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If you look from a purely technical perspective FA 50 has more Israeli and American content than Tejas, so if percentage of foreign content is your only criteria, Tejas mk1a fares better than FA 50

KAI had to promise to substitute the Israeli components (primarily the Elta 2032 radar, not sure what else it has that is Israeli) with non Israeli components in order to win the Malaysian tender. The work towards that FA-50 Block is in line with what is being done for Poland as well I believe. What other Israeli content is there on the FA-50? American yes, but not sure of what else is Israeli.

I think they are further along than HAL in that respect.

Right now the goal at HAL is to somehow land the first export contract for the Tejas and Argentina is one of the most promising tenders. Even there, replacing all 16 British components with non British substitutes is no easy task but without that the Tejas Mk1A cannot be considered by the Argentine Air Force.
 
KAI had to promise to substitute the Israeli components (primarily the Elta 2032 radar
They replaced the Israeli radar with an American one not a Korean one.
The proposed Korean radar is an air cooled one, and so far we have only seen a model of that radar, this radar is still years away.
not sure what else it has that is Israeli)
@Ghostkiller It's EW suite, it uses an Elbit SPS-45(v)5 RWR and ECM, among other things.
Not sure about its SDR (most probably Korean or American, my guess American).
Tejas uses far less Israeli components hell ever the Israeli radar present on Tejas uses an Indian antenna (offshoot of the MMR)
I think they are further along than HAL in that respect.
@sami_1 As you can see above FA 50 has more Israeli content than Tejas not to mention more British parts than Tejas (if I remember correctly some Argentine defence blogger had wrote FA 50 had some 30 British parts, he had compiled that number from looking at the yearly reports of KAI).
And let's not talk about number of American parts present in FA 50, there are so many it would be hard to even count, for example it uses an American weapons dispenser SUU 20 (can you believe that, even the weapon dispenser is American how the hell are you going to add Russian weapons to the platform if the customer asks for it without charging an exorbitant amount of money for changing the system).

So no FA 50 is not more indigenous than Tejas.
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the radome, MFD and SDR would be indigenous in the newer mk1a variant, and honestly if you make a similar cutaway of FA 50 you would see a lot more American and Israeli flag.

Right now the goal at HAL is to somehow land the first export contract for the Tejas and Argentina is one of the most promising tenders. Even there, replacing all 16 British components with non British substitutes is no easy task
Actually it is an easy task if argentina is willing to spend the extra cost (for recertification), out of the said 16 parts indigenization of many parts (like radome) are already in works, HAL is working on forming a JV with Russian NPP Zevzda, DRDO had submitted RFI for retractable IFR probe for Tejas mk2 which can be modified for Tejas mk1.
Other miniscule parts can be sourced from other countries, but the problem here is recertification of the aircraft and the money needed for that.
 
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Every moment the certainty grows that the LCA is a 1,000 times better option than the T-50/FA-50.

The continuous development of the aircraft and the increase in the diversity of ammunition are much faster than the dreams of developing the FA-50
You will not get parallel electronic equipment at all, not even the level of diversity of ammunition like what you get from LCA.


The LCA MK1A will get a Stealthy Nose Cone
To further reduce its radar footprint

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The efforts invested in the development of the Radar nose cone for the AMCA program have far-reaching implications that extend beyond this ambitious endeavor. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the organization spearheading the AMCA program, is set to capitalize on the technological advancements achieved during this process. The expertise gained from the development of the Radar nose cone will be harnessed for the Tejas Mk1A and Tejas Mk2 programs.

The Tejas Mk1A, a formidable light combat aircraft, has thus far featured a quartz nose cone developed by the British Cobham Aerospace Company. However, recent developments have highlighted the importance of complete self-reliance, prompting India to transition towards locally developed components to eliminate dependencies. The Radar nose cone technology breakthrough, achieved through the AMCA program, now paves the way for the indigenous development of the Tejas Mk1A’s nose cone, ensuring a robust and self-sufficient supply chain for this critical aircraft.

https://idrw.org/tejas-mk1-n-mk2-to-get-rcs-reduced-indigenous-nose-cone-thanks-to-amca-program/

Astra mk1 bvraam test fire from lca mk1
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AASM
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Proposal for the Integrating of the Kaveri Engine with LCA-Tejas Remains Under Consideration​

Published August 31, 2023 |

SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

India’s plans to integrate the indigenously developed Kaveri engine with the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Tejas fighter jet prototype is still on as per the latest information provided to idrw.org. According to sources familiar with the program, limited flight trials are expected to be conducted by the end of this decade, serving as crucial technology demonstrators.

The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) took a significant step forward in this direction by signing a pivotal agreement with Godrej Aerospace in September 2022. This collaboration entails the manufacturing of eight Kaveri engines, intended for conducting extensive trials. These trials are part of the broader objective to conclude all tests by 2025.

The DRDO is engaged in developing an innovative Afterburner section for this engine. Once operational, this Afterburner section will empower the Kaveri engine to deliver an impressive peak power of 73-74kN of thrust. This feat might not be noteworthy to power the LCA-Tejas fleet it will be done to learn from the experience.

Presently, the LCA-Tejas aircraft is equipped with F-404 engines, generating 84kN thrust. While the prospect of replacing these engines with a lower 73kN thrust Dry Kaveri engine is unlikely, the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), responsible for the Kaveri program, is determined to further enhance the engine core. This effort aims to create a 90kN thrust engine, leveraging the technological advancements of the Kaveri engine. Such an engine could serve as an alternative powerplant for the LCA-Tejas fleet, demonstrating the adaptability and flexibility of Indian aerospace technologies.

https://idrw.org/additional-advance...100-more-tejas-mk1a-fighter-jets-in-pipeline/





India decided to conduct a modernization and development program for each production batch of the TEJAS-MK1A aircraft, with a number of 40 aircraft.
India has decided to add IRST to the second batch of TEJAS-MK1A aircraft, which includes 100 aircraft.

India decided to expand its offer to Egypt, including 35 aircraft that India exports to Egypt, and Egypt produces 100 locally for the Egyptian defense market.

India's goal is to produce 100 for the Indian defense market and 100 for export, and to license production to Egypt for similar numbers.
 
India decided to expand its offer to Egypt, including 35 aircraft that India exports to Egypt, and Egypt produces 100 locally for the Egyptian defense market.
India's goal is to produce 100 for the Indian defense market and 100 for export, and to license production to Egypt for similar numbers.

So this will be really good just like we thought so the first time around. I feel this is really the better of all the offers because of the amount of indigenous hardware (and software for that matter) that there are much less 3rd party components to worry about associated headaches.

I also think the Tejas fits perfectly in the EAF. As much as the air force needing at least 2 squadrons of a heavy fighter like the Su-35S, it also needs a large number of light attack combat aircraft and the Tejas fits that role like a glove.

It's not even your average light attack/fighter platform, it's closer to a medium classed fighter because of its payload and performance.

I don't think they'll agree on a contract for that ToT & all those aircraft unless they're sure that the Kaveri engine will eventually transition the GE into the main powerplant.

This is exactly what the EAF should've done with the MiG-35 contract. If there was ever the perfect opportunity to create a ToT fighter program, that was it. I don't think the Su-35S would've been practical or even feasible for that matter because of the level of tech, machining and overall size & complexity of the platform and program.

I hope that once the whole world settles back down a little that they have this Tejas contract all wrapped up with India and ready to go InshaAllah.
 
So this will be really good just like we thought so the first time around. I feel this is really the better of all the offers because of the amount of indigenous hardware (and software for that matter) that there are much less 3rd party components to worry about associated headaches.

I also think the Tejas fits perfectly in the EAF. As much as the air force needing at least 2 squadrons of a heavy fighter like the Su-35S, it also needs a large number of light attack combat aircraft and the Tejas fits that role like a glove.

It's not even your average light attack/fighter platform, it's closer to a medium classed fighter because of its payload and performance.

I don't think they'll agree on a contract for that ToT & all those aircraft unless they're sure that the Kaveri engine will eventually transition the GE into the main powerplant.

This is exactly what the EAF should've done with the MiG-35 contract. If there was ever the perfect opportunity to create a ToT fighter program, that was it. I don't think the Su-35S would've been practical or even feasible for that matter because of the level of tech, machining and overall size & complexity of the platform and program.

I hope that once the whole world settles back down a little that they have this Tejas contract all wrapped up with India and ready to go InshaAllah.

Regarding the Indian aircraft engines, which were previously tested with the Russian Hungarian RD-33Mk3, manufactured in India with a license from Russia, it will be equivalent in propulsion capacity to the American GE-404 engine, although America will not object to supplying Egypt with the GE-404 engine with a propulsion capacity of 20,200 pounds, because India’s propulsion capacity in general is limited. It obtains export approvals, even without the exporter’s approval, for the engines that it will manufacture in India in recent agreements in exchange for purchasing large numbers of engines, such as the GE-414 engine, when the agreement related to 400 engines.

The technology transfer process from India depends on the size of the contract. As the numbers increase, the percentage of local components increases. In addition, agreements can be created for the joint development of radars that can be integrated into fighter aircraft. UTTAM radar derivatives will work on several MIG-29/SU-30 fighters and can also be integrated into aircraft. Others, such as the MIRAGE-2000 and other models, India will limit itself to expanding the scope of selling Indian components to a number of countries, in addition to fighters, to obtain markets for its products.

Regarding the MIG-35 order, Egypt has two offers: the J-10C/D or the FC-35, which may enter production lines in 2024 and official service in 2025 in China.

Egypt needed multiple fighters for different missions, especially with the collapse of the armies of Libya and Sudan, which made Egypt need heavy, long-range fighters, while maintaining large numbers of light and medium fighters to expand the theaters of operations, in addition to 40 different air bases. Egypt had 500 MIG-21 aircraft and had 150 F-7 aircraft. All 119 MIRAGE-5 aircraft were taken out of service, compared to 240 F-16 aircraft, 20 MIRAGE-2000 aircraft, and 52 MIG-29M/M2 aircraft. Therefore, compensating for this with large numbers of light fighters is inevitable. India itself decided to introduce 300 LCA TEJAS-MK1A/MK2 aircraft. To replace older aircraft


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Egypt is in need of a light fighter to clear the airspace of drones, and also due to the nature of armament in the coming period. As we mentioned previously, there is a need for cruise missiles weighing 700 kilograms that can be carried on MIG-29M / RAFALE LCA fighters. In the case of salt manufacturing, the range will be increased to 500 and then to 800. Kilometers
The new Serbian missile, VELA 2, is similar to the Russian KH-69 missile in weight and range, but at a lower cost than Russian missiles and with ease of joint manufacturing, as Serbia needs a large market for its products and a country that manufactures the products economically and not in limited quantities due to the small size of the Serbian army.

The TEJAS-MK1A plane option is better than the FA-50 BLOCK 20 plane, even if it is improved. The Indian plane is superior in all aircraft indicators, equipment and armament, and is also lower in price and Indian flexibility in transferring technology. It is possible to move directly to the production of the TBDEF plane as a next stage if Egypt does not move to produce the FC-35 plane. With China

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