How good is MWF Tejas compare with other aircrafts that would be used by other countries?

Let’s look at other medium-weight fighter’s “same class as MWF” which will be serving till 2050 and later

Swedish SAAB Gripen-E/NG variants

Design:- Gripen having delta wing, canard configuration with relaxed stability design coupled with a digital fly-by-wire system The Gripen is a multirole fighter aircraft, intended as a lightweight and agile aerial platform with advanced, highly adaptable avionics. It has canard control surfaces that contribute a positive lift force at all speeds, while the generous lift from the delta wing compensates for the rear stabilizer producing negative lift at high speeds, increasing induced drag.

Being intentionally unstable and employing digital fly-by-wire system controls to maintain stability removes many flight restrictions, improves maneuverability, and reduces drag

Avionics and Weapon system:- Raven ES-05 AESAR (Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar) coupled with Skywards IRST (Infrared Search & Track) for Air to Air, Ground, Sea searching, tracking & engagements and capable of carrying

1. Cannon: Mauser BK-27 single-barrel revolver cannon capable of firing 27x145mm rounds at 1000–1700 RPM (Variable rate of fire) internal cannon
2. Air-To-Air Missiles: US-made AIM-9X, German-made IRIS-T, South African A-Darter for WVR/CCM A2A engagements and US-made AIM120C7, European Meteor for BVR A2A engagements
3. Air-To-Ground/Ship Weaponry: US-made laser-guided bombs like Paveway 2, various unguided bombs, ALCM like Swedish RBS-15 which can be used as anti-ship missions as well
4. Various other weapons, SPJ, Fuel Tanks (To increase the range further without refueling) I didn’t mention, you can find those in the picture below, and future weapons Swedish or export partners like Brazil, South Africa, and future customers want to integrate.

American Lockheed Martin F16 Block 70

Design: The F-16 incorporated a number of advanced technologies that had not been used in previous operational fighters and, when coupled with design innovations, produced significant payoffs in terms of combat performance and cost.

F-16 Block 70 is most advanced F-16 ever and it will be made in India with an Indian company, this next generation fighter is an evolution of the proven design of the mid-life update (MLU) and common configuration improvement programme (CCIP). The fighter is equipped with latest technology in avionics equipment, operational capabilities, joint helmet cueing systems II and has an unparalleled survivability with modern internal electronic warfare system along with certified advanced weapons onboard’.

The Block 70 is the most advanced of all F-16s. There are 27 countries in the world who fly these planes, with the latest to join in two months time will be Romania.

The Block 70 F-16 will have the 5th generation fighter radar capabilities, some of which are greater detection and tracking ranges, multiple target track, high resolution synthetic aperture radar, auto target classification and cueing, advanced growth modes.

Radar and Sensor Suite :~

It is equipped with AN/ APG 83 AESA radar. Described as Agile beam it can perform Air to Air and Air to Ground Search and Track simultaneously. The noise reduction features of this one has made its range improved to almost 70 miles almost 84 km for engagement. The image quality in air to ground mode is described as imagery-class. Just the same that is acquired from satellites. They can be acquired from long distances for air to ground targets and using its synthetic aperture radar mode pilots can locate and recognise the ground targets. Prioritise them and engage.

The new MMC modules of it’s computers are said to be 30 % faster than previous ones. Which allows sensor data fusion from the EW sensors for better situational awareness , here notably the data transfer network is quite faster than previous systems like Link 16. It is also equipped with Off boresight aiming sensor which allows pilot to sense and target something out of his field of view.

It also features a pilot friendly automatic ground collision avoidance system. Which continuously tracks pilot’s awareness with respect to decreasing altitude. It makes pilot aware and turns up the aircraft automatically if it goes too close to ground. Because while manoeuvring the aircraft to follow an enemy aircraft. The enemy may try to run wmaway by staying low and outmatching F 16 whike taking ups and downs. The F 16 may then be hitting a Mountain or be directed towards the ground then this system becomes ‘Tactically Important’.

True stealth in all aspects has to be designed within the aircraft, that’s not the kind of stuff that comes with any aircraft but for F-22 and F-35. Having said that, F-16 offers a lot of general stealth, as it is a small aircraft and it has a pretty small cross section. There is coding that can be placed on the aircraft. The fighter includes a new radar system, stealth detection capability and threat detection capability; it competes very well in its class being undetectable to the radar.

Avionics and Weapon system:- Northrop Grumman AN/APG-80 for Air to Air, Ground, Sea searching, tracking & engagements and capable of carrying

1. internal cannon: General Electric M61-Vulcan A2 six-barrel hydraulically operated cannon capable of firing 20x102mm rounds at 6600 RPM with 1050 m/s muzzle velocity.
2. Air-To-Air Missiles: American AIM-9X, German IRIS-T, Isreali Python 4,5 for WVR/CCM and US-made AIM120C, D, BVR A2A engagements
3. Air-To-Ground Weaponry: US-made laser-guided bombs like Paveway 2, Maverick, Harm, Harpoon, various unguided bombs, ALCM like AGM-158 JASSM which can be used as anti-ship missions as well
4. Various other weapons, SPJ, Fuel Tanks (To increase the range further without refueling) I didn’t mention, you can find those in the picture below, and future weapons US, export partners and future customers want to integrate.

• F-16 BLOCK 70/72 Length 49.3 ft/15.027 m
• Height 16.7 ft/5.090 m
• Speed 2,414 kmph (Mach 2+)
• Wingspan 31.0 ft/9.449 m Empty
• Weight 9,207 kg
• Engine Thrust Class 127 kn
• Maximum TOGW 21,772 kg
• Design Load Factor 9 g

Chinese Chengdu J10C

Design:- Chengdu J-10 was the pinnacle of indigenous Chinese fighter design. It is a single-engine delta-canard agile multirole fighter which was alleged to be a clone of the IAI Lavi design, enhanced through alleged access to Pakistani F-16A examples. Even cursory comparison of the J-10 and Lavi indicates that ‘Lavi-cloning’ is not the case, even if the fighters share the same general configuration. The nose and vertical tail shape are however near enough to the F-16 to raise serious questions.

Development of the J-10 commenced in 1988, with the first prototype flying in 1996, and production planned to commence in 2005. The J-10 occupies the same niche as the F-16C/D/E/F and the Rafale, being smaller than the F/A-18E/F and Eurofighter. It is to form the low end of a hi-lo mix with the Su-27SK/J-11/Su-30MKK and be used for air combat and strike roles, replacing the J-6, Q-5, and J-7 in frontline combat regiments.

Early models are powered by the Russian AL-31F common to the Su-27/30, with Chinse sources claiming the indigenous WS-10 fan introduced later. The design is claimed to use a quadruplex digital fly-by-wire control system, a glass cockpit similar in layout to the Gripen is employed, and a Helmet Mounted Sight is expected to be used. Chinese sources claim indigenous JL-10 to be the likely candidate radars for production.

The J-10 represents an important milestone for China’s industry – it is modern combat aircraft competitive in cardinal parameters with current EU production technology and is clearly a unique indigenous design despite the comments of Western critics. Just like the Su-27/MiG-29 blended the best ideas in the teen series types, the J-10 blends the best ideas from the Eurocanard series and the F-16, to produce a high-performance low-cost mass production fighter.

Later variants such as J10C has improved WS10B engine with improved thrust and 2 dimensional Thrust Vectoring Nozzle (TVC) for super maneuverability, locally made AESA radar which is evidently superior to Zhuk radar used in early J10s, Divertless intake to mask engine blades, Stealth coating (thanks to experience learned from J20), better electronics, avionics, weapon package.

Avionics and Weapon system:- Unknown AESAR coupled with IRST for Air to Air, Ground, Sea searching, tracking & engagements and capable of carrying

1. Internal Cannon: Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23 twin-barrel gast principle cannon capable of firing 23x115mm rounds at 3000–3400 RPM internal cannon with 715m/s muzzle velocity.
2. Air-to-Air Missiles: Chinese PL-8, PL-10 for WVR/CCM A2A engagements and Chineses PL12, PL-15 for BVR A2A engagements
3. Air-to-Ground/Ship Weaponry: Chinese laser-guided bombs like LT-2, General Purpose Bombs, NGARM YJ81 (Anti Radiation Missile) ALCM like KD88 and YJ83K as an anti-ship missile
4. Various other weapons, SPJ, Fuel Tanks, future weapons Chinese or future customers want to integrate.

Credit: Sinodefence, Ausairpower

Indian ADA Designed & HAL produced MWF aka Tejas Mark 2

Design:- MWF having delta wing, canard configuration with unstable design coupled with an advanced fly-by-wire system Canards add lift ahead of the CG, increasing the requirement for trim force, which in the case of statically unstable tailless delta wings, is achieved by increased downward deflection of the elevons. But this also increases the lift produced by the wings, as the elevons act as flaps in this case. Consequently, with the addition of lift from the canard, increased lift by the wing due to favorable wing-canard interaction and an increase in lift on account of downward elevator deflection at trim, there is a significant increase in the total trim lift produced at any given angle of attack (AoA). As a result, a close-coupled canard delta aircraft can be trimmed at a lower AoA for an equivalent amount of lift as compared to a tailless delta without canards. This leads to lower trim drag and better Lift to drag ratio across the flight envelope. It has canard control surfaces that contribute a positive lift force at all speeds, while the generous lift from the delta wing compensates for the rear stabilizer producing negative lift at high speeds, increasing induced drag.

S-duct intake to mask engine blades, stealth coating, composite material airframe to make it stealthier and lightweight at the same time.

Avionics and Weapon system:- Uttam AESAR coupled with IRST for Air to Air, Ground, Sea searching, tracking & engagements and capable of carrying

1. Internal Cannon: Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23 twin-barrel gast principle cannon capable of firing 23x115mm rounds at 3000–3400 RPM internal cannon with 715m/s muzzle velocity.
2. Air-to-Air Missiles: Russian R74E (E for export variant), British ASRAAM aka AIM132, Israeli Python-5 for WVR/CCM A2A engagements and Indian ASTRA, ASTRA-2, SFDR (Solid Fuel Ducted Rocket), European Meteor, Israel made I-derby ER (ER for extended range) for BVR A2A engagements
3. Air-to-Ground/Ship Weaponry: American laser-guided bombs like Paveway 2, SDB (Small Diameter Bomb), Israeli Spice Series, Indian Sudarshan, SAAW (Smart anti airfield bomb), NGARM (NextGen Anti Radiation Missile) various unguided bombs, ALCM like Russian KH59, Indo-Russian Brahmos-NG which can be used as anti-ship missions as well
4. Various other weapons, SPJ, Fuel Tanks (To increase the range further without refueling) I didn’t mention and future weapons Indian or future customers want to integrate.

Bonus

T/W Ratio of the following fighters

J10A: With full fuel 0.96, With max take offload 0.65

JF17B: With full fuel 0.93, With max take offload 0.65

LCA MK1: With full fuel 0.96, With max take offload 0.69

 

 

 

 

Source:- Quora