And when does it enter service? Is it ready yet? Even a Mk2 variant of the Tejas will fly and be I service by the time the Gripen E/F enters service with the Flygvapnet and the SwAF.
So really state of the art light fighters don’t even exist in service as per you?
The JAS-39C/D is an advanced state of the art light fighter. JAS-39E/F pushes it further.
I have not seen anything that would indicate a Tejas [b]Mk I is more advanced than a JAS-39C/D.
JAS-39F development aircraft is already flying and prototype aircraft is scheduled to fly later in 2013.
JAS-39E/F is expected to be delivered from 2017 onwards.
Tejas [u]Mk 2[/u] first flight is expected in 2014 with delivery in same period as JAS-39E/F.
All this assumes that HAl and Co can deliver on time and this is something even Indian Defense minister AK Antony isn’t too confident about. Apparently on eve of Aero India 2013 he told DRDO that:
“I am happy for your achievements of DRDO but not fully happy. Delay in delivery is a real problem… Try to speed up your process and reduce time for research, development and production. [DRDO is getting ready for a 2nd initial clearance for Tejas, but] I am impatient for the Final Operational Clearance (FOC)….. Antony also expressed his disappointment over reported lack of cohesion between the aircraft development agencies under DRDO and aircraft maker HAL.”
http://beforeitsnews.com/military/2013/02/lca-tejas-an-indian-fighter-with-foreign-help-3-2450054.html?currentSplittedPage=0
In same articles there’s scathing reports of HAL being unable to set up a production line, let alone one that uses modern techniques.
With a total of 183 Tejas fighters in 3 different variants planned for induction into the IAF and IN, how the Tejas is a failure I cannot fathom.
If you bothered to read my post, I stated Tejas Mk I which will be acquired in a very small production run of 40 a/c. Never said anything about Tejas Mk 2 being a failure.
The Mk1 orders were capped at 40 so that HAL can begin delivering the Mk2 right after the 40th Mk1 is delivered. If the Gripen E/F were available from 2018-19 onwards, why would any customer order more C/Ds to be built post 2018-19?
Depends on the user’s requirements. E.g. Croatia is apparently fast tracking MiG-21 replacement and has been formerly offered 8 JAS-39C/D.
Thailand might want more to supplement it’s existing 12 JAS-39C/D.
That was an IAF and MoD decision to not develop the HTT-35 as well as the HTT -40. It could have been easily done in 5-6 years. Maybe they wanted HAL’s resources used elsewhere at that time. A poor choice since it led to imports for a basic trainer, something India built even 2 decades earlier in the form of the HPT-32.
I think there might be some boffins at MoD and IAF who doubt Indian aerospace can deliver the goods on time. Especially given scathing comments from Indian ministers and air force officials about the industry.
And a HPT-32 is not like a PC-7 Mk II or PC-9.
It’s like saying India built the HF-24 Marut in the 1960s so can build a fighter easily today.
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