INDEX

LCA Tejas: An Indian Fighter

Abstract
The Indian Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas) programme has successfully completed
the Full Scale Engineering Development (FSED) phase and is presently in the
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) clearance phase. Tejas programme is the
country’s finest example of national effort in pursuit of technological excellence in
the field of military aviation. Accordingly, the programme has been a great
learning experience for all groups and Individuals involved.

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Background
Tejas ("Radiant") is world’s smallest, lightweight and multirole jet fighter.
The process is in Planning phase. IFA to procure 40 aircrafts from HA, LCA is
designed to meet the requirements of Indian Air Force as its frontline multi-
mission single-seat tactical aircraft to replace the Ageing MIG-21 series of aircraft.
The development of the LCA began 1983 with the idea of developing an
indigenous multi role aircraft which is capable of meeting with the requirements of
the IAF.
This was also the first step to make India self-reliant in the field of defense
production as India having the fourth strong armed forces in the world.

Design
• The delta wing configuration, with no tail planes or fore planes, features a
single vertical fin.
• The LCA is constructed of aluminum-lithium alloys, carbon- fiber
composites, and titanium.
• LCA integrates modern design concepts and the state-of-art technologies
such as relaxed static stability, flyby-wire Flight Control System, Advanced
Digital Cockpit, Multi-Mode Radar, Integrated Digital Avionics System,
Advanced Composite Material Structures and a Flat Rated Engine.

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Features
• The LCA design has been configured to match the demands of modern
combat scenario such as speed, acceleration, manoeuvrability and agility.
Short takeoff and landing, excellent flight performance, safety, reliability
and maintainability, are salient features of LCA design.
• The LCA integrates modern design concepts like static instability, digital
fly-by-wire flight control system, integrated avionics, glass cockpit, primary
composite structure, multi-mode radar, microprocessor based utility and
brake management systems
• The contract for this procurement has been signed between ADA
(Aeronautical Development Agency) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
(HAL)

Scope of the project

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 Project Title: LCA Tejas

Date: 17/3/11 Prepared by: Tanvir, Nancy, Bharath

Project Manager: Tanvir Chowdhury

Project Justification: This project is to understand the make or buy decision and
the various problems which can occur in this process. This is a public private
project. This project will cover all the class discussion and will be able to explain
the entire process of procurement.

.
Product Characteristics and Requirements:
• To meet the goal of understanding the procurement process
• To understand the criticality of make or buy decision
• Fixed Price Contract
• Public Private project

Summary of Project Deliverables

Project management-related deliverables:

• Scope Statement
• Lessons-Learned Report
• Final Project report

Project Success Criteria:

• If clearly described the procurement process of LCA Tejas to the class.

• Making appropriate usage of class discussions in the project and well
understood.
• Delivering the project on time to Professor.

Schedule

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1969- Contract of designing and developing the Tejas has been awarded to HAL
1975- HAL completed the design, but couldn’t procure the engine from the USA,
hence, it delayed the project.
1995- IAF lacked 40% of the aircraft needed to fill its project force structure
requirements.
1984- Established the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) to manage the
LCA programme.
1985- The IAF's Air Staff Requirement for the LCA were not finalized.
1989- . A governmental review committee was formed which reported out a
general view that Indian infrastructure, facilities and technology had advanced
sufficiently in most areas to undertake the project.
1991- HAL started work on the technology demonstrators.
1993- Financial crunch resulted in full-scale funding not being authorized.
1995- The first technology demonstrator, TD-1.
1974- RSS technology was introduced in on the General Dynamics YF-16, which
was the world's first production aircraft to be slightly aerodynamically unstable by
design.
1992- The LCA National Control Law (CLAW) team was set up by the National
Aeronautics Laboratory to develop India's own version
2005- two very basic modes — were confirmed to have been successfully tested.
2006- it was revealed that the performance of several modes being tested still "fell
short of expectations.
2008- The first production variant of the 'Tejas' (LSP-1) flew
2009- Tejas completed 1000 Test Flights by January with more than 530 hours of
in-flight testing.
2010- the third production aircraft (LSP-3) flew with a hybrid version of the Elta
EL/M-2032 multi-mode radar
2011- Initial Operating Clearance (IOC) for the Tejas was awarded

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Cost
Tejas cost is over all more than 39.5 crore for 35 yrs.
The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project was sanctioned in 1982 with a budget of
Rs 560 crore to develop a state-of-the-art fighter aircraft to replace IAF's MiG-21
fighters.
In 1990, based on a project definition document ADA told MOD that it would take
seven years and Rs.4,000 crore to develop the LCA.
A contract for procurement of 20 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) in Initial
Operation Clearance (IOC) configuration, along with associated role equipment,
reserve engines, engine support package, engine test bed and computer based
training (CBT) package from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was signed in
March 2006. The total contract cost is Rs. 2701.70 crores.
The Tejas received Initial Operation Clearance on Monday, January 10, 2011 at a
ceremony at HAL Airport in Bangalore.
At the time of its IOC, Rs 12,000 crore had been spent on the Tejas project. The
aircraft had achieved 60% indigenous content as against the 100% targeted.
Indian Navy is reported to have placed an order for six Naval LCAs, at an
approximate cost of Rs 150 crore per aircraft.
The move throws an Rs 900 crore lifeline to the floundering LCA program.

Quality

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 • According to Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, the aircraft had not yet reached
all fourth generation fighter benchmark and did not meet IAF requirements
for sustained rate of turn and max AOA.  
• Indigenously development of Kaveri Engine to power the Tejas aircraft was
sanctioned on Marc 30, 1989 with a PDC of December 31, 1996. 
• In January 2011 it was announced that the Kaveri project has been de-linked
from the Tejas project. The engine will now be developed to power
the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), which is expected to be
ready by 2016-17.
• In November 2010, the AW&ST reported that the Tejas Mk-1 reportedly
falls short of even the relaxed Air Staff Requirements stipulated for limited
series production (LSP) aircraft in the following areas.
• Power to Weight Ratio
• Sustained Turn Rate
• Maximum speeds at low altitudes
• AOA range
• Weapon delivery profiles

Project Industry

• This project industry belongs to Indian Aerospace.

• This project is a public- private project between HAL, ADA & General
Electric USA for Kaveri Engine of Tejas, where current economy always
reflects the budget/costs of the project which in turn reflects scope and
schedule of the project initially planned
• This kind of projects is unpredictable as they are much dependent on the
political, economical, demographic conditions of the country.

Stakeholders, roles and requirements

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• IAF (Indian Air Force) (Main Stakeholder): enhance the technology
• HAL (Hindustan Aeronautical Limited) (Contractor): Production Facilities
• Swiss Bank: (Sponsor): providing fund to IAF.
• Indian Govt: Security purpose
• As every nation tries to keep the security tight in the competitive and
growing national stamina’s.

• Indian Citizens(Main Stakeholder): Security

• As the people of the country need to feel more secure by obtaining the latest
technology adapted weaponry in its military base.

• Russian Govt: To save the contract from India

• Russia providing the same kind of aircrafts so far lost the contract when
India attempts to make its own.

• As the protector of the nation the important requirement is to update itself

with latest weaponry.

• DRDO (Department of Defense Research): Researching & experimenting

for new aircraft

• The complete assistance from the Indian government to perform all the
necessary research and led to the successful goals.

• ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency): Development of the program.

• Requires all the equipment and technology support to develop the aircrafts.

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 • This is the major stakeholder which requires the production facilities and
enough funds to make aircrafts in a specified manner.

• General Electrics (USA) : Provides engine support

• The General Electric’s requires the enough support from the remaining stake
holders to provide support with respect to the engine in a regular and timely
manner.

Timelines
1982-2014
• There is no proper time limit for this project right from the starting i.e.1982
when it’s initially planned to end it for 1995.

• 2 aircrafts out of 40 have been provided in January, 2011 to IAF, after a

delay of 25 years of project.

• The deadline for the remaining 38 aircrafts is by December, 2014.

• They are still looking forward to revise the Procurement Data Clearance in
December, 2011.

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\Make Or Buy Analysis
• The decision of Indian Govt to go for contractual agreements in the fields of
Engine, advanced computer technology to operate the flight, technical
assistance in design, from other countries led the project to move forward.

• Though the project has been facing a lot of difficulties internally in the
country but the project seems to be in good shape now just because of the
buy decision. Otherwise it would have terminated as a failure project as
there is maximum probability of political changes with respect to the budget
kind of issues.

Risk Analysis

• The first batch of light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas would carry “limited
weaponry” because of engine power limitations, said highly placed Defence
Ministry sources.

• Technological, political issues are always associated such type of project.

• Taking decision to make more LCA’s by relying on the prototype success in

2001, which involved huge budget (currently that technology proved to be
outmoded).

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 • Huge budgets kept by assuming the output will be success by meeting fourth
generation technologies (The kaveri engine is going to be replaced by new
engine as per IAF not convincing with the technology).

Contract

• This is a unit fixed price contract between IAF & HAL

• The restrictions imposed by the U.S government in 1998 when nuclear test
held at Rajasthan.

• Taking decision to make more LCA’s by relying on the prototype success in

2001.

• Huge budgets kept by assuming the output will be success (by meeting
fourth generation technologies

• Current Status of the Project

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• January 10, 2011-The Light Combat Aircraft got its Initial Operational
Clearance (IOC) on clearing the decks for the fighter’s induction into the
Indian Air Force by June 2011.

• Defence minister AK Antony of India announced that the Air Force and
Navy would eventually deploy 200 such fighters.
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) has placed orders for 40 of them. Assembly lines
have been built at HAL to roll out eight aircraft a year. The production
capacity will be doubled to meet the requirement of 200 aircraft in the next
decade. The ADA is working on it and hopes to have a test flight in
December 2014.
• A two-seater trainer version flew in November 2010 and one more will fly in
the second half of 2011.
• As on February 17, 2011 this fighter aircraft’s performance has been perfect.
Tejas has successfully operated in extreme weather condition. Till now there
is no incident of any mishap. Tejas has been flown successfully in extreme
conditions – in Nagpur during peak summer at a searing 48° Celsius and in
the rarefied heights of Leh at −28° C. The LCA’s Final Operations
Clearance is in 2012.

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SWOT

Lesson Learned
• As Govt is involved in this project, it doesn’t mean that the project would be
completed successfully with huge budgets, high technical expertise &
reputed organizations participation.

• We should understand the growing technologies and its trends towards the
global market under the same time there should be system which can in
corporate this updating technologies as the time passes by.

• There should be milestones for each and every phase of the development as
to track the project progress so that contingency plans , budgets & risk can
be determined and controlled within the given time frame.

• There should be confirmation regarding the procurement document about the

requesting changes and the time taken for the changes & responsibility for

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 those charges. Otherwise, commonly in public projects the delays would be
repeated quite often.

Recommendations
• There is a need to setup complete structure for procurement process, like
who are involved in the procurement & documents request for proposal,
selecting contract, administer contract & closing the contract. Once these
things are clear there will be no chance of confusion even if there are any
problems or any restriction imposed.

• Government should take care of the procurement process with the personnel
from outside the organization or from private organization because private
organization people could be more accountable to the work rather than the
self organization personnel.

• This kind of project which involves huge budgets should for see the
consequences with respect to the technology and innovative ideas generated
this military field.

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 • There should be separate department which will take care of all these things
to coincide with the actual objective and goals with the organization.

• In this aspect DRDO failed in providing the necessary technical

advancements and point of view towards the project.

Concerns
There were many concerns when launching the LCA TEJAS:
- legal - execution
- cost - acceptance
- vendors - no room for error

There are severe legal implications involved with this process and if there are any
mistakes made in this procurement process.
Vendor selection is critical as this project needs flawless execution. Because this
is a Govt project and is a new concept globally there aren’t many vendors (sole
vendors).
Obtaining support from all stakeholders is critical to the success of any project, in
particular a new venture.
Cost acceptance have been the issue in the entire project as this is a Govt project
and money has to be sanctioned at each step and this can delay the entire project.

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Vendor Selection
Selecting a vendor was a challenge as this is a new process globally as there are
very few competitors available. In addition, HAL team is touring the production
facilities of world’s three biggest manufactures.
IAF gathered all of their needs and created an RFP. This RFP was sent globally
and vendors were given a time frame to respond. The respondents were then
narrowed down to a few select vendors who were then interviewed.

Selected Vendor
After a long selection process the IAF, HAL has been selected to build the
aircrafts. Each Tejas has been built individually. IAF only ordered 20 aircrafts in
the beginning, however, as the time went ahead, the order increased from 20 to 40.
They were going to replace MIG 21.

Results
After launching Tejas in India and successfully completing the initiating stage of
Procurement. India is now having such a great technology in aviation field. Tejas
has been proved to be one of the miracles. It is an light weight multirole jet and
made its first flight safe in India. Kaveri engine adds the strength to this p

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Glossary
ADA: Aeronautical Development Agency
BMS: Brake Management System
CLAW: Control Law
DFCC: Digital Flight Control Computer
ECS: Environmental Control System
FCS: Flight Control System
FSED: Full Scale Engineering Development
HAL: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
HUD: Head up Display
IAF-Indian Air Force
IFCS: Integrated Flight Control System
IOC: Initial Operational Capability
LCA: Light Combat Aircraft
MFD: Multi Function Display
MFK: Multi Function Keyboard
MFR: Multi Function Rotary (switch)
NFTC: National Flight Test Centre
RFA: Request For Action
SOP: Standard Operating Procedure

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References
http://www.welcomeorissa.com/Tejas+set+to+replace+ageing+MiG+21s+soon-
orissa_news-30476-24-02-2011.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAL_Tejas#Recent_development

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/india-lca-tejas-by-2010-but-foreign-help-
sought-with-engine-01901/#tejas-program-india-exports

http://www.hindustantimes.com/LCA-Tejas-flies-into-IAF-fleet/Article1-
648453.aspx

http://iafnews.nuvodev.com/posts/tejas-the-indigenously-built-light-combat-
aircraft-is-going-places/

http://www.defencetalk.com/forums/air-force-aviation/hal-tejas-its-capabilites-
technical-hiccups-8823/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAL_Tejas

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/india-lca-tejas-by-2010-but-foreign-help-
sought-with-engine-01901/

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/iaf-orders-more-tejas-lcas-to-
replace-mig-21s/377296/

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/lca.htm

http://indianmilitarynews.wordpress.com/category/indian-air-force/

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/india-lca-tejas-by-2010-but-foreign-help-
sought-with-engine-01901/

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