AMCA - Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft

[Spitfire IX]

Is EJ230 the answer to the AMCA non-engine problem? It is claimed that Eurojet has offered it to SAAB. Gripen E sales to Colombia may be blocked through US refusal to allow GE F414 transfer to the country. If that were to happen, all Gripen E export sales would be at risk. Canada could turn out to buy a lot of Gripen E if it becomes available with a non-US engine.

I guess that development of a 117 kN EJ230 from the 90 kN EJ200 would cost far less and be far quicker than developing an engine from scratch. Additionally, if Eurojet, SAAB, India and Canada provided development funding, the cost to each party would be low.

 

[Bhartiya Sainik]

Is EJ230 the answer to the AMCA non-engine problem? It is claimed that Eurojet has offered it to SAAB. Gripen E sales to Colombia may be blocked through US refusal to allow GE F414 transfer to the country. If that were to happen, all Gripen E export sales would be at risk. Canada could turn out to buy a lot of Gripen E if it becomes available with a non-US engine.

I guess that development of a 117 kN EJ230 from the 90 kN EJ200 would cost far less and be far quicker than developing an engine from scratch. Additionally, if Eurojet, SAAB, India and Canada provided development funding, the cost to each party would be low.

UK, Canada doesn't seem to be friendly to India.
UK relations with other western nations would obviously be different than with India.
Industrial deals are for decades while political regimes can change every few years.

F-35 was offered XA-100/1 based AETP-VCE, but only ECU happening.
Hence a brand new engine design should be 6gen oriented & compatible to 5gen also, have characteristics like VC, direct drive generator, rear ceramic RF stealth blocker, 3D TVC, different cooling techniques like film cooling, liquid cooling, transpiration cooling, etc, use of thermal materials like Kevlar in M-88, etc.

 

[Spitfire IX]

UK, Canada doesn't seem to be friendly to India.
UK relations with other western nations would obviously be different than with India.
Industrial deals are for decades while political regimes can change every few years.

F-35 was offered XA-100/1 based AETP-VCE, but only ECU happening.
Hence a brand new engine design should be 6gen oriented & compatible to 5gen also, have characteristics like VC, direct drive generator, rear ceramic RF stealth blocker, 3D TVC, different cooling techniques like film cooling, liquid cooling, transpiration cooling, etc, use of thermal materials like Kevlar in M-88, etc.

Nothing stops India waiting for a new engine with 6G characteristics. India can keep making AMCA with F414 until a new engine is available. It looks like RR has been selected to make it but that is speculative until a contract is signed. Same would be true for an engine from any OEM.

 

[randombully]

Found this para written by a guy on another forum.


"Not needed, really. USAF's F-35 don't really use anything other than medium range missiles. It's understandable that for the next generation designers concluded that the number of times short range missiles would be beneficial is not worth the effort (added weight, space)."

Maybe the reason amca doesn't have side bays for WVR Missiles.

 

[randombully]

Found this para written by a guy on another forum.


"Not needed, really. USAF's F-35 don't really use anything other than medium range missiles. It's understandable that for the next generation designers concluded that the number of times short range missiles would be beneficial is not worth the effort (added weight, space)."

Maybe the reason amca doesn't have side bays for WVR Missiles.

So I'm confused.
Why do next generation of fighters don't need to carry WVR missiles?
Given they are stealth, tracking and even detecting them(using x band) at distances more than wvr will be hard.

I think the argument is that datalinked BVR weapons with HOB and active seeker heads can handle the rare instances of WVR engagements without compromising missile load with smaller munitions and smaller side bays that have rare use cases.

It was previously the case that getting a radar lock and firing a BVR AAM at a target required specific orientations and ranges, as well as time delays for creating a firing solution. IR guided WVR weapons had faster reaction times with less limitations on relative position and velocity (at close range). These weapons were mounted in side bays to allow the seekers to see targets on either side of the aircraft for lock on before launch. But if you can just look at a target and kick a BVR AAM onto it, with the missile locking on after launch, that removes a lot of need for separate missile types and dedicated bays.

ETA: as someone else noted in another thread, the F-22 side bays were originally to be AIM-120 sized to give an all BVR option. This requirement was relaxed for weight/volume reasons.



Another reason for probably why amca doesn't have side bays.