Yeah. Try theseI could have replaced all mentions of hlft -42 with Tejas mk2 and it still be valid. hlft-42 looks like solution looking for a problem,
Parallel projects in multiple orgs is the way to go for a country/economy the size of India.
HLFT-42 will be a cheaper fighter trainer that can be built entirely in India (with Al-31 support from Russia) and can be something that we can produce in numbers in case of a long conflict. It also has good export potential.
HLFT will also provide a platform to test and develop a lot of MUMT capabilities. We have seen delays in development from different teams waiting for the limited number of platforms to be available to test their equipment.
Tejas Mk2 does not have a 2-seater design ab initio, which can pickup MUMT roles. By the time requirements come for such a design, we'd have more tech matured from HLFT-42 that can be put back into Mk2. In absence of such a program from HAL (which is developing CATS), MUMT capabilities will be delayed.While the airframe is not cutting edge, it is being built with the best electronics systems in mind along with MUMT from the get go. It will network with the CATS ecosystem and can act as an affordable mothership, which will not need the best airframe out there. It will be a great LIFT/MUMT platform at affordable cost. We definitely should give it a try.
India needs to expand its aerospace programs, despite the reasons thrown about like " if we have Do-228, why do we need to develop Saras". One bad turn in relationship with USA, and all our multirole fighters will be restricted. We need an ecosystem, and running a single program for decades is not going to create it.
I will not respond to childish comments any more.
Statistics: Posted by ernest — 25 Mar 2025 08:34