another pic from the same author

This one’s a looker. Much more graceful than its larger sibling.

The accord securing Russian construction of up to 18 nuclear reactors in several Indian states has started to unravel.

OT/
Russian companies have been granted exemption from nuclear liability law (link) in exchange of decades of strategic support, giving them a ridiculously greater advantage as compared to American companies which were already struggling to cope up with nuclear liability clause without the backing of their government. Even protests fueled by American NGO’s specifically targeting Russian projects (link) couldn’t stop any of that.

/OT

As regards FGFA specs, numbers, costs etc. I think we should all just wait for the deal to be signed during Putin’s visit to New Delhi sometime in the coming weeks and official data will become available shortly afterwards, particularly from the Indian government’s side as the deal transits parliament & various departments for approval (not to mention what HAL will blurb in their excitement!).

Delving into the history of the FGFA and who said and signed what, where and when is simply too contradictory and confusing (believe me, I’ve tried!). There will be no disputing the above contract, aside from the elements deemed confidential upon which we can engage in vigorous speculation- but at least we’ll be able to ‘put the flesh on the bones’, whereas now we have next to nothing to go on.

The IAF’s ACM Browne talks about the FGFA earlier this month, video from 19:24

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/mig-21s-served-us-well-will-be-phased-out-by-2014-air-chief-tells-ndtv-full-transcript-276000

I believe the original numbers (speculative) as cited in the media were 250-300, with the first 50 being the basic single seater Pak-Fa being brought directly from Russia, in late 2011. The first definitive numbers came up as 214 units, this time from Air Chief Norman Browne himself, in mid 2012, emphasising on greater numbers of single seaters. That has moved to 144 single seaters now. Considering that the definitive Indian prototype will fly in 2019, it would be interesting to see the what kind of production schedule are they looking into.

India’s DRDO preparing for hypersonic test
By Robert Hewson

10/24/2012

India is planning to conduct the first flight trial of its Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) in the next 12 to 18 months, according to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) officials.

The HSTDV programme aims to produce a hydrocarbon-fuelled scramjet test article capable of Mach 6-7 and autonomously guided flight. The HSTDV will pave the way for a hypersonic cruise missile and platforms that can perhaps be applied to other tasks, such as very high-speed reconnaissance.

According to DRDO sources, initial ground tests with the kerosene-fuelled scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) have been completed and the propulsion system is now being integrated with the air vehicle. Roughly 10 engine runs have been completed although the development team has yet to undertake a sustained 20-second burn, which is the operating time required for initial flight trials. This milestone will be achieved “soon”, IHS Jane’s was told. This contradicts some previous reports that stated the 20-second mark had already been reached.

From its main facility at Hyderabad, the DRDO’s Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) is responsible for the programme’s current phases.

http://www.janes.com/products/janes/defence-security-report.aspx?ID=1065972680&channel=defence&subChannel=systems

and I read somewhere (GE website?) that the F-404-IN20 engine had the highest thrust of any F-404 variant..

From the press release on GE website from 2007
http://www.geaviation.com/press/military/military_20070207.html

February 07, 2007
………
Earlier this year, the F404-GE-IN20 was trial-installed in Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) as part of final evaluations toward flight-testing, scheduled for mid-2007. The F404-IN-20 engine has generated more than 19,000 pounds (85 kN) uninstalled thrust and has completed 330 hours of Accelerated Mission testing, which is the equivalent of 1,000 hours of flight operation.

The official specs given on Tejas website about GE-404-IN20
http://tejas.gov.in/specifications/powerplant.html

Powerplant

F404-GE-IN20
Dimensions: Diameter 890 mm, Length 3.9 m
Weights: Max Weight 1,035 kg (2,282 lb)
Engines Performance: Thrust 9,163 kg (20,200 lb)

About RM-12
http://www.geaviation.com/engines/military/f404/f404-rm12.html

………
Max Diameter (Inches): 35
Length (Inches): 154
Dry Weight (Lb.): 2,325
Example Applications:
Gripen
Power Specifications
Thrust Class: 18,000 lbs.

See this link for a news report which states that ACM was refferring to the Tejas Mk2 when he called it a Mig-21++……………

http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/lca-to-be-an-advanced-version-of-mig-21-iaf-chief_679747.html

Selective myopia eh ?

Asked to compare the aircraft with its contemporaries, Naik said it would be just short of Swedish Gripen NG single engine aircraft.

EDIT: To compare with the similar sized Gripen C and E.
Internal fuel capacity
HAL Tejas: ~3000kg
Gripen C: ~4140kg
Gripen E: ~6000kg

And that is a consequence of shaping.

Are you sure that are the accurate internal fuel capacities ? The fuel capacities usually associated with these birds are:
JAS-39 (A,C): 794 US gal (3,008 liters)
JAS-39 (B,D): 754 US gal (2,852 liters)
Tejas: Around 2460 Kgs ~3000 liters.

*It would probably feel good for India to develop and build a high class fighter in 5-10 years when Tejas has been a project since 1969 with finalized designphase in 1975... with flying prototypes since 2001. I say just drop it and do it right the next time. 30 years ago Tejas would be a close contender to Mirage III and Draken, but today?

EDIT: Gripen A took 15 years from decision to introduction (delays included) and 9 years from first flight to introduction. Tejas has taken 32 years from decision to flying prototype and is expected (if there wont be more delays) to enter service 12 years after flight tests. That is a total of 44 years… unless there are more delays.
The price is already fixed. SAAB usually delivers on time and with the agreed price tag, in this specific case the Swedish taxpayers will take any possible additional costs. My guess is that SAAB will make a small profit from this and a larger profit from the deal with Sweden.

Ugh…What ? The designing agency was created in 84, the design finalised in early 1990’s. Its late but it isn’t that late.

Tejas is just a failed political project to build up an industry. Its basically a fighter from the 70s with modern materials. Considering the design its similar to Mirage III and Viggen (except for the canards).
* If they where to get the Gripen they would most likely get to build it themselves = know how in manufacturing for future systems (the purpose of Tejas).

I hate to divert this thread, but 2-4 years from now, India would be making more parts of Tejas at home than Sweden would be making of Gripen. In fact, everything, except the engine of course.