Well, a lot of items to talk about.
Prasad wrote:Eh. We aren't even funding the amca & ghatak project properly. You want the netas and baboons to fund 3 programs in parallel?
They are, as we post, funding:
* the LCA Mk1,
* the LCA Mk1A (these two are the two sides of the same coin),
* the AMCA and
* the Ghatak
My observation:
* the AMCA + Ghatak funding seems to be the funds requested for just the AMCA in 2011 + inflation, and
* the AMCA and Ghatak have few/some/whatever (do not know the %age) techs in common. So, the funds can kill two birds.
* ADA has had a team for the LCA and another for the AMCA. So, *from what I can see*, both are funded
Gagan wrote:The problem in the AMCA has to do with the A=Advanced part, related to the 5th gen techs that have to be developed, proofed, ruggedized, and so a timeline of 2030 & beyond!
True.
But, it was a natural progression - they just had a LOT of time to think about these things. (I disagree with teh timeline - but that is a diff matter.)
They did have a twin engined MCA concept several decades ago. HAL has built a twin engined Marut in the past, apart from decades of screwdrivergiri . The concept is not new to them
They had a small, but dedicated team (from what I can see) for the MCA -> AMCA. It was the same group that dealt with the "MCA" and then regrouped as the "AMCA". So, while you seem to think of "MCA" and "AMCA" as two separate thoughts, it does not seem to be. It is one team that has thought it through and produced the "AMCA".
It is FAR more mature than if they have to add another engine to the current LCA. (Then how would you address the work already done for the AMCA - there is a list of techs in the AMCA thread?)
Gagan wrote:The FA-18 & the Rafale are twin engined and still use the catapult, because those navies don't want to compromise on either payload or range
The US dumped the ski jump long back - no IP, nor any experience there (for their naval people - MIC may have some).
France, I have no idea.
India has, actualy, lost her CAT experience and gained a lot for the ski. The IN will now have to recoup the CAT experience. Even for the steam CAT it is a jump, for the EMALS it is even more (where the whole ship would need a redesign).
Gagan wrote:Now alongwith with the AMCA program, they should have a single engined stealth plane development too. Or modify the LCA to incorporate 5th gen tech on it including 5th gen stealth.
I had suggested a single engine spin off from the AMCA. Not an easy task, for sure, but a natural one.
I do not think the LCA can be made into a "5th gen" plane, one on par with the AMCA. One can add some feature to the LCA to make it more LO, but that will not be the same as a ground up craft - as the AMCA seems to be.
I think some of the AMCA techs can and should see their way into the LCA. Sensors, especially flush mounted and the like.
In the second vid that was posted a few posts ago, the pilot has his own definition of a "5th" and a "6th" gen plane!!!! And, that is the issue - everyone has their own definition. IMHO India should standardize around the AMCA team's definitions - 5th/6th/whatever gen.