What more interms of avionics does the N-LCA bring to the table when compared to the LCA?? What is the payload , Bring back capability , range etc etc .?
The aircraft is designed to have additional aerodynamic surfaces for improved aircraft carrier landing performance, nose droop for improved cockpit vision during landing approach, wing leading edge vortexes -LEVCON’s to increase lift during approach (this is yet to be confirmed – the folks are dilly dallying on this), arrestor hook, a strengthened spine, a longer and stronger undercarriage and the nose wheel steering will be powered for deck manoeuvrability. Canards will be included at the front, and these will be extended for landing, in order to reduce speed faster for carrier operations.
The aircraft will have a wing span of 8.2 metres, a length of 13.2 metres and a height of 4.65 metres. Launch speed over a 12º ramp is 100 knots and recovery speed during a no-flare deck landing using arrester gear is 120 knots. Aircraft carrier take-off mass is projected to be at 12,300 kg and aircraft carrier maximum landing mass is projected to be at 9100 kg.
and its HUD is said to better than the regular LCA’s :
Central Scientific Instrument Organisatrion (CSIO) is galloping towards the completion of a new smaller, light-weight, Head-Up-Display (HUD) for trainer and naval aircraft.
CSIO Director Dr Pawan Kapoor says this version of HUD will be far superior to the one they designed for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) earlier. HUD is vital for the pilot, for it superimposes the flight data in front of the pilot who relies on it for navigation, landing as well as combat manoeuvres. Developed in 1994, its application started four years years ago. Now being used in Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas) PV series, it’s done around 100 flights so far.
‘‘A remarkable feature of the new HUD is the dynamic Stand-By-Sight (SBS)’’, says CSIO scientist Vipan Kumar. This means if the aircraft computers fail during the flight, or don’t send any electrical information to the HUD, the pilot can switch over to SBS feature through a switch provided on the front panel of HUD. SBS will then help the pilot in navigation and landing.
The advanced HUD will also have Raster feature to make it easier for the pilot to fly in the night when he can’t see the outside view.
In Raster mode, an infra-red camera (FLIR) senses the thermal image of the outside world and converts it into CCIR Std Video signal. This video information comes to HUD which displays it on a dynamic big theatre screen.
This means any object flying/lying within the range of the FLIR camera can be seen by the pilot like a video image on TV or theatre screen. In this mode, the pilot can also request the computer to dump any critical information required by him on HUD.
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=157001
___
Answering a question on modernisation, he said the Navy had invested about Rs 300 crore in the Naval Version of Tejas, which is under development at Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in the city.
“[u]The Naval LCA is expected to join the fleet by 2011. [/u]Once it receives certification, [i][u]it will fly from both the aircraft carriers[/u][/i]”.
Not to mention its radar would be better optimised for Air-to-Sea roles than the normal LCA.
Here is some info on the MCA that came out in Nov, 2005:
Work on the indegenous stealth fighter gets underway
BANGALORE: The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the aircraft design house of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) in Bangalore has formed a core team to design a medium combat aircraft (MCA), an advanced multi-role fighter with stealth capabilities.
Besides incorporating many features of the indigenous single-engine Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) that is undergoing flight trials, the MCA will use radar-absorbent materials to reduce detection by radars, making it a stealth fighter.
The new generation fighter is expected to replace the Jaguar and the Mirage-2000 fleet of the Indian Air Force in the coming decades. “The design work is getting ready. It should be completed in a year,” DRDO sources told DNA.
The advanced aircraft will be build with extensive use of composites and have smart sensors like micro electronic mechanical systems (Mems), that can automatically detect strains or weaknesses in the airframe or wings. “The IAF is giving a lot of inputs for the design,” sources said.
Once the design is frozen, the DRDO would present the project to the government for sanction of the MCA project estimated to cost about Rs 6000 to Rs 8000 crore. The MCA will be a 12 tonne weight class fighter with a maximum take-off weight of about 18 tonnes.
It is to be powered by two “thrust vector’’ engines that facilitate controlling the flight by controlling its thrust, giving the pilot greater manoeuvrability.
But there are snags in developing Kaveri, the indigenous engine that will be used for the LCA and upgraded for the MCA. [u]The DRDO has invited bids from global engine makers to participate in building the engine. [/u]
“The stealth features and engine are two areas that we are weak. We will bridge this gap,” sources said.
Many systems and technologies developed in India for the LCA, Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) and the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) like the flight control systems and composite wings will be used in the MCA.
[u]“It will take about six to eight years for the first aircraft to be developed,” sources said.[/u]
New pics of the proposed MCA
^^evolved from the LCA
From the new article ( http://www.indianexpress.com/story/9900.html )it appears as if the MCA and PAK-FA are both on :confused: …perhaps the MCA is F-35 class and PAK-FA is F-22 class :confused: (and future Su-30MKI replacement :confused: )
The “six to eight” years for the MCA’s development seems no more than classical DRDO/HAL dreaming IMHO. Its a far cry considering that the LCA, (leave alone the MCA) is yet to enter service. The Defence Minister can say all he wants about the lessons learned during the LCA programme, and making use of them for the MCA story, but 6 to 8 years …. :rolleyes:
Sign In
😎