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LCA Hindustan (HAL)
Tejas / Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)
Light Multi-Role Fighter

DESCRIPTION:
India began pursuing the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project in 1983. Officially named Tejas (Sanskrit for radiance) in 2003, the LCA was developed as a lightweight, low-cost replacement for India's aging fleet of MiG-21 fighters. Under the overall direction of India's Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the prime contractor Hindustan was given responsibility for most LCA design and fabrication work. HAL is also responsible for integrating the efforts of several government laboratories, educational institutes, and sub-contractors.
The Tejas uses a delta wing design featuring many advanced modern technologies, including a digital fly-by-wire control system, integrated avionics, extensive use of composite materials, and glass cockpit displays. Other sophisticated features include the aircraft's multi-mode radar, laser designator pod and FLIR system, ring laser gyro inertial navigation system, comprehensive electronic warfare suite, and jam-resistant communications sytems.
Unfortunately, the Tejas program has encountered several delays that have extended the development effort by perhaps two decades. The LCA first ran into trouble as the design was being finalized in 1990 when a government commission found several deficiencies in critical technology areas. These findings resulted in the decision to build two technolgy demonstrator aircraft to ensure these issues could be resolved. The first of these aircraft rolled out in 1995, but difficulties with the flight control system and manufacturing of composite structural components kept the plane grounded.
Another major setback occurred in 1998 when India's nuclear tests prompted the US to place sanctions on the sale of General Electric F404 turbofans. These sanctions also ended Lockheed Martin's assistance in development of the flight control system. Nevertheless, India decided to proceed by investing in a domestically developed jet engine to replace the F404 on production aircraft. This decision incurred additional penalties since many delays and cost overruns have been encountered while developing the new Kaveri engine. These problems grew so severe that the decision was made to buy additional F404 engines, after America lifted its sanctions, for use on the initial Tejas production aircraft. It is hoped the Kaveri will ultimately become available by 2010.
The first technology demonstrator (TD-1) finally took to the air in 2001. Once joined by TD-2 and two prototype vehicles (PV-1 and PV-2), these aircraft were used to test and verify the advanced technologies planned for the Tejas fleet. A second phase of testing began in late 2006 with the first flight of the production prototype vehicle PV-3. Other test vehicles to be completed include prototypes of a naval variant (PV-4) and a trainer model (PV-5). Weapon integration flight testing began in 2007 and low-rate production was due to start by 2008. Despite signs of progress, ongoing engine problems and test delays have pushed service entry as late as 2015. The naval variant is being developed as a replacement for the Sea Harrier.
Last modified 07 October 2010

HISTORY:

First Flight (TD-1) 4 January 2001

Service Entry

planned for 2015

CREW: one: pilot

ESTIMATED COST:

$21 million

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root unknown

Wing Tip

unknown

DIMENSIONS:

Length 43.27 ft (13.20 m)

Wingspan 26.88 ft (8.20 m)

Height 14.42 ft (4.40 m)

Wing Area 412.6 ft² (38.4 m²)

Canard Area

not applicable

WEIGHTS:

Empty 12,125 lb (5,500 kg)

Normal Takeoff 18,740 lb (8,500 kg) [clean]

Max Takeoff 27,560 lb (12,500 kg)

Fuel Capacity internal: 795 gal (3,000 L)
external: 1,055 gal (4,000 L)

Max Payload

8,820 lb (4,000 kg)

PROPULSION:

Powerplant (prototypes) one General Electric F404-F2J3 or F404-IN20 turbofan
(production) one GTRE GTX-35VS Kaveri turbofan

Thrust (F404-F2J3) 18,100 lb (80.50 kN)
(F404-IN20) 18,700 lb (83.18 kN)
(GTX) 20,200 lb (89.86 kN)

PERFORMANCE:

Max Level Speed at altitude: 1,195 mph (1,920 km/h) at 36,000 ft (11,000 m), Mach 1.8
at sea level: unknown

Initial Climb Rate unknown

Service Ceiling 50,000 ft (15,250 m)

Range 460 nm (850 km)

g-Limits +9 / -3.5

ARMAMENT:

Gun one 23-mm GSh-23 twin-barrel cannon (220 rds)

Stations eight external hardpoints

Air-to-Air Missile R-77/AA-12 Adder, R-73/AA-11 Archer, BVRAAM

Air-to-Surface Missile up to two conventional cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles

Bomb laser-guided bombs, conventional bombs, cluster bombs

Other rocket pods

KNOWN VARIANTS:

LCA-TD-1 First technology demonstrator equipped with a General Electric F404-F2J3 turbofan

LCA-TD-2 Second technology demonstrator

LCA-PV-1 and PV-2 Single-seat prototype vehicles

LCA-PV-3 Single-seat prototype vehicle that should be at or very close to production form, equipped with in-flight refueling capability

LCA-PV-4 Single-seat prototype vehicle for a naval variant

LCA-PV-5 Two-seat trainer prototype vehicle

Tejas Production model for the Indian Air Force

Trainer Two-seat trainer model

Navy model A navalized version with strengthened landing gear and a redesigned forward fuselage to be used aboard a future Indian aircraft carrier

MCA Planned Medium Combat Aircraft derived from the LCA, supposed to possess greater stealth characteristics and thrust-vectoring capability

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:

not yet in service

KNOWN OPERATORS:

India, Bharatiya Vayu Sena (Indian Air Force)
India (Indian Naval Air Squadron)

3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

LCA

SOURCES:

Bharat Rakshak's LCA site

Defence Journal LCA site

Flug Revue LCA site

Space Transport LCA site

Werner Bergmans' LCA site

Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/1997. London: Brassey's, 1996, p. 45-46, ADA Light Combat Aircraft.

Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999, p. 29-30, ADA Light Combat Aircraft.

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	Hindustan (HAL) Tejas / Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Light Multi-Role Fighter

DESCRIPTION: India began pursuing the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project in 1983. Officially named Tejas (Sanskrit for radiance) in 2003, the LCA was developed as a lightweight, low-cost replacement for India's aging fleet of MiG-21 fighters. Under the overall direction of India's Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the prime contractor Hindustan was given responsibility for most LCA design and fabrication work. HAL is also responsible for integrating the efforts of several government laboratories, educational institutes, and sub-contractors. The Tejas uses a delta wing design featuring many advanced modern technologies, including a digital fly-by-wire control system, integrated avionics, extensive use of composite materials, and glass cockpit displays. Other sophisticated features include the aircraft's multi-mode radar, laser designator pod and FLIR system, ring laser gyro inertial navigation system, comprehensive electronic warfare suite, and jam-resistant communications sytems. Unfortunately, the Tejas program has encountered several delays that have extended the development effort by perhaps two decades. The LCA first ran into trouble as the design was being finalized in 1990 when a government commission found several deficiencies in critical technology areas. These findings resulted in the decision to build two technolgy demonstrator aircraft to ensure these issues could be resolved. The first of these aircraft rolled out in 1995, but difficulties with the flight control system and manufacturing of composite structural components kept the plane grounded. Another major setback occurred in 1998 when India's nuclear tests prompted the US to place sanctions on the sale of General Electric F404 turbofans. These sanctions also ended Lockheed Martin's assistance in development of the flight control system. Nevertheless, India decided to proceed by investing in a domestically developed jet engine to replace the F404 on production aircraft. This decision incurred additional penalties since many delays and cost overruns have been encountered while developing the new Kaveri engine. These problems grew so severe that the decision was made to buy additional F404 engines, after America lifted its sanctions, for use on the initial Tejas production aircraft. It is hoped the Kaveri will ultimately become available by 2010. The first technology demonstrator (TD-1) finally took to the air in 2001. Once joined by TD-2 and two prototype vehicles (PV-1 and PV-2), these aircraft were used to test and verify the advanced technologies planned for the Tejas fleet. A second phase of testing began in late 2006 with the first flight of the production prototype vehicle PV-3. Other test vehicles to be completed include prototypes of a naval variant (PV-4) and a trainer model (PV-5). Weapon integration flight testing began in 2007 and low-rate production was due to start by 2008. Despite signs of progress, ongoing engine problems and test delays have pushed service entry as late as 2015. The naval variant is being developed as a replacement for the Sea Harrier. Last modified 07 October 2010
HISTORY:
First Flight	(TD-1) 4 January 2001
Service Entry	planned for 2015
CREW:	one: pilot
ESTIMATED COST:	$21 million
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	unknown
Wing Tip	unknown
DIMENSIONS:
Length	43.27 ft (13.20 m)
Wingspan	26.88 ft (8.20 m)
Height	14.42 ft (4.40 m)
Wing Area	412.6 ft² (38.4 m²)
Canard Area	not applicable
WEIGHTS:
Empty	12,125 lb (5,500 kg)
Normal Takeoff	18,740 lb (8,500 kg) [clean]
Max Takeoff	27,560 lb (12,500 kg)
Fuel Capacity	internal: 795 gal (3,000 L) external: 1,055 gal (4,000 L)
Max Payload	8,820 lb (4,000 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	(prototypes) one General Electric F404-F2J3 or F404-IN20 turbofan (production) one GTRE GTX-35VS Kaveri turbofan
Thrust	(F404-F2J3) 18,100 lb (80.50 kN) (F404-IN20) 18,700 lb (83.18 kN) (GTX) 20,200 lb (89.86 kN)
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: 1,195 mph (1,920 km/h) at 36,000 ft (11,000 m), Mach 1.8 at sea level: unknown
Initial Climb Rate	unknown
Service Ceiling	50,000 ft (15,250 m)
Range	460 nm (850 km)
g-Limits	+9 / -3.5
ARMAMENT:
Gun	one 23-mm GSh-23 twin-barrel cannon (220 rds)
Stations	eight external hardpoints
Air-to-Air Missile	R-77/AA-12 Adder, R-73/AA-11 Archer, BVRAAM
Air-to-Surface Missile	up to two conventional cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles
Bomb	laser-guided bombs, conventional bombs, cluster bombs
Other	rocket pods
KNOWN VARIANTS:
LCA-TD-1	First technology demonstrator equipped with a General Electric F404-F2J3 turbofan
LCA-TD-2	Second technology demonstrator
LCA-PV-1 and PV-2	Single-seat prototype vehicles
LCA-PV-3	Single-seat prototype vehicle that should be at or very close to production form, equipped with in-flight refueling capability
LCA-PV-4	Single-seat prototype vehicle for a naval variant
LCA-PV-5	Two-seat trainer prototype vehicle
Tejas	Production model for the Indian Air Force
Trainer	Two-seat trainer model
Navy model	A navalized version with strengthened landing gear and a redesigned forward fuselage to be used aboard a future Indian aircraft carrier
MCA	Planned Medium Combat Aircraft derived from the LCA, supposed to possess greater stealth characteristics and thrust-vectoring capability
KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:	not yet in service
KNOWN OPERATORS:	India, Bharatiya Vayu Sena (Indian Air Force) India (Indian Naval Air Squadron)
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
SOURCES: Bharat Rakshak's LCA site Defence Journal LCA site Flug Revue LCA site Space Transport LCA site Werner Bergmans' LCA site Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/1997. London: Brassey's, 1996, p. 45-46, ADA Light Combat Aircraft. Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999, p. 29-30, ADA Light Combat Aircraft.