Some good news in from the Tejas Programme currently fighting to finish high-altitude cold weather test points in Leh, Ladakh. Here’s the full DRDO statement just in: [With] three consecutive start-ups of its engine after overnight soak in extreme cold (around -15ºC) conditions of Ladakh, that too without any external assistance, Tejas, the Indian Light Combat Aircraft has achieved yet another and a rare distinction. Starting the fighter aircraft under such extreme condition without any external assistance or heating is a technology challenge. The requirements become further stringent when the starting is to be done three times consecutively with a partially charged battery. Team LCA led by AERD&C of HAL, and members from ADA, NFTC, IAF, CEMILAC and DGAQA have succeeded in achieving this. “The team LCA has achieved a technological breakthrough”, stated Dr. PS Subramanyam PGD (CA) & Director, ADA.
The engine starter is developed indigenously by HAL Aero Engine Research and Design Centre (AERDC), Bangalore. Prior to aircraft tests, the Jet Fuel Starter (JFS) was extensively tested on test rig to meet starting conditions across the operating altitudes including Leh (10,700 ft.) and Khardungla (18300 ft.). The control software of JFS was fine tuned to work at all operating altitudes with no adjustments from cockpit. GE-F404-IN20 engine start up control schedule was also varied with several control patches to establish reliable [start].
@singam – Great job DRDO on this achievement. I know you'll get alot of flak, but where appreciation is due it must be given generously.
Good job and all the best for 2015.
this is one of the best photographs the ac looks big ,massive the reason why the engines lack power and of course we must be hiding something about its specifications
Well Done Team Tejas
Indeed Heart Warming news from Cold Heights.
Great to see this new energy in getting this over the line ! Keep up the momentum with this and into the MK-II project. AMCA seems to be getting a kick in the crotch from the new Defence Minister as well …. a good kick a day keeps the babus awake and performing their best. Just keep kicking Mr. Parrikar !!!
Gr8 job. We desperately need a reputation in airpower equivalent to what ISRO has earned …Yes, we hav LOTS of hopes 4m u, Mr. Parrikar. Plz do beyond what even u consider your best!
It is ridiculous to delay the FOC for these frivolous tests especially when there is a dire need to get the aircraft inducted in large numbers. Anyway congratulations for coming out with flying colours!!
Kudos to the team! Well done! Let's hope HAL's proposal to beef up production to 16 units per year is approved fast!
Thank you US for GE 404, 414 engines for LCA without which Indians could have not done it.
Kaveri is another failure from DRDO …….
Thank you IAS officers (Kale Angrez) in Defense ministry for preferring GE's help and accepting support from US …. more Harvard admissions for IAS/IFS/IPS officers
HAL Dhruv
Engine from France,
noice cancellation system from boeing,
avionics from SaaB……
assembly in HAL, India
why not tell truth ?? why scared ??
tell truth of Govt. Jobs & Policy then only there is chance of improvement !!
Good , now we need hot start technology. Shiv need to know more about Javelin development and Rudra heli status.What is the status of MSG?
It is very funny when some people shows skepticism to projects like Space, Marut and Tejas. They might not be as promising as other readily available foreign techs; but they do not realize that that this projects are in Indian extreme engineering areas equivalent to invention of zero into mathematics. DRDO should engage more private players as they do in space program. HAL should be partner in gearbox in kavery engine (they make helicopter engines– right?), Kavery's TBO should be dropped to 80-100 hours (30-40 shorties) and try to increse it gradually that will boost confident of scientist working on project as well as pilot's know-how of aerodynamics while project is in development under on duty rookies (Desi engine will still be economical than foreign one, will increse garage time but not for always as tbo will go up in next gen engine), & Tata should be partner in production tooling design for non secretive component of Tejas, these will make supply chain very short, economical and speedy. Delays in this projects are pure political and "I know everything" attitude of some people and not economical or knowledge base scientific leadership.
By the way, it this engine start was achived on same non modified standard fuel or special fuel for himalays. I am not expert but , if it special than tejas based in rajasthan can not backup special himalayan base. please update info if possible.
It is very funny when some people shows skepticism to projects like Space, Marut and Tejas. They might not be as promising as other readily available foreign techs; but they do not realize that that this projects are in Indian extreme engineering areas equivalent to invention of zero into mathematics.
DRDO should engage more private players as they do in space program. HAL should be partner in gearbox in kavery engine (they make helicopter engines– right?), Kavery's TBO should be dropped to 80-100 hours (30-40 shorties) and try to increase it gradually that will boost confident of scientist working on project as well as pilot's know-how of aerodynamics while project is in development under on-duty rookies (Desi engine will still be economical than foreign one, will increase garage time but not for always as TBO will go up in next gen engine), & Tata should be partner in production tooling design for non secretive component of Tejas, these will make supply chain very short, economical and speedy. Delays in this projects are pure political and "I know
everything" attitude of some people and not economical or knowledge base
scientific leadership.
By the way, it this engine start was achived on same non modified standard
fuel or special fuel for himalays. I am not expert but , if it special than tejas based in rajasthan can not backup special himalayan base. please update info if possible.
UPDATE:while transition from short TBO to long TBO engine, output and performance will be same, pilot would not feel any difference in performance but Kavery would be out of so called "development stage" sooner; big thing to convince scientifically impaired politicians to pour more money and liberty to choose partner practically.
(Ignore last comment )
@Anon 11:22 Wasn't US GE 414 / 404 on the F-18 that was a part of MMRCA and was unsuccessful in Cold start or was it successful? Please Give Credit where it is supposed to be given, of course I am not a fan of DRDO or ADA until they deliver truly world class jets for our Country
DAD'S TRACK RECORD MIGHT NOT BE MAGNIFICENT, BUT THAT SHOULDN'T DEPRIVE THEM FROM THE DUE CREDITS THEY DESERVE ON THIS OCCASION
what's the deal with the paint job..peeling off from the cold weather?
Ok Give the credit, now do not ask how come JAXPA with much less than 1 decade and very less budget achived more than
isro with more than 1 billion dollor of budget and 5 decades of Govt support
Someone should ask questions when waste of money happens, how come we are loosing battles, lands and resources when these agencies are unable to equip our defence forces on time
Look what happened IOCL has to flee from vietnam when China claims the oil …….. ??
no body ready to ask uncomfortable questions to these scientist and beuocrats …..
Neta's are replaced every 5 years why not beurocats and scientist if they are unable to deliver on time ??
Folks ,
Would like to go on a tangent here but kindly bear.
With Tejas being still under testing and Rafale no where in sight , it appears to be a deep seated conspiracy to surreptitiously wipe out the IAF from playing any serious role in future wars. I hope I am wrong . I am not able to fathom why can we not consider additional sqds. of Mig 29M / Gripen as an immediate interim measure . If even that is not kosher , I have a suggestion . We are already manufacturing the Hawk trainer . Why not buy and subsequently manufacture round 50 to 100 Hawk light fighter version (Hawk 100-200 ). Modified to carry Mica / R73/Python / Derby ( ignore light attack to save time ) we quickly have fairly advanced and highly manouverable Gnat like fighters protecting our airfields and doing top cover for Mig 27 and Jags during battle support missions. Experts can correct me but one feels that graduating from Hawk trainer to Hawk Fighter will be far speedier and effective . The time has come to bite the bullet and ignore the LCA and move on to a massive damage control excersise. At the same time the Anti air batteries should be beefed up with both Russian/Isreali/European systems . Doing a cut and paste job on L-70 is not going to do any good any more .
In reply to the earlier anon , I would like to say that we must have the Tejas as our new Mig 21 ( the backbone of the airforce ) . Intermediate purchases do not matter as they do not deflect you from your goals. I would prefer Mig 29M as we have already trained on them and they are the only fighter which can match the solah on equal terms.