When did IAF officers suggest any stealth to be applied to the Outer Mould Line of the Tejas Mk2?hemant_sai wrote:Very curious to see final airframe of Mk2. IAF officers had suggested that design will incorporate stealth as takeaway from AMCA design, I hope we will see a far better carved out Mk2 than earlier. It should not be the case that only canards are added and we are calling it a drastic design change.
if at all, the stealth features will be RAM coatings and indium oxide for the canopy. Engine blockers not required since it is buried deep in the fuselage and fully shielded by the Y-shaped bifurcated duct. Maybe flush antennae as well, but that would be a stretch goal and cannot be a primary requirement. Since it will be carrying all its weapons externally, there is only so much that stealth shaping will even achieve.
And so, it will be the case that canards are added, aerodynamics are further refined to reduce drag, fuselage is lengthened and landing gear beefed up and its attachment points moved out towards the wing join area (like on the Gripen E/F). That is how this program's timelines can be met. Not by adding changes to the OML or bays or whatever which would completely derail the project's schedule.
And timelines are the most crucial part of the Tejas Mk2 program. A fully +9G capable fighter with more fuel and payload capability plus OBOGS and air to air refueling will mean that the Tejas Mk2 will go into the Gripen E/F, Mirage-2000I class in terms of range, payload and endurance.