New Delhi: The light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas is deficient in at least 100 technical parameters, said experts associated with the project. They also alleged that the initial operation clearance granted to Tejas two years ago was given despite the aircraft not meeting various crucial technical parameters.
The experts said as the aircraft has not achieved crucial technical parameters, it continues to be flown only by test pilots and its performance parameters too need to be monitored by ground-based stations. They also said the engine of Tejas lacked sufficient power. Though the experts are hopeful that these issues would be resolved by the end of 2013, they admit complex technicalities pose serious obstacles.
In a press release issued in March, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) admitted the delay in completion of project "Development of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas" and said it was hopeful to achieve Full Operational Clearance (FOC) by December 2014. "The LCA project, which though got delayed initially, is currently progressing on a fast track and is working on aggressive time schedules," it said.
"Productionisation of LCA is already going on. First series production aircraft is likely to be ready by the end of 2013. Indian Air Force has already placed order for 20 LCA in IOC configuration and another of 20 LCA in FOC configuration," added the release. ...
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01:02 PM, Apr 12, 2013
In a major step to increase its operational reach, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided that all its aircraft and helicopters meant for combat and combat support will henceforth have the capability for mid-air refuelling. ...
07:30 AM, Dec 10, 2012
New Delhi: India is all set to procure 42 Su-30 MKI combat aircraft and 71 medium-lift helicopters from Russia. The issue was discussed during meeting between Defence Minister AK Antony and his Russian counterpart Anatoly Serdyukov in New Delhi and an agreement in this regard is expected to be signed during the visit of President Vladimir Putin on November 1, sources said. The 42 Su-30MKIs will add to the firepower...
01:39 AM, Oct 11, 2012
New Delhi: Indian Air Force is planning to buy two second-hand Mirage 2000 combat aircraft to make up for the losses suffered by it in crashes earlier this year. IAF, which has signed a deal with France for upgradation of 51 Mirage 2000 aircraft, lost two of these planes in crashes in February and March after which its fleet was reduced to 49. "We are planning to procure these aircraft...
05:01 PM, Sep 23, 2012
New Delhi: Addressing questions raised over the process of selecting Rafale fighter planes, the government is going ahead with the procurement of 126 French combat aircraft and effort is being made to complete the deal within this financial year. Contract negotiations for the multi-billion dollar deal will resume soon, government sources said. Questions had been raised over the process by an MP besides some other quarters but a committee of...
12:40 PM, Aug 26, 2012
Pune: Defence Research and Development Organisation on Friday said it is developing an advanced fifth generation fighter aircraft which will have components to monitor the functioning of key components like avionics, air conditioning and pressure-regulating systems. DRDO has showcased the models of its fifth generation aircraft known as the Medium Combat Aircraft (MCA) at various defence exhibitions in the country. "India's fifth-generation aircraft, which is being developed by DRDO, will...
03:48 AM, Jun 16, 2012
Bangalore: India on Friday joined an elite club of countries by test flying the naval variant of its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) in this tech hub under a partially cloudy sky. "With the successful maiden flight of the LCA's naval variant, India joins an elite club of countries capable of designing, developing, manufacturing and testing the fourth generation carrier borne fly-by-wire ski take off but arrested recovery (Stobar) aircraft," said...
01:56 AM, Apr 28, 2012
New Delhi: The first squadron of Medium-Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) consisting of 18 aircraft is expected to be inducted into the IAF within three to four years of signing of the contract with its supplier. In reply to a question on delivery of MMRCA, Defence Minister AK Antony told Lok Sabha on Monday, "First squadron of MMRCA consisting of 18 aircraft is expected to be inducted within three to...
03:29 PM, Mar 19, 2012
Bangalore: IAF will make public in four weeks the winner of India's biggest-ever Rs 42,000 crore military contract to acquire 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA), Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne said in Bangalore. "We are calculating very hard. There is a lot of work going on. I expect (in) another four weeks, we should be able to wrap it up", Browne told reporters here amid intense flurry among the...
10:53 AM, Nov 19, 2011
New Delhi: The multi-billion dollar deal to procure 126 combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) entered its last phase on Friday with Defence Ministry opening commercial bids of the two European contenders to determine the lowest bidder, a process that is expected to take six to eight weeks. "The Contract Negotiations Committee (CNC) of the Defence Ministry opened the commercial bids and read out the offers made by...
07:32 PM, Nov 04, 2011
New Delhi: Defence Ministry on Friday cleared the way for opening the commercial bids of two shortlisted vendors in the multi-billion dollar combat aircraft deal by approving their offset proposals here. After the bids are opened, the Defence Ministry will be able to determine the lowest bidder in the deal for 126 Medium-Multi Role Combat Aircraft (M-MRCA) and decide who will ultimately get the contract described as the 'mother of...
06:56 PM, Oct 07, 2011
New Delhi: The Defence Acquisition Council will decide on Friday which company will be given India's over $10 billion Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal. The race to supply for 126 fighter jets is between two European offerings - the French Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon, manufactured by a European consortium. The EuroFighter and the Rafale are relatively new aircraft and according to the IAF state of art. The EuroFighter...
01:02 PM, Oct 07, 2011
New Delhi: India's ambitious project to develop indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) has suffered a setback as the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) for the aircraft was delayed by another year. "As far as LCA is concerned, there was an initial IOC in January this year. We were supposed to get the IOC (final) by the end of this year. As we see it, there is a delay of almost an...
09:48 AM, Oct 04, 2011
This is a three year old book - but I got my hands on it quite recently. So please pardon the delay, if you're already familiar with the title. Personally, I was fascinated simply because it's about India's very own Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project. Today, it goes by the name Tejas. It's not an easy read. It's a very slim volume but took me a week to complete. Mainly...
06:56 PM, Aug 08, 2011
Bangalore: On Friday, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was all geared up for the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of one of their greatest contributions to Indian Aviation, HF-24 (Marut), but the organisation has fallen short of acknowledging their own work, as the fighter aircraft has not been featured on their own website. Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Shashi Kumar Samuel Ramdas said that one of India's first indigenously developed aircraft, HF-24, was not...
04:28 PM, Jun 18, 2011
New Delhi: Defence Minister A K Antony on Friday asked the DRDO to prioritise the development of 5,000 km range ballistic missile while building a credible missile defence system for the country. He also congratulated the Defence Research Development Organisation for developing the interceptor missile allowing India to join an elite club of nations possessing such advance technology. "DRDO must demonstrate the capability to develop missiles of the range of...
05:24 PM, Jun 03, 2011
The first flight is scheduled by year-end and the plane will be inducted in 2015. ...
01:00 PM, Jul 06, 2010
France held up its 1.6 billion dollars sale of arms to Pakistan, reportedly under pressure from India. ...
10:17 AM, Apr 04, 2010
A Russian think tank says India will buy 90 Su-30 MKI fighters and 30 extra. ...
12:37 PM, Apr 21, 2009
Announcement ends 8-yr suspense over acquisition of new aircraft. ...
10:12 PM, Aug 28, 2007
