rrao wrote:Prem Kumar wrote:Extensive and parallel flight-testing & certification needs to happen for Mk1a for both 2052 and Uttam. Double-work, but unavoidable.
Given that Uttam has flown on 2 Tejas LSPs for 230 hours already, re-testing them on the Mk1a should not throw up big surprises. So, I am not sure where DDR heard that there will be a delay in delivery? Is it because orders need to be placed now, but aren't?
LRDE will again ditch HAL by giving them half-baked UTTAM AESA. MoD thinks that UTTAM is ready in all aspects and tells HAL not to talk about EL/M2052. so HAL will be in soup like in LCA MMR and will be bashed by the customer IAF. IN MMR there were 18 modes of radar operation and LRDE could prove only A-A look up only. They had no algos for medium PRF,HPRF operation . During MMR the TX was ready , the RX was ready , the scanner which was made by ECIL+BARC under the guidance of HAL was ready, the antenna somehow made by LRDE was limping . The Data processor was made by HAL . But the signal processor which was supposed to be delivered by LRDE never came with full operational potential. i was shocked to see many bigwigs of Indian Radar systems were just blaming HAL instead of actually looking at the real issues of LRDE. we wasted 15 years of our careers during development of MMR . so with that dismal background of LRDE regarding airborne fighter radar development , how much operational UTTAM Radar is questionable. Hope history will not be repeated by LRDE and another half baked radar for lCA is dumped on HAL.
n that case HAL can neither import The RADAR nor develop it on its own .
You act as if present day HAL and IAF are so incompetent that they would clear the trials for a half-baked product. After all, MOD depends on them for its final verdict. IMHO not tenable.
Your complaints about LRDE over a program over a decade back, apart, after the MMR, LRDE has developed and delivered the following radars across multiple functions (A2A/A2S, Ground based) to the IAF:
Netra Mk1
Rohini 3D radar, variants for the IAF, IA
LLLWR to the IA
Rajendra variants to all 3 services
Arudhra to the IAF
Aslesha to the IAF
BMD radars to the IAF
etc etc
We are talking of 100s of radars over which LRDE has had the ability to develop a range of modes and then optimize the algos, and then adapt/develop new ones for air to air as well.
In fact they have delivered so many programs, that I've not even bothered to list some more.
Apart from that they've had multiple test beds like the XV-2004 and SV-2000 both of which proved multiple radar modes apart from the A2A look up mode. In fact they had many modes which matched the MMR.
And LRDE's antenna worked fine. As things stand, it continues to be on the MMR and after a change of radome, which is where the Tx /Rx losses were, the IAF has been happy with the radar.
Netra is the closest to the MMR in terms of functionalities. Used in the Balakot strike, and performance sufficient enough for the IAF to commit to many more units.
If a signal processor from LRDE was the only issue, where was HAL's solution to replace it. In fact, the Israelis supplied the whole back-end for the MMR, and lets face it, HAL's only role was the project manager, assisting in the testing etc, integration with test-beds. It didn't develop anything much in the MMR. I at least don't recall any HAL program for the transmitter (which was again a codevelopment between DRDO and Russia), or the exciter, or the receiver or any of the other complex items. HAL management's attitude to the Tejas program or even R&D overall was very negative. It was a disappointing phase overall. The organization leadership of that era has a lot to answer for.
Can you tell me post MMR how many radar programs *of its own* HAL has taken up? Your account makes the LRDE the villain of the piece, and HAL the victim which was capable of handling all of its own issues. In which case, where are HAL's own in-house programs. It should have had the in-house ability to develop the radars on its own. Fact is the person at HAL leading the MMR program, was very upset at *then* HAL not paying any interest or attention to the Tejas program.
Today's HAL is different, thankfully its investing over a thousand crores in R&D programs and is *finally* backing the Tejas after treating it like a stepchild earlier. But it still lacks any inhouse radar programs. It's all TOT. Whereas LRDE has also delivered multiple programs with BEL. Point is both organizations have grown. Getting stuck in the past over *one* program is inadvisable and illogical.
In fact a senior Naval officer associated with the Tejas was very critical of HAL and the 2052 being associated with it. In his view it was driven by HAL's desire to license the radar and production numbers. Whereas he felt that after MMR easily met SQR, it should have been used on Mk1A to speed up development and Uttam added later when available.
Be as it may, at least it de-risks the Tejas Mk1A program. But should be dropped asap if Uttam meets/exceeds its specs. That too is logical.
If Uttam was a failure, then the IAF wouldn't clear it. They have no reason to do so given the EL/M-2052 is available. Fact IAF has cleared it speak volumes. If they hadn't, LRDE would not be transferring anything to HAL as the production ready unit would not be standardized.
... maybe one of the more experienced posters will help me out ?