Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft

The Hindustan Aeronautics MCA (Medium Combat Aircraft, dt: Medium Combat Aircraft ) is a toy in the development of fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force. As a stealth multi-role combat aircraft it will replace the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG -27 and SEPECAT Jaguar which, as well as complement the HAL Tejas in the upper power range.

History and Development

In the MCA program is a series development of the LCA program, from which the Tejas emerged. In August 2006, the then Indian Defence Minister requested funding for planning studies to develop the Tejas. After these had been granted, asked the Indian Air Force in October 2008 in the " Aeronautical Development Agency ," which was responsible for the LCA program, according to what extent they can continue to use the technological experience. It was established in February 2009, the contract for the development of the MCA, which again Hindustan Aeronautics was commissioned. The MCA program was first introduced to the public in February 2009 for Aero India, and is most comparable from tasks and mission profile with the American F -35 Lightning II. The official project start was on May 4, 2009.

The MCA project represents the most ambitious project of the Indian defense forces and is in the context of the India's efforts to build its own independent defense industry. A related are also massive development risks. On the one hand, India has no experience in the field of stealth technology, for other complex combat aircraft such as the Russian Sukhoi Su-30 have only been imported or manufactured under license. In contrast, the Tejas has a significantly lower technical demand. Furthermore, the MCA program overlaps with the Russian PAK -FA program, which is involved in India. Therefore, in addition doubts there are also economic concerns about the basic feasibility of the project.

Construction

The two-seater, twin-engine "Medium Combat Aircraft" has several similarities with the American F -22 Raptor. Despite the derivation from the conventional LCA program various measures to reduce the radar cross section can be seen. Among other things, the arms are carried internally and simple rudder is replaced by a pair of outwardly angled models, so as to avoid a 90 ° angle. Also known are from the F- 22, the diamond-shaped air inlets that conceal the direct view of the fan blades. As engines are planned with the GTRE GTX - 35VS manufactured by Kaveri with thrust vector control that will allow the 20 -ton jet supersonic flight without afterburner ( " supercruise "). Since it is unlikely that so that the planned flight performance is achieved is likely to be used a refined model with reduced infrared signature. In the field of avionics is talk of a modular system, yet no further information was provided.