LCA TEJAS MK-I & MK-IA: News and Discussion

[ArjunMK1A]

Waiting for -NG that is supposed to be carried by all IAF platforms.

Dont see any news regarding its prototype or trials coming

NG is some time away, I am ballparking min 5 years. Nothing came out significantly for this missile in terms of any tender. Only news is the latest Lucknow Factory of BrahMos Corp will manufacture the NG Variant.

On the other hand we have Rudram 2 tested. We should integrate Rudram 2 in Tejas. It is pretty much an Standoff weapon with 300-400KM Range.

Also STAR Missile is entering crucial testing phase. Success of this project may give another Supersonic Missile which can work along with .

 

[ArjunMK1A]

HAL fkrs seriously need danda....Astra was integrated only very recently, despite so many years of MK1 productised, what is the status of SAAW , rudram and other integration on Tejas ? Again glacial chai biskoot pace of integration, that too serially one after the other, what's stopping them from parallel testing saaw, rudram etc using multiple aircraft and teams at same time ?

Why should you picking up HAL Only? Entire Indian Defence Planning is run on chai biskoot snail phase with no foresight. Lots of program were in serious delay due to comical reasons.

UCAV Ghatak, QRSAM, VSHORADS, MPATGM, NAG, HTFE 25, Kaveri were all in limbo since Babus at MOD don't have seriousness. Even ISRO whose earlier plan about SSLV is to launch them per week.
But only 3 in last 2 years. Our SBS is for 5-10 years launch window and finally post Ops sindoor we are pushing for 3 years.

India as a country runs on laid back attitude.

 

[samsaptaka]

Why should you picking up HAL Only? Entire Indian Defence Planning is run on chai biskoot snail phase with no foresight. Lots of program were in serious delay due to comical reasons.

UCAV Ghatak, QRSAM, VSHORADS, MPATGM, NAG, HTFE 25, Kaveri were all in limbo since Babus at MOD don't have seriousness. Even ISRO whose earlier plan about SSLV is to launch them per week.
But only 3 in last 2 years. Our SBS is for 5-10 years launch window and finally post Ops sindoor we are pushing for 3 years.

India as a country runs on laid back attitude.

Yes true, but in this instance integration of weapons on Tejas is on HAL.
Yes ISRO also is doing chai biskoot and seems to be compromised, all 3 last strategic satellite launches are failure, sabotage ? Navic is only partly functional... leaving us to rely on unkil GPS and Vlapus Glonass.

 

[concard]

NG is some time away, I am ballparking min 5 years. Nothing came out significantly for this missile in terms of any tender. Only news is the latest Lucknow Factory of BrahMos Corp will manufacture the NG Variant.

On the other hand we have Rudram 2 tested. We should integrate Rudram 2 in Tejas. It is pretty much an Standoff weapon with 300-400KM Range.

Also STAR Missile is entering crucial testing phase. Success of this project may give another Supersonic Missile which can work along with .

STAR missile is only for testing purposes for our SAMs. It is not something which is meant for fighter aircrafts. Since it is based on ramjet, we can be sure DRDO might build a spin off missile for air force. India should go alone and develop ramjet engine for - 2. Don't call it , we need 100% indigenous supersonic cruise missile free from any imports. This way we are not dependent on Russia. Still the Ramjet Engine used in comes from Russia although we have slowly replaced the seeker. Hypersonic missiles are crazy expensive. We need to save them for big military targets once we have them in our arsenal. For the moment in time cheap supersonic missiles will do. And we need far more destructive power of 1 sq.km at the bare minimum instead of just destroying a single hangar.

 

[Spitfire IX]

You saw what ge said on the engine order, when production line was closed for 3-4 years, then hal placed an order
Thats how you got thirsty for engines

So rn the contractors of subsystems inside and all avionics, then fuselage had prepared for 83 units only, then their production line will either be closed or run very slowly for spares
So you need to inform them to be ready or place order so that they can make necessary changes in their schedule or production capability, or else you would again get a dry production line at hal bangalore

Yes, I forgot about GE problems but they should be solved soon. However, better to order something you know you are going to buy sooner than needed rather than later than needed. Supplier can then plan production better. Why were only 83 ordered? It would have been safer to order 150, say, knowing the chronic delays afflicting fighter procurement and given IAF's chronic shortage of fighters.

I suggest ordering Mk2 ASAP as well. Waiting until certification around 2030 would mean any new builder would need 2-3 years to set up to produce and deliveries would not start before 2035 . And that if an order were placed immediately after certification.

 

[DumbPilot]

destructive power of 1 sq.km

I think you meant MLRS

 

[concard]

I think you meant MLRS

Nope, a warhead strapped to a missile like which can flatten 1 square kilometer of land. There is thermobaric bomb, don't know if it can be used on a missile. We certainly need something very powerful to send a message like flattening a airbase for example with few missile strikes. We are developing or already developed a ramjet artillery which can go up to 120km. That in itself is a game changer. It not only has the range but also big explosive capacity to inflict serious damage on the target. We need more of those.

 

[vampyrbladez]

There was a postponement in the delivery of GE-404 engines by GE Aviation, USA, for the LCA MK-1. The initial GE F404 engine from GE, USA was delivered to HAL on April 3rd, 2025.Starting in July, it is anticipated that 2 engines will be received each month thereafter.

View: https://x.com/alpha_defense/status/1926937791549604173

https://idrw.org/ge-commits-to-ramp-up-f404-engine-production-for-hal-targets-24-units-per-year-by-2027/

 

[samsaptaka]

View: https://x.com/alpha_defense/status/1926937791549604173

View attachment 37339

https://idrw.org/ge-commits-to-ramp-up-f404-engine-production-for-hal-targets-24-units-per-year-by-2027/

Statement is unclear, After the single engine delivered in Apr, no more deliveries till July ?

 

[Tumba]

View: https://x.com/alpha_defense/status/1926937791549604173

View attachment 37339

https://idrw.org/ge-commits-to-ramp-up-f404-engine-production-for-hal-targets-24-units-per-year-by-2027/

One of the main reasons we have to play nice with USA

 

[vampyrbladez]

Statement is unclear, After the single engine delivered in Apr, no more deliveries till July ?

 

[Brood Father]

Statement is unclear, After the single engine delivered in Apr, no more deliveries till July ?

2 engines per month is still in track for 12 this year ..

 

[samsaptaka]

View attachment 37354

Yeah so no engines till July

 

[silentassassin265]

Yeah so no engines till July

What makes you think they will even deliver after July?
We have 16 prototypes whose engines can be salvaged and mk1 already in service can be upgraded.
That's all I have hope for 16+31 total mk1a.

Unless we buy f16/f35 from burgericans it's unlikely that they will deliver f404 or even f414, it's a lost cause now.

 

[FalconSlayers]

View: https://x.com/writetake/status/1927047510914166850

 

[vampyrbladez]

View: https://x.com/writetake/status/1927055540598800452

 

[E-195]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEOgWsNbYsI

 

[vin pahadi (kumauni)]

Babooz in brahmos corp unable to come up with indig ram jet, maybe ruskies armtwisting us again for smaller ramjet engine and delaying brahmos NG ? Critical failure to not come up with indig ramjet even after a decade of brahmos induction . Them chings would by now have reverse engineered and rubber stamped mini ramjets....glacial pace of babugiri will destroy this nation

DRDO STAR MISSILE :- well drdo hv their own project of supersonic target missile with liquid fuelled ramjet engine. may be thats why they r not moving in brahmos ng direction. nd thinking about after this missile development, they will go for its mini nd other cruise missiles version.


View: https://youtu.be/ijkcWDmLvmM?si=0YnBsmvueVTCs1tT