 Tejas Mk2 at Aero India 2011. Photo Copyright © Vijainder K Thakur IntroductionLCA Tejas Mk2 is being developed for use by the IAF and the IN. It will be powered by the more powerful GE-F414-INS6 engine and feature other upgrades.Airframe ModificationsMinor modifications are being made to the LCA Tejas Mk1 airframe to accommodate the slightly larger engine. The fuselage has been extended by 500mm. The dimensions of Mk2 will be as follows Span : 8.20m Length: 13.70m Height: 4.52m UpgradesBesides a more powerful engine, Tejas Mk-2 will feature other improvements. Here is the complete list of planned upgrades
Features
Tejas Mk 2 at Aero India 2011Development HistoryThe decision to develop a Mk-2 version of Tejas LCA was taken in September 2008, when it became clear that the Kaveri engine would not be ready in time for the Tejas, which would have to be inducted into service with its current lower thrust GE-F404 engine. The GE-F404 powered Tejas doesn't meet IAF requirements, so a followup version of the Tejas is being developed with a more powerful engine. Ironically, LCA Tejas Mk-2 will be the LCA that the IAF sought to begin with. Procurement of New EngineADA is procuring 99 GE-F414-INS6 engines to power the Tejas Mk-2 and LCA Navy, for which a contract has been finalized and approved. In January 2013, a DRDO official told the press, "The deal worth Rs. 3,000 crore has been finalized with the US for procuring 99 engines for the LCA Tejas MkII." [via PTI] Under the contract, GE would ship 18 engines with the remaining being manufactured in India by HAL under transfer of technology [agreements]. The 18 engines will come by 2014-15. India will have the option of ordering another 100 engines in the future. In addition, GE would help India integrate the engine with the LCA airframe. In July 2012, Defense sources told the PTI that India and the US are close to signing the $600 million contract for 99 engines, with options to order an additional 100 under the negotiated terms. In May 2012, ADA Chief P S Subrahmanya told the press that a contract would be signed with General Electric as soon as the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) cleared the deal. Procurement HistoryThe Price Negotiation Committee (PNC), set up in late 2010 comprising representatives from the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Navy, the Ministry of Defence (MoD), HAL, ADA and the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) finalized the deal after 15 months of negotiation with GE and the US government. Procurement of a more powerful engine to power Tejas Mk-2 started when ADA issued a RFP for the supply of engines with thrust in the 95-100 KN to power Tejas LCA Mk 2. The RFP indicated an initial procurement of 99 engines with an optional follow-up for 49 more. The initial batch of engines would be procured directly from the manufacturer with the rest being assembled at HAL. The RFP was sent to just two contenders: General Electric (GE) for the F414 engine and Eurojet for the EJ200 engine. The two countries submitted their proposals on December 11, 2009, a day ahead of the deadline on December 12. DROD said it would pick the engine that requires minimum re-engineering and minimum acquisition + operating costs. Extensive re-engineering requirement could trigger a weight spiral, something the LCA is already plagued with. DRDO had concerns about the EJ200's ability to withstand the corrosive salt-water naval environment and about F414's limited thrust without reheat, as also any export control restrictions that come bundled with it. There were reports that Eurojet proposed a thrust vectoring version of the EJ200 for the Tejas. In June 2010, The Hindu reported that the EJ200 engine being offered by Eurojet could meet the differing requirements of the IAF and Indian Navy through a software change. “We are offering two variants of the EJ200, bidding for the India's LCA Mark-II which can be altered through a software change to suit the requirements for the naval version of the LCA,” Eurojet Vice-President Sales Paul Hermann told a group of journalists here. Evaluation of BidsThe initial bids were opened in mid-September 2010. Eurojet bid $666 million and GE $822 million. The GE's F-414 and Eurojet's EJ-200--were found technically suitable for the aircraft. GE F414 To Power Tejas Mk-2The DRDO announced on September 30, 2010 that the Price Negotiating Committee for the Alternate Engine for LCA Mk-2 has finalized the Comparative Statement of Tenders. The committee was chaired by Dr Prahlada, DS & CCR&D (Ae&SI) and had representatives from Ministries of Defense and Defense Finance, ADA, DRDO, HAL, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy. The commercial quotes provided by both Eurojet and GE Aviation were evaluated in detail by a defence ministry price negotiating committee, after which GE Aviation was declared the winner, the paper said. The Euroject bid was rejected despite its lower price because it did not include a lot of expenses.  The GE-F414 engine at Aero India 2011. Photo Copyright © Vijainder K Thakur GE F414-GE-INS6 VariantCommenting on India's selection of the GE F414 as Tejas Mk-2 powerplant, John Flannery, President & CEO, GE India told the press on October 1, 2010. "GE Aviation will supply the initial batch of F414-GE-INS6 engines and the rest will be manufactured in India under transfer of technology arrangement." Contract Negotiations with GEFollowing the selection of the GE bid, India held protracted negotiations with the company. There were two sticking points.
India countered by saying that GE had bid for the deal, not any of its subsidiary. It also convinced GE to drop the liability clause. On February 11, 2012 the Deccan Herald reported that on January 22, 2012, the MOD decided to go ahead with the contract. GE F414 FeaturesGE had delivered more than 1,000 F414 engines worldwide and logged 1 million flight hours. The engine features FADEC and single engine safety features. Minor Modifications to Tejas AirframeADA and HAL will need to make a few small slight to the Tejas airframe to make the new engine fit. “It meets all the performance requirements of Tejas, like the rate of turn and thrust in all modes,” a source told AW&ST. “The first lot of the engines will come by 2014-15 and the rest would be manufactured in India under transfer of technology [agreements]. The first lot of engines would undergo some simple tests and minute modifications before they are fitted to Tejas Mk-II ... The GE F414 would also power the LCA naval variant. In November 2010, AW&ST reported that an ADA team has initiated studies on the Mk.2's proposed operational envelope, fluid dynamics studies of new components and analysis of new engine components. The team is also producing fresh numerical master geometry and inboard drawings, a new digital mock-up of the entire Mk.2, and a wind tunnel model in collaboration with the National Aerospace Laboratory.  Tejas Mk2 Naval Variant. Photo Copyright © Vijainder K Thakur Tejas Mk2 First FlightThe Tejas Mk.2 is scheduled to make its first flight in 2014, with full-rate production to follow two years later. |
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