Naval Tejas Mk1: News & Discussion - 03 January 2020

[pravula]

Well, does it come with an engine? Coudn't see from the pics...

[uddu]

There was a post by Mao Sir about the new Radome and modifications making it unstable. Seems that post is gone now.

[Khalsa]

The Naval Rafales are coming. 24 of them. And we won;t be buying more of them since it will be a 2 carrier navy for a foreseeable future.

The TEDBF is now 11 to 13 years away.


Time to crank out the Naval LCA Mk1B & the following Job Descriptions come to mind.

1. Carrier Landing and Take off qualifications. The French and the Indians have no aircraft capable of doing this. We are train-qualifying our MiG-29 pilots on american aircraft carrier with American trainers (GOSHAWKS. Not sure if it is still happening).

2. Advanced fighter techniques. Lead in fighter training. As demonstrated by Groupie Thakur on the LCA SPORT Cockpit in Aero Indian many moons ago. How hard would this be ? IIRC he might have even implied that it could be transposed on the ORCA which was a concept back then.

3. Mother Ship control for the Abhimanuyu Loyal Wingman Programme.

4. Growler role to accompany Rafales and augment the strike package's EW Capabilities with possible Air to Air Interdiction if required in a secondary role.

How about a Naval LCA Mk1B order of 8 aircraft ?

[ernest]

1. Carrier Landing and Take off qualifications. The French and the Indians have no aircraft capable of doing this. We are train-qualifying our MiG-29 pilots on american aircraft carrier with American trainers (GOSHAWKS. Not sure if it is still happening).

2. Advanced fighter techniques. Lead in fighter training. As demonstrated by Groupie Thakur on the LCA SPORT Cockpit in Aero Indian many moons ago. How hard would this be ? IIRC he might have even implied that it could be transposed on the ORCA which was a concept back then.

3. Mother Ship control for the Abhimanuyu Loyal Wingman Programme.

4. Growler role to accompany Rafales and augment the strike package's EW Capabilities with possible Air to Air Interdiction if required in a secondary role.

How about a Naval LCA Mk1B order of 8 aircraft ?

good point, Khalsa ji. We need such an aircraft, and I believe navy is also moving for a small number of these.

[Khalsa]

Please ernest, no jee for me. Just khalsa is fine.
I hope the Navy does.

[srai]

https://x.com/connect_rishav/status/1888150741979676960

LCA-Navy with DRDO ASPJ pod

+ belly 720 litre fuel tank
+ inner-wing Astra BVR
+ mid-wing 800 litre fuel tank

Good configuration for max air-to-air mission:

2 x 800 litre tank
1 x 720 litre tank
2 x Astra BVRAAM
1 (or 2) x ASRAAM
1 x ASPJ
1 x Litening Pod (IRST)

[Khalsa]

https://x.com/connect_rishav/status/1888150741979676960

LCA-Navy with DRDO ASPJ pod

+ belly 720 litre fuel tank
+ inner-wing Astra BVR
+ mid-wing 800 litre fuel tank

Good configuration for max air-to-air mission:

2 x 800 litre tank
1 x 720 litre tank
2 x Astra BVRAAM
1 (or 2) x ASRAAM
1 x ASPJ
1 x Litening Pod (IRST)

This bird is a winner !!
We need a NLCA Order

[Rakesh]

VIDEO: https://x.com/TrishulxIN/status/2036770 ... 80724?s=20 ---> LCA Tejas [Navy] lifts off INS Vikramaditya, precision strikes start from the carrier.

[uddu]

Rakesh ji, Is this latest video or old video of trials from Vikrant and Vikramaditya?

VIDEO: https://x.com/TrishulxIN/status/2036770 ... 80724?s=20 ---> LCA Tejas [Navy] lifts off INS Vikramaditya, precision strikes start from the carrier.

[Rakesh]

Rakesh ji, Is this latest video or old video of trials from Vikrant and Vikramaditya?

Uddu-ji, I honestly have no idea.

At the scarcity of info on this program that comes out, anything that I see on social media...I usually post.

I made this particular post, because the last celebration of the Naval Tejas Mk1 was when she landed on INS Vikrant, piloted by Commodore Mao. I have not seen any new info post that.

However, my hope/optimism is that we will likely see a flurry of activity on the Naval Tejas Mk1, post the arrival of the Rafale M into Indian naval service. The first twin-seater Rafale B is supposedly due to be handed over in Sept 2026. The four Rafale B variants - that the Indian Navy is acquiring - will be used for cockpit familiarization and flying. But the Rafale B is *NOT* carrier compatible, but the Naval Tejas Mk1 is. So for any real-wold carrier landing and take-off experience for rookie/trainee pilots, they will have to rely on the Naval Tejas Mk1.

P.S. The twin seater MiG-29KUB is less than desirable and will remain on the Vikramaditya, along with the single seater MiG-29K. The Vikrant will feature an all Rafale M fleet, along with the twin seater Naval Tejas Mk1 in the carrier training role.