers=8 LCA mk1 for IN.

[Kartik]

New name of the LCA Navy since the IN is not happy with the name Tejas!

those of us who weren't happy with the name Tejas can now start the naamkaran ceremony.

[nash]

jatayu
garuda
pushpak

[Philip]

First let the bird be built,tested and achieves FOC,then we can name it whatever the IN wants! With the IN expanding its naval air stations in our island territories and on the mainland,the NLCA can also be tasked to operate from these bases for air defence and strike given its range and endurance limitations,with heavier twin-engined aircraft like the 29Ks and others to come in the future during the 3+ decade life spans of our carriers,tasked for more challenging operations. Twin-engine aircraft would also have greater survivability in the case of engine problems during carrier operations far from shore.

[HKumar]

^^^^ +1

I don't understand naming before they go operational. Its like naming a child before he is born. You lose a lot of good names when projects go sideways. Give them temporary black-ops sounding names like X-007 I know that was cheesy..

[vishvak]

+10 Philip. Don't know why this now, as such the name is very good.
Reminds of this

a-nayaya does not establish shaanti, it merely represses people. That is why, on some occasions, war establishes peace . God lives in kshatriya's tej. And tej does not tolerate a-nyaya ..

[srai]

... still waiting to see these (wallpaper material )

Air-to-Air (CAP)

• 2 x CCM -> Outer-wing pylons
• 2 x BVR -> Mid-wing pylons
• 2 x BVR -> Inner-wing pylons
• 1 x fuel tank (supersonic) -> centreline pylon

Air-to-Air (Escort)

• 2 x CCM -> Outer-wing pylons
• 2 x BVR -> Mid-wing pylons
• 2 x fuel-tank (supersonic) -> Inner-wing pylons
• 1 x fuel tank (supersonic) -> centreline pylon (optional)

Air-to-Ground (CAS w/ 250kg bombs)

• 2 x CCM -> Outer-wing pylons
• 2 x 250kg HSLD -> Mid-wing pylons
• 4 x 250kg HSLD -> Inner-wing pylons
• 2 x 250kg HSLD -> centreline pylon

Air-to-Ground (CAS w/ 100kg bombs)

• 2 x CCM -> Outer-wing pylons
• 6 x 100kg bomb -> Mid-wing pylons
• 12 x 100kg bomb -> Inner-wing pylons
• 6 x 100kg bomb -> centreline pylon

Air-to-Ground (CAS w/ 450kg bombs)

• 2 x CCM -> Outer-wing pylons
• 2 x 450kg HSLD/GP -> Mid-wing pylons
• 4 x 450kg HSLD/GP -> Inner-wing pylons

Air-to-Ground (interdiction/DAS w/ PGMs) [done]

• 2 x CCM -> Outer-wing pylons
• 2 x 450kg LGB -> Mid-wing pylons
• 2 x fuel tank -> Inner-wing pylons
• 1 x Litening pod -> side-centreline pylon
• 1 x fuel tank -> centreline pylon (optional)

Air-to-Ground (interdiction/DAS w/ 450kg bombs) [done]

• 2 x CCM -> Outer-wing pylons
• 2 x 450kg HSLD/GP -> Mid-wing pylons
• 2 x fuel tank -> Inner-wing pylons
• 1 x Litening pod -> side-centreline pylon
• 1 x fuel tank -> centreline pylon (optional)

Finally, a real poster material stuff
Multi-role (little bit of everything)

• 2 x CCM -> Outer-wing pylons
• 2 x BVR -> Mid-wing pylons
• 2 x PGMs (ASM/LGB/AShM) -> Inner-wing pylons
• 1 x Litening pod -> side-centreline pylon
• 1 x fuel tank -> centreline pylon

[member_28788]

jatayu
garuda
pushpak

I like Jatayu. But Jatayu died. Pushpak lived but didnt see the war!

[pralay]

ओजस - Ojas - Strength, vigour, energy, ability, vitality

[Indaruta]

Varunastra

More options below

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:W ... _mythology

[member_28932]

There is a recent posting of video with Heading:

LCA TEJAS COMPLETES ALL WEATHER FLYING TEST

[member_28932]

:(( ... still waiting to see these (wallpaper material )

Air-to-Air (CAP)

• 2 x CCM -> Outer-wing pylons
• 2 x BVR -> Mid-wing pylons
• 2 x BVR -> Inner-wing pylons
• 1 x fuel tank (supersonic) -> centreline pylon

Air-to-Air (Escort)

• 2 x CCM -> Outer-wing pylons
• 2 x BVR -> Mid-wing pylons
• 2 x fuel-tank (supersonic) -> Inner-wing pylons
• 1 x fuel tank (supersonic) -> centreline pylon (optional)

Air-to-Ground (CAS w/ 250kg bombs)

• 2 x CCM -> Outer-wing pylons
• 2 x 250kg HSLD -> Mid-wing pylons
• 4 x 250kg HSLD -> Inner-wing pylons
• 2 x 250kg HSLD -> centreline pylon

Air-to-Ground (CAS w/ 100kg bombs)

• 2 x CCM -> Outer-wing pylons
• 6 x 100kg bomb -> Mid-wing pylons
• 12 x 100kg bomb -> Inner-wing pylons
• 6 x 100kg bomb -> centreline pylon

Air-to-Ground (CAS w/ 450kg bombs)

• 2 x CCM -> Outer-wing pylons
• 2 x 450kg HSLD/GP -> Mid-wing pylons
• 4 x 450kg HSLD/GP -> Inner-wing pylons

Air-to-Ground (interdiction/DAS w/ PGMs) [done]

• 2 x CCM -> Outer-wing pylons
• 2 x 450kg LGB -> Mid-wing pylons
• 2 x fuel tank -> Inner-wing pylons
• 1 x Litening pod -> side-centreline pylon
• 1 x fuel tank -> centreline pylon (optional)

Air-to-Ground (interdiction/DAS w/ 450kg bombs) [done]

• 2 x CCM -> Outer-wing pylons
• 2 x 450kg HSLD/GP -> Mid-wing pylons
• 2 x fuel tank -> Inner-wing pylons
• 1 x Litening pod -> side-centreline pylon
• 1 x fuel tank -> centreline pylon (optional)

Finally, a real poster material stuff
Multi-role (little bit of everything)

• 2 x CCM -> Outer-wing pylons
• 2 x BVR -> Mid-wing pylons
• 2 x PGMs (ASM/LGB/AShM) -> Inner-wing pylons
• 1 x Litening pod -> side-centreline pylon
• 1 x fuel tank -> centreline pylon

None of above combination weighs more than 3 tons except in 5th one. So Tejas' potential remains underutilized by 500 to 1000 KG. There is a potential to add few hundred more KGs in any of the above combination.

[member_28932]

Some recent publish on LCA:

http://www.stratpost.com/light-combat-a ... rection-ii

[Lalmohan]

jatayu
garuda
pushpak

I like Jatayu. But Jatayu died. Pushpak lived but didnt see the war!

pushpak has also been used before

[SaiK]

Tittibha! from panchatantra stories. it is a small step in IN, but powerful story.