MMRCA was intended as a stop-gap solution. That’s why the order is so small at just 126 jets.

😮 :p who else other than usaf is ordering “so small” order of 126 jets ?

GE has ported several F414 tech like Fadec and higher thrust to F404In20 and
will no doubt continue with improvements if paid for it.

courtesy user Rakall from aeroindia07:

Some Brahmos info I gathered at AI07 Brahmos stall

VLS canisters are throw away – not re-usable
LACM version has DSMC, no RF seeker.. 3 different warheads for LACM version.
target & trajectory is pre-programmed.. no features like intelligent networking between missiles as part of salvo attack
plans are on for a hypersonic version.. min range 1000km (MTCR will be taken care of.. will be billed as indiG product for Indian use)
The 300km range can be easily increased – minimal rework/redesign… govt decision is the only hindrance
The S-curve test reduces the range a little
The Amur version being installed is Amur1650
If IN/GoI take a decision during production from 4th sub — it ‘can’ be installed on Scorpene

the IJT is pretty intact except for the right wing which is broken per pictures in the media. they should be able to repair it.

the Larzac engine doesnt have the desired power the IAF wants. Saturn is making the AL-55 engine as the final soln …iirc some tooling and parts have already arrived in HAL koraput factory.

courtesy user Sparsh@BR:

Tucked away in the Lok Sabha’s Standing Committee of Defence report is a small bit of news: The IAF is in the process of acquiring 22 additional Mi-35s as a follow on purchase.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/07/stories/2007020708681200.htm

More GE engines for Tejas

K. Satyamurty

Bangalore: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has ordered an additional 24 F 404 General Electric-IN20 `afterburning engines’ to power the first operational squadron of the Tejas fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

The order, exceeding $100 million in value terms, follows an initial purchase in 2004 of 117 engines to power a limited series of operational production aircraft and naval prototypes.

Earlier this year, the F 404 GE-IN20 was installed in the Light Combat Aircraft as part of final evaluations. The engine has generated more than 19,000 pounds of uninstalled thrust and completed 330 hours of accelerated mission testing, equivalent to 1,000 hours of flight operations.

——–
p.s. the 117 is a typo. iirc it was 17 engines and In20 development (using F414 tech like fadec) for $56 mil.

seems they have used the Akash project as a stalking horse to quietly do all of this ‘under the radar’ as it were. all this C3I stuff and various levels of radars I seen in one akash slide.

the next endo-atmospheric test is supposedly using a radar licensed and tinkered with from a unnamed country. rumous speak of a Thales master-xx set.

I recall from PiBu’s exemplary mki article that certain bars RF components would still be supplied from Tikhomirov.

Janes News Briefs – reporting Jan 24th
India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has contracted MBDA to supply the Air-To-Air Mistral (ATAM) missile system for a new combat version of HAL’s Dhruv light utility helicopter, Jane’s has learned.The deal with MBDA was signed in July 2006 but has never been formally announced. MBDA is now charged with the development, integration and qualification of the ATAM for the Dhruv Weapon System Integrated (WSI) variant, which is expected to be deployed with the Indian armed forces in 2009