List of currently imported hardware used to build the LCA Tejas, that its developers would like replaced with a domestic equivalent.
Aeronautical Development Agency [ADA], the nodal DRDO lab overseeing the Tejas programme, recently released a list of components used in building the aircraft. These are currently sourced from outside the country & ADA would now like to acquire these from within India itself, made by the private sector. This would not only further increase the percentage of indigenous content in the Tejas &, by their association, industry's capability.
Most of these hardware, up for domestic purchase, are essentially components used in making the aircraft's sub-systems [sub-sub-system, if one could call them so] & current industry practise is to manufacture them to be modular in nature [LRU - Line-Replaceable Unit], meaning no design changes are needed to make the switch.
This could also, perhaps, indicate a certain confidence ADA may now have about the future of the programme, & its possible successor. Were it not to be the case, then going ahead with developing Indian suppliers would not have been a very viable proposition. In any case, without orders being placed in sufficient quantities, the private sector too would not display confidence in making the necessary investment. A good metric to find out how the programme is progressing would be to track the response this call by ADA evokes.
click on the images to view them in larger size
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LCA Tejas - Limited Series Production [LSP-4]
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LCA Tejas - Naval Prototype [NP-1]
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LCA Tejas - Limited Series Production [LSP-7]
An inside look at development of the Light Combat Aircraft [LCA] Tejas - 'Wings Of The Future'. A bit dated, but a great watch, nevertheless.
Godspeed
all images via: www.ada.gov.in
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