Austin wrote:AMCA looks more and more like a "Science Project" , Since the time it was called MCA there has been not much progress beyond CGI or Scale Model , Every AI we see some changes in AMCA model compared to previous AI model displayed but by and large the stastics remains the same since the fine time MCA was conceived at that time it was more ambitious as they has no VS now they have 2 huge ones !
Unless GOI earnestly funds this program and continuous doing so for the project life time we may just not see the AMCA other than Scale Model , From a Full Scale FSED Prototype to FOC , this is atleast 15 years to 20 year long program , the flight testing program would take half of that time and then there are so many nuances with new project and unexpected surprised as Flight Test program progress.
GOI has not even funded the FSED for this program that would be the first basic step for the program to look serious. Else we can continue with Tejas Mk2 and Mk3 type iterative program and order 400 of these types
I don't agree with you. Science projects don't progress to the level where the design agency can start transferring data on manufacturing processes, tooling, system drawings, drawings for major components, tool design, etc. which are part of the schedule for building TDs.
The AMCA seemingly has quietly progressed past its Design Review phase and that is a big deal.
You need to see the schedule of engineering activities in the EOI to get an idea as to how far along ADA is with the design of the AMCA. The Govt. funded the feasibility studies as well as the PDC till March 2017 as per ADA. The configuration was refined and then accepted by the IAF, which then meant that it was frozen and detailed design activities must have proceeded.
From ADA's Annual Report 2015-2016. Obviously, in another year since then, progress would have been made on actual design of its structures, innards, systems and avionics.
The Government sanction for feasibility studies of design and development of Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) was accorded on 5th Oct 2010, at a cost of Rs.90.5 Crores, for a duration of 1 ½ years initially and subsequently PDC was extended upto 31st March 2017, in order to facilitate the continuation of next generation advanced technology development projects.
11.1 AMCA Feasibility Report:
Feasibility studies have been carried out based on IAF's Top Level Operational Requirements and completed the scope of the project. Feasibility Report was compiled and Review held in November 2013. Feasibility Report was updated in October 2015 with various activities carried out post the reviews and submitted to Air HQ and Hon'ble Raksha Mantri.
11.2 Present Status:
AMCA configuration has been arrived after considerable refinements and it was accepted by Indian Air Force. Currently, the validation tests are being conducted.
These are AMCA intake model of 1:1 scale for RCS test, 2nd campaign of high speed wind tunnel tests, static intake test, dynamic & rotary derivative tests for generating un-steady data etc. Also a simulator has been developed which would be used for sizing the system and r e f i n i n g t h e a r c h i t e c t u r e . T h e technology development and testing projects are being continued at various work centres.