You mean like this?

I never thought of that! With munitions under the wings the F-35 isn´t even stealthy. Without stealth and supercruise it´s not even a 4,5 gen fighter but more a 4th gen fighter! 😮

BTW, the internal payload (which counts) isn´t that impressive.

Technically Typhoon, Rafale, Gripen belong in a 4.5 Gen category, better than 4 Gen, not quite 5 Gen F22 standard. Its just nit picking.

The F-35 isn´t quite F-22 standard either since it can´t supercruise. I read somewhere that Lockheed Martin defined supercruise as necessary for a 5th generation fighter. Does that make the F-35 a 4,5 gen or let´s say a 4,9 gen fighter? :confused:

Bangalore : The induction of first squadron of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) to Indian Air Force (IAF) can take place by the end of 2010 or the beginning of 2011 with regular persuasion and monitoring of the LCA programme, the Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major said.

The Chief of Air Staff during his farewell visit to Aeronautical Development Agency recently said: “IAF is on the transformation stage in the matter of gaining overall capabilities, with the help of organisations such as DRDO, ADA, HAL and other partners.”

An official release said that the Chief of Air Staff was affirmative that the ongoing LCA programme would further lead to LCA mark II, MCA and many other projects of self- reliance nature by sprinkling lot of patriotism around.

If this is true, it is fantastic new for the LCA. I assume that the article is referring to the batch of 20 LCAs which has been ordered?

WONT HAPPEN 🙂

Well, time will tell.

In the Aesa sector, everyone is doing better than the Typhoon… Swedes, French, Americans… I am sure that even the static array would be welcome enough for the potential customers that do value the presence of Aesa.

How does this fact make the Typhoon a “Mercedes”?

Simply, the user that doesn’t want the IRST, or the AESA or the OSF NG or DASS, most likely doesn’t want to buy “Mercedes” in the first place! He is looking for F16 or Gripen. The ones that could buy a “Mercedes” are those that want the leather seats and electric mirrors, and so, want IRST, HMD, AESA , etc.

I thought the Gripen NG would get IRST, HMD, AESA etc. Maybe I´m wrong?

Like pointed out before by some one else. The Tejas delays are the main reason for the MRCA competition.

With “arrengements” like this the LCA doesn´t seem that inexpensive any more. I believe the real cost of this project is a well kept secret. 🙁

I’m not quite sure that you are joking but I assume you are!

I think it´s clear that the comments of PLA-MKII mostly are ironic. I actually think he´s amusing. 😉

What is the status of the Kaveri by the way? With plans about maybe equipping the LCA with GE414 or Eurojet, does that mean the Kaveri is dead? Or is the Kaveri going to equipp a Mk.3 which is entering service in, let´s say 2030? :rolleyes: Either way I am sure that it will take years for HAL to even decide which engine to equipp the Mk.2. Why is it called Mk.2 by the way? Was there a Mk.1? :confused:

India has turned the corner on this program. There is no way that this program will (or should) be cut.

When this is the strongest argument for continuing the program you know it is over 🙁

Author is missing something More then 80 Lca as been ordered from the first batch it self and more then 60 GE engines are already delivered to India and the delivery will start from 2011 and by the time MK2 is ready by 2013 and will enter production by 2015

No offense I think you used to be quite sure that the Tejas would enter service in 2010? The year of IOC is only a matter of guessing from now on.

I don’t think you understand how India works…………..its not being cancelled. Just left to die………..

I agree, too much prestige involved. :rolleyes: I believe the Indians are now trying to figure out how to end the program without loosing to much face. The LCA will probably continue to serve as a test platform and at airshows, but not in air force service.