Interestingly, the 3 BVRAAM missiles that are shown hanging under the fuselage hardpoints, are based on the indigenous Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) program that has seen a couple of test firings and is in development phase. Can be confused with the Meteor BVRAAM.

There is absolutely no way that the Tejas Mk2 MWF development will be scrapped. I don’t believe anyone even suggested that in the article. The MWF design was frozen last year, the prototype’s metal cutting is to start in February 2020 and tenders are already out for mission simulators to be built. The Tejas Mk2 MWF project was FUNDED, which is a big deal, and the IAF has committed to acquiring those jets, citing ~ 200 units. The numbers may change, go up or down, but the project is not in jeopardy.

What happened is this-

• Indian Navy wanted only a twin engine jet for its deck based fighter requirement due to payload and safety reasons
• That meant that the single engine N-LCA Mk2 that was being worked on by the Aeronautical Dev Agency (ADA), had to be abandoned. And a new twin engine DBF program started
• Now, the TEDBF’s specs put it very much in the Rafale/ Typhoon/MiG-35 category weight, payload and fuel wise and so it became obvious that the IAF would be interested in such an indigenous Rafale equivalent fighter which would see suitable changes made for it to suit the IAF
• IAF loves the Mirage-2000 which made it rather enthusiastic about a Mirage-2000 class 4.5 gen fighter in the Tejas Mk2 MWF. Much more sophisticated in terms of avionics but in the same weight and payload class. Extending that logic, the IAF loves the Rafale too- which would make it appear that the opportunity to drive the design and development of an indigenous Rafale class fighter would tempt the IAF a great deal. Hence the offer
• And that is how an IAF specific variant (nicknamed ORCA) sprung up, which is probably HAL’s brainchild – one giveaway is the term ‘Omni’ that HAL used for the Supersonic Omni-role Trainer SPORT trainer concept that it unveiled at Aero India 2019
• This is now going to be discussed with the IAF, to see if the IAF would like to take it forward. Then the MoD gets involved, and then funding is sought for. This is a long winded process in itself and will take time. In the meantime, Tejas Mk2 MWF prototype build and development activities continue as funding is already secured
• Parts/Software/Avionics/Radar/IRST developed for the MWF, would be used as much as possible for the ORCA and TEDBF, for maximum commonality between the 3 types. This will also keep development costs lower and timelines shorter and also reduce the testing cycle
• The timeline for development and flight testing of the ORCA would be such that it would enter service (assuming it goes ahead) in 2032 or so
• Around that time (2032 to 2035), all of the IAF’s 120 Jaguars will be retired, as will the 69 + 21 MiG-29UPGs and the oldest of the 49 Mirage-2000I/TIs. That’s over 250 fighters that’ll need to be replaced. Tejas Mk2 MWF and AMCA will start to replace those jets with the AMCA taking over some of the Su-30MKI’s roles as the oldest MKIs start to show their age.
• AMCA will likely be more expensive to build and operate, given it’ll be a 5th gen fighter. It also introduces compromises to the design to meet stealth needs, which every 5th gen design does. Given that the IAF is eager to introduce a 4th gen type like the Rafale in the mid 2020s and keep it in service for 40-50 years, I don’t buy the argument about 4th gen types not being relevant in the sub-continental scenario just because they’ll enter service in 2030 or so. Most of the MRCA won’t even have entered service by then
• If the 114 MRCA contest goes through (IAF will seek Acceptance of Necessity from the Govt. soon which will then lead to the RFP being issued), then the IAF may be hesitant to take on this ORCA program, given that it will compete directly with the MRCA in terms of class of aircraft and the IAF may see it as easier to order more of the MRCA from the assembly line that will be set up in India for the MRCA program

Tejas Mk2 MWF cockpit details are out, based on some tenders that ADA released for full mission simulators. Large Area Display and 1 MFD center console display will be used in the MWF cockpit, as was rumoured.

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Into the sunset. Adieu…the last swing winger. Make way for Delta.

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Could certainly carry tons of load.

RB001, IAF’s first Rafale

image credit in the pic itself

Indian Air Force retires its last MiG-27ML squadron

2nd and 3rd IAF Rafales, RB002 and RB003 in France. These twin seaters are currently being used to train the first set of IAF crews before the planes arrive in India in May 2020.

Final MiG-27 squadron, No.29 ‘Scorpions’ based at Jodhpur AFS will likely be numberplated after the retirement of the upgraded MiG-27UPG strike jets that it flies.

MiG-27 to pass into history with its last squadron to be decommissioned in Jodhpur on Friday