Tejas, Mark II ‘overengineered’ to large extent, confirms official
30 Sept 2014 6:30 AM IST
The latter is ‘over-engineered’ to a large extent, thus adding on to its weight, the official said.
This is the Initial Operation Clearance 2 (IOC II) aircraft, of which the IAF has ordered one squadron strength or about 20 in number.
Early this month, the Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal SBP Sinha, flew the Tejas trainer (two seater). He had observed that he could pull only 5 gs instead of the standard 9 gs (the anti-gravitational manoeuvre). But the ‘control feel’ of the aircraft seemed good to him. The thrust of the aircraft was less considering it was flying on GE 404 engine. In other words, this validated the IAF’s insistence on GE 414 engines for the Mark II.
The IAF has already placed an order of 4 squadrons of Mark II even though it is still being engineered from the Mark I – with an addition of new canards and redesigning of a part of the fuselage.
The IAF senior official said that the Tejas they are getting was of a vintage design of 1985, soon after the decision was taken to develop. As a result, some of the parts of the aircraft are old in terms of the newer developments in aeronautical engineering. For example, there is a 55 centimetre space in the cockpit of the Mark I, where there is too much clutter of small parts. This portion is being extended in the Mark II.
Considering the 1985 vintage of the design, the aircrafts are expected to last with the IAF for about 30 years. In other words, the aircraft which is not quite like of the class of Gripen NG of SAAB that is considered its closest competitor.
But the Mark II with GE 414 engine will have better thrust and ‘enhanced performance.’ The IAF officials say that the Tejas has to succeed at the production level, not just for replacing the MiG-21s, but being the heart of an ‘Indian aerospace industry – both military and civil.’ ‘This LCA has laid the foundation for an Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), and more.’
While making the comparision with Gripen, the officials said the biggest attribute of Tejas is that it is ‘indigenous.’ Clearly, the IAF has bought into the idea of Tejas, after of course twenty-odd years and much heartburn.
This is the Initial Operation Clearance 2 (IOC II) aircraft, of which the IAF has ordered one squadron strength or about 20 in number.
Early this month, the Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal SBP Sinha, flew the Tejas trainer (two seater). He had observed that he could pull only 5 gs instead of the standard 9 gs (the anti-gravitational manoeuvre). But the ‘control feel’ of the aircraft seemed good to him. The thrust of the aircraft was less considering it was flying on GE 404 engine. In other words, this validated the IAF’s insistence on GE 414 engines for the Mark II.
The IAF has already placed an order of 4 squadrons of Mark II even though it is still being engineered from the Mark I – with an addition of new canards and redesigning of a part of the fuselage.
The IAF senior official said that the Tejas they are getting was of a vintage design of 1985, soon after the decision was taken to develop. As a result, some of the parts of the aircraft are old in terms of the newer developments in aeronautical engineering. For example, there is a 55 centimetre space in the cockpit of the Mark I, where there is too much clutter of small parts. This portion is being extended in the Mark II.
Considering the 1985 vintage of the design, the aircrafts are expected to last with the IAF for about 30 years. In other words, the aircraft which is not quite like of the class of Gripen NG of SAAB that is considered its closest competitor.
But the Mark II with GE 414 engine will have better thrust and ‘enhanced performance.’ The IAF officials say that the Tejas has to succeed at the production level, not just for replacing the MiG-21s, but being the heart of an ‘Indian aerospace industry – both military and civil.’ ‘This LCA has laid the foundation for an Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), and more.’
While making the comparision with Gripen, the officials said the biggest attribute of Tejas is that it is ‘indigenous.’ Clearly, the IAF has bought into the idea of Tejas, after of course twenty-odd years and much heartburn.
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