Indian MCA Discussion (Closed)

[Pathfinder-X]

Since there were much discussion of the MCA on the PAK FA thread, I decided to open a new thread on MCA so we won't go off topic more and more on that one.

The Medium Combat Aircraft [MCA] is projected as the replacement for the Jaguar and Mirage 2000 fleets in the IAF. It was originally under design at the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in Bangalore, now it has been transfered to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The MCA will cost $2 billion to develop and will be a tailless delta design with two engines, combined with a thrust vectoring control capability. It is hoped that the engines on the aircraft will develop a thrust-to-weight ratio of 7.8:1. Although it is unclear which company will be selected to supply the engines; SNECMA, Klimov and General Electric have been identified as potential suppliers.

Initial Concept Drawing

"We have started drawing (designing) the next generation Light Combat Aircraft, which we call as Medium Combat Aircraft (MCA). We are in a dialogue with the users (IAF) to find out their design specifications," Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister and DRDO Director General V K Aatre told reporters in Bangalore on Friday.

"Sooner or later, perhaps, in a decade or so, we should build our own twin engine aircraft," he said.

Artist Impression

 

[Deltared075]

Re: Indian MCA Discussion

Didn't you think the design too futurictic? How the aircraft work? since no tail like the B2 bomber.

 

[srirangan]

The artist's impression looks great. Let's hope the PAK-FA and the MCA projects work out.

Deltared,
Not too futuristic consiering that the MCA prototype will be out not before 2009 and the production won't start till 2012.

 

[P.A.F]

Re: Indian MCA Discussion

looks good but i think its gonna have alot of draw backs and modifications before it can fly. probabably gonna come into service in 2025-30

 

[srirangan]

Re: Indian MCA Discussion

How can you just say that it is gonna have drawbacks? What's your basis? Wishful thinking?

 

[P.A.F]

Re: Indian MCA Discussion

well if you look at how long it took you to build the LCA and the amounts of setbacks in that project then of course india are gonna have draw backs in this futurictic design. do you know the knowledge needed to build aircraft without a vertical tail. it took the americans an extra few years to build the B2 bomber.

 

[Pathfinder-X]

Re: Indian MCA Discussion

PAF, indian are not stupid. do you really think they will continue with the MCA if they know it will be coming out as late as 2030?? by that time a newer generation aircraft will be in service. indian involvement in PAK FA project and the licensed production of Su-30 MKI(starts late next year) will give them the solid experience to construct a 5th generation fighter. Most defence experts estimates the MCA will come into service no longer than 2015.

 

[adsH]

Re: Indian MCA Discussion

How can you just say that it is gonna have drawbacks? What's your basis? Wishful thinking?

it looks like a viggen. and viggen was an extremely good bomber and Resonance AC realy nice to fly but it was not remotely maneuverable enough to be effective in a dog fight. this AC would need to be redesigned as we go through the Design stage ie the MCA concept creators would be hit by the Gravity of Reality, its not that easy to create a Jet let alone such an ambitious one in such a time scale. the MCA would definetly be Shrunk in size includeing th wing span. i don't know why IAF seams to like these Larger Jets with massive fuel consumption, they should get fast intercepters like Mirages 200 that they have. if MCA is designed like this regardless of what you put in the Cockpit ie the EW suites. it won't be able to handle a fast high tech intercepter in a hostile territory.at-least the Su30mki can defend its self. with this MCA you would need an escort !!

 

[gf0012-aust]

Re: Indian MCA Discussion

Larger aircraft do have some tactical merit. Indias land mass is something to consider when they define their battle doctrine.

Larger aircraft are better suited for long range events, at a short range they provide extra loiter time, even if AAR is available.

If the threat is considered in isolation (and I suspect that from most repondents answers all they are factoring in is the "traditional" foe), then the appreciation for some of Indias platform scale and selection choice will be missed.

Step outside that circle, and the choice matrix becomes a bit more clearer.

 

[lalith prasad]

Re: Indian MCA Discussion

some here beleive that mca shall have two fins in the hornet style.

 

[srirangan]

adsH, Don't draw conclusions so soon. Atleast wait for the prototype to come out.

 

[liunux]

Re: Indian MCA Discussion

Reviewing the development process of LCA , I have no reason imagine the success of MCA.

 

[XEROX]

Will the MCA deploy characteristics such as an internal carriage for weapons bay, just like the F/A 22?

 

[adsH]

Will the MCA deploy characteristics such as an internal carriage for weapons bay, just like the F/A 22?

I think internal carriage would be a requirement to make the Jet stealthy or AS GF refers to it as being CLEAN. i can't wait to see this MCA at-least the first mockup of the actual design. then see it in flight i suspect it would be some time but would be well worth looking at. I hope israelis have something to do on this project.

 

[brahmos]

Re: Indian MCA Discussion

Yes, the MCA is suppose to have internal carriage of weapons.http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040606/asp/nation/story_3338057.asp

The swadeshi element in the Indian Air Force fleet will swell soon with defence laboratories set to design a fifth generation (advanced) multi-role fighter jet with features of stealth and electronic warfare systems.

The homegrown medium combat aircraft (MCA) will eventually replace the Jaguar, Mirage 2000, MiG-23 and the MiG-27, now being flown by the country’s air strike wing. It will be designed at Bangalore’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) — the one that built the light combat aircraft Tejas — along with a host of laboratories of the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

The first step towards building the MCA — the project definition phase where the design of the fighter jet and other key attributes are laid out — will be initiated now and completed in a year.

According to V.K. Aatre, DRDO chief and scientific adviser to the defence minister, the confidence to venture into a project of this magnitude came from recent successes — of the LCA, advanced light helicopter and the light transport aircraft.

“We have written a preliminary report and started a dialogue with our colleagues. We have been talking to the users (IAF) and are looking forward to the ASR (air staff requirements that define the capabilities the fighter should have).â€

Aatre said the ADA would begin focusing on the new fighter jet in the next two months, possibly August, after the maiden flight of the second prototype of the LCA. The Tejas is on course for integration of weapons (2005-06), initial operational clearance and induction into the IAF by 2010.

“I am confident the government will place orders for two squadrons (40 fighter jets) for the IAF by then (2010),†he said. His colleagues, too, were optimistic of pulling off the project with the experience gained in design and fabrication of Tejas.

Certain crucial components like the wings, the Kaveri engine and some systems and sub-systems of Tejas will be used for the new fighter aircraft. This will help scale down development costs from the projected $2 billion budget. At a later stage, the production lines set up for Tejas could be upgraded to roll out the MCA.

“At this point, all we can say is that it will be a twin-engine, tailless delta wing (swept back wings) design without a vertical stabiliser or rudder. To enhance its stealth capabilities, we plan to fit the external fuel tanks on top of the wings and for internal carriage of weapons,†a colleague of the DRDO chief said.

The MCA will have a range of 800-1,000 km and match the requirements of fifth generation fighters


[/quote]

 

[srirangan]

I hope israelis have something to do on this project.

LOL.. why?

 

[XEROX]

lower visability???

 

[XEROX]

800km to 1000km, doesn’t that sound a bit short for its combat range?

To me the MCA resembles the F117 and its radius distance is of 1056km, should the MCA have a longer combat distance maybe 1500km just like the MKI, saying this I feel the MCA is not a bomber but a front line fighter just like the SU30-MKI

Dont know how that will work though???????

 

[XEROX]

Apparently the LCA is using the same engines as the F-117A, F404-GE-F1D2 turbofan engines from General Electric, interesting

 

[XEROX]

Actually I am getting confused; don’t know weather to compare MCA with B-2 or F-117 (in terms of aircraft design)

Can MCA be compared with B-2, or is that wishful thinking??