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

[LakshmanPST]

KH on a roll....

The comment section under the video on Youtube is puke worthy...
The recent GE engine delays and news pushed by pro-Russian lobbies for buying Su57 have totally branwashed many people...

[SSridhar]

Absolutely well said, Dr. KH.

[uddu]

The Uttam for Tejas MK2 prototype is in production. The Uttam for Mk1A production is missing.
Uttam GaN-Based AESA Radar for Tejas Mk2 Enters Production, Offering Over 900 T/R Modules and 25% Better Range in Complex Electronic Warfare
https://defence.in/threads/uttam-gan-ba ... are.14350/

[uddu]

KH on a roll....

The comment section under the video on Youtube is puke worthy...
The recent GE engine delays and news pushed by pro-Russian lobbies for buying Su57 have totally branwashed many people...

People see Russia as a friend. The reality of how they protect their tech and create market for their weapons is not thought out by most. Question is whether the IAF is ready to bite the bullet and support the indigenous path like the Navy did it long back and come out Atmanirbhar or will keep importing? If the IAF is ready to tread this path, I don't think the political class of today will have issue with that.May be they could put their effort in Super Sukhoi Upgrade and increasing the number of MK2's to be ordered. Since the follow on order for Tejas MK1A is placed, think of the next variant of Tejas with Kaveri engine (KDE+New Afterburner as well.)

[Rakesh]

Our turn comes next....

US Blocks Engine Exports for Turkey’s KAAN Fighter Jet: NATO Rift Deepens
https://defencesecurityasia.com/en/us-b ... e_vignette
28 Sept 2025

Turkey to seek alternatives if US fails to lift CAATSA sanctions, Fidan says
https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/f ... idan-says/
28 Sept 2025

Video of the Foreign Minister of Turkey, Hakan Fidan discussing this issue
(The video is in his native tongue, but subtitles are present)...

https://x.com/defencealerts/status/1972519010894803054

[Tanaji]

Our turn comes next....

100% with this administration that has 3 years to go. It’s only a matter of time when.

We must make a national mission to fly the Kaveri , relax the flat rating restriction even if needed and get it flying.

IAF will of course take the opportunity to ask for 500 Rafales instead

[Rakesh]

Two events will occur in the near future, that will trigger CAATSA sanctions against India;

1) Purchase of additional S-400 units (on top of the five regiments from the first contract) and/or the purchase of the S-500. Check out this link ---> viewtopic.php?p=2661312#p2661312

2) Purchase of the Su-57E.

The first one is under discussion with Russia and the second is just a rumour, albeit a very strong one. What will equally anger Trump and his Orc* minions (i.e. Lutnick, Navarro, Bessent, etc) is France talking home the red rose via the MRFA contest. The gloves of diplomatic niceties came off this summer with the trade deal negotiations breaking down between India and the US. In addition, Unkil has a severe disdain for anyone that siphons money (and influence) away from them. And in that respect, both Russia and France are in the same boat vis-à-vis India.
*Orc is a reference to Lord of the Rings ---> https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... ke_Orc.jpg

Even on BRF, we saw that disdain among the MUTU crowd America alone must lead the world to prosperity, democracy and freedom

P.S. Trump's offer of the F-35 in February 2025 did not gain traction at Air HQ. Must be hard being Lockheed Martin or Boeing, because none of their fighters are making the cut at Air HQ or Naval HQ in New Delhi. There is always NGAD

For the MUTU crowd on BRF, the NGAD reference is a joke

[Rakesh]

HAL को चौथे GE404 इंजन का इंतजार... अक्टूबर में नासिक से उड़ेगा पहला तेजस Mk-1A फाइटर
https://www.aajtak.in/defence-news/stor ... 2025-09-29
29 Sept 2025

[Prem Kumar]

India needs an "Arattai" moment in Kaveri

F@#$ GE: lets go full blast on Kaveri. Triple-down in investment, talent & reverse-engineering. Make it an all-hands-on-deck effort, directed from the PMO itself

It will be really stupid to wait till the axe falls

[ashishvikas]

^^ We have to manage somehow GE404 & GE-F414 delivery, there's No change feasible if u consider their induction timelines.

You can build AMCA or any other fighters on other engine but time has sailed through for LCA.

[Rakesh]

• Rafale first flight with a pair of GE F404 turbofans: 04 July 1986

• Rafale first flight with one M88 turbofan and one GE F404 turbofan: 27 Feb 1990

But there is more to this story, than just an approx 4 year time span. From Wiki Chacha...

The M88 program was officially launched in 1986. It was decided to flight test the engine, the M88-2, aboard the Dassault Breguet and the Rafale A prototype.  Indeed, after having replaced the aircraft's left F404, the engine was first flight tested aboard the Rafale A on 27 February 1990. By then, the fourteen M88-2s had accumulated 1,600 hours of running time. The demonstrator thereafter reached supersonic speed without afterburners, reached a height of 50,000 ft, endured load factors of −2g and +9g and flown at an angle of attack of 30°.

Where is Kaveri on the developmental cycle in relation to the above? Perhaps maitya-ji will know...

Also need to know how much modification was done to the Rafale to make the switch from GE F404 to M88-2.