<p>Scientists associated with the project believe that the upgradation, considering that the technological know-how is available now, will not be too hard to execute. <br /><br />“Given that the technology is ours, tweaking it to suit requirements will not be difficult unlike in imported aircraft,” National Flight Test Centre Group Director (Project Tejas) Wng Com (retd) P K Raveendran told Deccan Herald. <br /><br />Tejas is equipped with missiles (the R73) conventional bombs, laser-guided bombs and BVR (beyond visual range) missiles. Also, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has completed development and testing of the digital weapon system –– the Pylon Interface Box (PIB) and Stores Interface Box (SIB) –– compliant with the 1760C standard. <br /><br />“The procurement and integration of the weapon system to be done by DRDO and us will happen based on the IAF’s requirement and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has the final operational clearance in mind,” says HAL Chairman Ashok Nayak.<br /><br />Sources in Team Tejas believe that India’s LCA will become a good fighter with the ability to supplement combat fighters: Sukhoi-30MKIs, the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) and the fifth-generation fighter aircraft in the future.<br /><br />“By the time India inducts these aircraft, the LCA would have served the nation for sometime and will be completely compliant with the IAF’s requirement,” says a scientist who has worked on the project.<br /><br />The immediate challenge on the supply side continues to be meeting delivery deadlines to enable IAF raise its first Tejas squadron this year.<br /><br />IAF sources say that concern has been raised at various fora and both the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are now working in tandem at the production centres.<br /><br />In order to meet the IAF’s requirement, the HAL needs to create an efficient production supply chain, DRDO sources say. Experts say that it has to be a supply chain that can handle the initial orders and the next 20 too. <br /><br />“The configuration for the second 20 will be different, which means the producer must think ahead and plan for that while not compromising on the production of current orders.” <br /><br />The HAL, however, is confident of meeting the deadlines On Monday, its Chairman stated that everything that the LCA project wants would be provided for. “Tejas presently has about one-and-a-half hangars dedicated for it and we will expand it if required,” without giving a timeline on that even as Defence Minister A K Antony said two of the initial 20 will be delivered by June.</p>
<p>Scientists associated with the project believe that the upgradation, considering that the technological know-how is available now, will not be too hard to execute. <br /><br />“Given that the technology is ours, tweaking it to suit requirements will not be difficult unlike in imported aircraft,” National Flight Test Centre Group Director (Project Tejas) Wng Com (retd) P K Raveendran told Deccan Herald. <br /><br />Tejas is equipped with missiles (the R73) conventional bombs, laser-guided bombs and BVR (beyond visual range) missiles. Also, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has completed development and testing of the digital weapon system –– the Pylon Interface Box (PIB) and Stores Interface Box (SIB) –– compliant with the 1760C standard. <br /><br />“The procurement and integration of the weapon system to be done by DRDO and us will happen based on the IAF’s requirement and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has the final operational clearance in mind,” says HAL Chairman Ashok Nayak.<br /><br />Sources in Team Tejas believe that India’s LCA will become a good fighter with the ability to supplement combat fighters: Sukhoi-30MKIs, the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) and the fifth-generation fighter aircraft in the future.<br /><br />“By the time India inducts these aircraft, the LCA would have served the nation for sometime and will be completely compliant with the IAF’s requirement,” says a scientist who has worked on the project.<br /><br />The immediate challenge on the supply side continues to be meeting delivery deadlines to enable IAF raise its first Tejas squadron this year.<br /><br />IAF sources say that concern has been raised at various fora and both the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are now working in tandem at the production centres.<br /><br />In order to meet the IAF’s requirement, the HAL needs to create an efficient production supply chain, DRDO sources say. Experts say that it has to be a supply chain that can handle the initial orders and the next 20 too. <br /><br />“The configuration for the second 20 will be different, which means the producer must think ahead and plan for that while not compromising on the production of current orders.” <br /><br />The HAL, however, is confident of meeting the deadlines On Monday, its Chairman stated that everything that the LCA project wants would be provided for. “Tejas presently has about one-and-a-half hangars dedicated for it and we will expand it if required,” without giving a timeline on that even as Defence Minister A K Antony said two of the initial 20 will be delivered by June.</p>
