Tejas Mk.1 & Mk.1A: News & Discussions: 23 February 2019

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 09 Mar 2020 21:56

Rakesh, The 83 Mk1A is part of the new budget and until its passed there wont be a signature.
So take it with bucket of salt.

ranjan.rao · Post by **ranjan.rao** » 10 Mar 2020 17:43

mark my words..10 years down the line some folks in MoD will come and say in media we delayed action because we believed in indegenization....i met one such sometime back...

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 10 Mar 2020 23:36

ramana wrote:Rakesh, The 83 Mk1A is part of the new budget and until its passed there wont be a signature.
So take it with bucket of salt.

As per ACM Bhadauria in an interview, it should be signed before this fiscal year, which leaves us with a couple more weeks.

Indranil · Post by **Indranil** » 12 Mar 2020 01:26

For those of you who would like to see/capture the first FOC-Tejas, head over to the airport on the 13th.

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 12 Mar 2020 02:16

Day after tomorrow! Really hoping for some good quality pics and video.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 12 Mar 2020 04:18

So SP-21 first flight on March 13th? Thanks IR. Good to know.

Indranil · Post by **Indranil** » 13 Mar 2020 10:47

Sorry, it's tomorrow. But you might still see some action today!

ranjan.rao · Post by **ranjan.rao** » 13 Mar 2020 15:46

Indranil wrote:For those of you who would like to see/capture the first FOC-Tejas, head over to the airport on the 13th.

HAL airport namma uru bengaluru! look forward to some pics...

RKumar · Post by **RKumar** » 13 Mar 2020 17:21

Indranil wrote:For those of you who would like to see/capture the first FOC-Tejas, head over to the airport on the 13th.

Any news ... kuch coro na but safety first

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 14 Mar 2020 15:02

No first flight today either?

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 14 Mar 2020 18:18

Waiting to update Page 1

naird · Post by **naird** » 14 Mar 2020 18:28

Aahhh what ####. I have been refreshing this page multiple times even in my sleep - just to see the news ..

Hope the wait is worth it - they should put out some HD videos..

Indranil · Post by **Indranil** » 14 Mar 2020 21:20

Postponed to Monday.

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 16 Mar 2020 10:58

Fingers crossed that it happens today.

Khalsa · Post by **Khalsa** » 16 Mar 2020 14:57

Indeed Kartik Sir.
Bumping this thread up.... not sure about the flight of bird (21) but this thread will fly ekDum top in this forum.
Seriously ... I am just frequenting this thread until the SP21 flies.

Indranil · Post by **Indranil** » 16 Mar 2020 19:45

The flight was supposed to happen at 2:30 PM today, but did not. Same inspection snag as Saturday. The inspection team did not allow the first flight. It hs been postponed to tomorrow most likely.

Cybaru · Post by **Cybaru** » 16 Mar 2020 20:45

https://twitter.com/hvtiaf/status/12395 ... 12128?s=21

Being the first aircraft, a lot of additional checks are introduced. Plus documents, publications, procedures to be set up, before it goes to user. All this must be done, before it starts flying.

nash · Post by **nash** » 17 Mar 2020 13:23

#JustIn
#Tejas #SP21 -- the first #FOC variant is all set to take to the skies now from #HAL Airport. The fighter is piloted by Air Cmde K A Muthanna (Retd), CTF, #HAL. The flight duration is expected to be 45 min. Stay tuned for more. @akananth

#Tarmak007 #LCA #FlyingBullets

https://twitter.com/writetake/status/

nash · Post by **nash** » 17 Mar 2020 13:27

#JustIn
Here it is. #Tejas #SP21 on its maiden flight. @akananth

#Tarmak007 #LCA #FlyingBullets

https://twitter.com/writetake/status/12 ... 5806001152

JTull · Post by **JTull** » 17 Mar 2020 13:38

It flies! :Like:

Khalsa · Post by **Khalsa** » 17 Mar 2020 13:44

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

ravikr · Post by **ravikr** » 17 Mar 2020 14:01

#JustIn
VIDEO #Tejas #SP21 on its maiden flight. @akananth#Tarmak007 #LCA #FlyingBullets

https://twitter.com/writetake/status/12 ... 4758220800

JTull · Post by **JTull** » 17 Mar 2020 14:20

ravikr wrote:#JustIn
VIDEO #Tejas #SP21 on its maiden flight. @akananth#Tarmak007 #LCA #FlyingBullets

https://twitter.com/writetake/status/12 ... 4758220800

So tiny! Couldn't locate it until it started rolling. Looks like a 1000ft take-off.

Khalsa · Post by **Khalsa** » 17 Mar 2020 14:54

@Rakesh
The first page needs updating.

Khalsa · Post by **Khalsa** » 17 Mar 2020 15:05

I think the question about the remaining 15 FOC aircraft has been answered by HAL. They are coming in the next FY.
@Rakesh.
Their press release is beautiful. I think I have read 10 times now and can feel the amount of the work that has been done to make this come true.
Kudos to them.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 17 Mar 2020 15:13

Congrats to All involved

Well I hope the transition from FOC to MK1A is smoother, if it is equally complicated better for the MOD/IAF and powers that be get more lines to produce MK1's before the MK1A are ready. But the GOI top leadership dont seem to have the foresight to give the orders.

We need numbers

Manish_P · Post by **Manish_P** » 17 Mar 2020 15:26

Yay. Good to hear. Onwards now - with increasing speed and strength.

Bharadwaj · Post by **Bharadwaj** » 17 Mar 2020 15:32

Another box ticked. Has the GOI ordered the derby er yet? or will the basic version equip the foc birds?. There was a UN page which used to list missile purchases but I cant find it anymore.

RKumar · Post by **RKumar** » 17 Mar 2020 15:52

Congrats to ADA, HAL and all others involved ... I hope GoI orders now another 20 Tejas Mk1 till the time we have MK1A is being sorted out.

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 17 Mar 2020 15:53

We are more likely to keep the assembly line with no work than get an other order before Mk1A.

nam · Post by **nam** » 17 Mar 2020 16:05

Congrats in order.

On a sidenote, the refueling probe reminded me, it is coming from Chobham UK, who will be disrupted soon. I hope we already have deliveries.

sanjayc · Post by **sanjayc** » 17 Mar 2020 16:27

First 'combat worthy' Tejas flies for 40 minutes

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ind ... 670571.cms

naird · Post by **naird** » 17 Mar 2020 16:46

sanjayc wrote:First 'combat worthy' Tejas flies for 40 minutes

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ind ... 670571.cms

What the hell does TOI mean by first combat worthy Tejas ? Our 1st squadron will be used to deliver achar ???
This guys should be roasted.

Bart S · Post by **Bart S** » 17 Mar 2020 16:49

"Combat Worthy". Is it just DDM, or is there some merit to the claim, that implies that the previous planes were not combat worthy?

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 17 Mar 2020 17:41

Khalsa wrote:@Rakesh
The first page needs updating.

Done. Page 1 updated. So happy!

Kudos to HAL! Jai Hind! Jai Vigyan!

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 17 Mar 2020 17:48

I need to know which production line SP-21 came out of. Need to add it on page 1.

Also, can someone tell me the production line names? I think one is called the LCA Division (?) which is Line 1 if I am not mistaken. I need to add that info on page 1.

Hope they get a few more SPs in the air before Mar 31st.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 17 Mar 2020 18:18

https://twitter.com/writetake/status/12 ... 70624?s=20 ---> Congrats to Team HAL & LCA Tejas Division. Here's Air Commodore K A Muthanna (Retd), CTF, HAL after the successful first flight of Tejas SP-21 today. The flight lasted for 40 minutes.

Rakesh · Post by **Rakesh** » 17 Mar 2020 18:26

SP-21 a day before her first flight....see the other Tejas at the right of the image. Too dark to make out the serial number.

Could it be SP-22?

https://twitter.com/writetake/status/12 ... 45216?s=20 ---> Tejas SP21 -- the first FOC variant is all set to take to the skies now from HAL Airport. The fighter is piloted by Air Commodore K A Muthanna (Retd), CTF, HAL. The flight duration is expected to be 45 min. Stay tuned for more.

Neilz · Post by **Neilz** » 17 Mar 2020 18:46

sanjayc wrote:First 'combat worthy' Tejas flies for 40 minutes

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ind ... 670571.cms

From 3 legged cheetah to this ... ye dil mange more...

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/first-combat-worthy-tejas-flies-for-40-minutes/articleshow/74670571.cms wrote:Answering a specific question on whether the Tejas was combat ready, then IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa said: “...Like I had told you, the proof of the pudding is in eating. You saw how much the aircraft could fly and the number of sorties it could generate during Gagan Shakti, which was in April 2018. And during Vayu Shakti we showed you how accurately this aircraft could dispense weapons on the target. So that is the proof,” he said.

ashishvikas · Post by **ashishvikas** » 17 Mar 2020 20:38

First Tejas FOC fighter takes to the skies with loads of upgraded features
Anantha Krishnan M

https://english.manoramaonline.com/news ... ssion=true

This is the first Final Operational Clearance (FOC) variant of Tejas fighter produced by LCA Division, the youngest wing of HAL. In the next two years, HAL will have to roll out 16 FOC Tejas fighters (including SP-21) and eight trainers for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

During Tuesday’s flight, the airframe profile was tested in which the engine and aircraft performance was proven. As a mandatory practice, the pilot is said to have also flown an inverted sortie that lasted for 10 seconds.

During today’s flight the pilot pulled 8G and touched supersonic speeds which proved the airframe and engine capabilities.

HAL sources say that Tejas SP-22 is likely to fly at the end of this month and two more fighters (SP-23, SP-24) will join the party by end of May. Tejas SP-22 is expected to undergo EGR (engine ground run) this week.

“The lessons from the recent deliveries of Tejas fighters to IAF have come handy for us in the current scheme of things. SP-21 could have flown much earlier provided the clearance for software configurations came early from the authorities,” says an official.

The LSTT (low-speed taxi trial) for SP-21 was held on March 10 followed by HSTT (high-speed taxi trial) on March 13.

FOC Features

SP-21 boasts of key features like air-to-air refuelling probe, Gsh-23 mm gun, pressure refuelling with three drop tank configuration, improved wing navigation lamp, tandem pylon and auto-low speed recovery, to name a few. Here’s a quick glance at the new features:

• Air-to-air refuelling probe: This novel feature of mid-air refuelling introduced to FOC variants will enhance the range without additional touch downs or pit-stops to refuel. This is the first desi fighter to have this feature.

• Fuel system enhancement: Over and above 2350 kg fuel carrying capability of IOC variant with its external drop tanks of 1200 and 800 litres capacity, Tejas FOC has an additional 725 litres centre line drop tank with pressure refuelling.

• Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles: The reliable Derby missile has expanded the firing envelope making it more lethal. This feature was tested and cleared for the entire FOC envelope via exhaustive study of missile separation characteristics.

• GSH 23 mm twin barrelled gun: This Russian gun underwent extensive butt firing at Nasik before getting on board SP-21. The integral gun would give an edge to the pilot in case of a close-combat scenario.