Air Force Tejas Mk1A: News & Discussions: 02 January 2022

[pravula]

So, let go of whats in hand and wait on the two in the bush?

[Cybaru]

India clears Rs 62,000 crore deal to buy 97 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets

https://x.com/ani_digital/status/195782 ... 19560?s=46

I would like this order to be split in to two, 50 MK1A & 47 MK2.

-Ankit

This buying channa by the kilo mentality is everywhere!

[vijayk]

https://x.com/idrwalerts/status/1957625008638828944

Godrej Aerospace is Leading Advocate to locally develop a 90kN engine for the Tejas MkII Program. Godrej Aerospace is Production partner of the Kaveri Derivate Engine (KDE) .

[pravula]

To really take off, Godrej also needs a production order for an airframe (UCAV or even a UAV)

[Aditya_V]

I would like this order to be split in to two, 50 MK1A & 47 MK2.

-Ankit

This buying channa by the kilo mentality is everywhere!

+1, You want Factories built and supplier ecosystem to be set up- material procurement right up to the Ore for metals, this buyer is always right- then try getting an Airbus or Boeing- truth is in many cases for big items supplier is king, you can bargain with vegetable vendors but rarely with Jewelry shops or Builders.

Buy now we should realize we need an Aviation industry right from Ores to Metal, software to develop Basic trainers, Intermediate trainers, Advance Jet trainers, Transport Aircraft and related refueler, Awacs, Istar, Bomber, 3 types of fighter aircraft- only then you get the independence to develop.

Otherwise you can be Dubai or Singapore- the powers that be have huge influence here. Mk1A in numbers is the Prithvi for our aviation industry

[ashishvikas]

India clears Rs 62,000 crore deal to buy 97 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets

https://x.com/ani_digital/status/195782 ... 19560?s=46

I would like this order to be split in to two, 50 MK1A & 47 MK2.

-Ankit

Only thing we should focus is - how quickly we can produce them and hopefully engines can come quick enough.. may be 24-30/year.

[uddu]

Since GE is saying 2 engines per month for the first lot, it must now increase to 4 per month and about 48 per year.

[LakshmanPST]

What do they mean by "India clears"...? Is it DAC approval, CCS approval or signing of actual contract...?

[Yagnasri]

The only viable option is to go for Kaveri 2.0 on our own. The rest of the M88s and RD33s, etc, are not going to give a solution to the problem which has been there since the time of Marut.

[uddu]

The only viable option is to go for Kaveri 2.0 on our own. The rest of the M88s and RD33s, etc, are not going to give a solution to the problem which has been there since the time of Marut.

The one and only True Solution. Kaveri 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 is the way forward.
Ladli Engine Yojana

[eklavya]

ET:
Centre approves ₹62,000-crore order for 97 LCA Mk1A fighters, giving IAF a major boost

The order, valued at ₹62,000 crore, will take the total number of LCA Mk1A fighters in the air force to 180, adding to an earlier order of 83 that is in the process of being delivered. Sources said that the final clearances have been given by the government and the formal contract would soon be inked with HAL.

The latest version of the fighter jets will be manufactured at two production lines in Bengaluru and Nashik. The plan is to ramp up production capacity to deliver 24 jets on an annual basis in the coming years.

[maitya]

The only viable option is to go for Kaveri 2.0 on our own. The rest of the M88s and RD33s, etc, are not going to give a solution to the problem which has been there since the time of Marut.

Right ... however these 97 will not be in production atleast until 2029, so this window gives us the opportunity to negotiate Lic Mfg of F404 (post the current lot are delivered). I'm sure GE will ask for a steep price, if not outrightly reject (as the have re-started a shut-down production line and the entire Supplier ecosystem, after all) - but not sure what other option do we have, except for trying for it.

Yet to be developed alternatives like Kaveri 2 or M88-3 (M88-2 won't work out for Mk1/MK1A) would take a minm 5+ years (actually more), so the only option left is F404, I'm afraid.
But either way, we need to develop Kaveri-II at any cost, as requirement for engines of this class will not end with delivery of last MK1A from this lot.

Prodding along and avoiding taking such decisions is just deferring the problem that we're facing today - it won't go away on its own!!

[Kartik]

India clears Rs 62,000 crore deal to buy 97 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets

https://x.com/ani_digital/status/195782 ... 19560?s=46

I would like this order to be split in to two, 50 MK1A & 47 MK2.

-Ankit

While such things seem very sensible, the procurement part of it is going to be impossible to do. The processes for procuring are such that no such split will be possible. This deal has been going through all the hoops for nearly 2 years now. Trying to amend it to split it (which would have been sensible) between Mk1A and Mk2 will however jeopardize the entire deal as such. HAL will need to order long lead items, negotiate a new deal with GE for more F-404IN20s, so they can't afford to delay it.