Hal AMCA (Advanced medium combat aircraft)

by Let-know

( Finalised CGI concept of AMCA with divertless supersonic air intake)

HAL Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is an Indian programme to develop a fifth-generation fighter aircraft. The Indian Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is responsible for designing the plane, while Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will be the primary contractor responsible for assembly.Various other private and government sector enterprises are expected to contribute to the program.

AMCA will be a single-seat, twin-engine, stealth all-weather multirole fighter aircraft. Feasibility study on AMCA and the preliminary design stage have been completed, and the project entered the detailed design phase in February 2019. A CAD model of the aircraft was shown at Aero India 2019. AMCA will reportedly be unveiled in 2024. A total of four prototypes are planned initially, and the first flight is expected in 2025 or 2026. Production is expected to begin in 2029, but only after design of Tejas Mark II multirole fighter is frozen.

Since the Indian withdrawal from Indo-Russian FGFA program, it has been the only fifth-generation fighter in development in India. In October 2019 Chief of the Air Staff RKS Bhadauria said that DRDO "must" make the project happen. The Indian Air Force (IAF) wants to have "full control" in "defining" technologies of aircraft to avoid technology restrictions imposed when purchasing foreign-designed aircraft. As of 2019, The Indian Ministry of Defense was preparing to obtain approval and funds from the Indian Cabinet Committee on Security for the prototype development phase.

Let's come to point

In 2008, IAF asked ADA to prepare a detailed report on fighter which is of 20 ton and have some stealth feature. Air-force chief asked this because of India’s Air-force fleet aging and to remain and balance the power in the region India need a strong Air-force. But in 2010 requirements were changed by Air-force now they want 25 ton stealth fighter jet and they also asked ADA is AMCA’s first prototype flight can take off by 2025?. After the completion of study ADA found that they need at-least 9000 crore for this project in which different technologies are developed and at-least seven prototype be prepared, they submitted this to Govt. In 2012 final design is approved by Air-force, after that HAL and ADA are working on this project with their full speed. ADA said that they will make first prototype by 2022, hope this statement by ADA will become true. AMCA is designed by ADA and manufactured by HAL. AMCA will be a single seat, Twin engine, stealth multi-role fighter jet. First stage of AMCA is done and stage two work is started. It’s first flight is scheduled in 2025. Not only Air-force but Navy also interested in this project, because navy also want a Naval version of this Fighter. Navy also invested in this project.

Flight Specification (est)

Configuration : single seat
Length : 17.8 m
Height : 4.8 m
Wing area : 40 sq.m
Empty weight : 11,000 kg
Gross weight : 18,000 kg
Max take off weight : 25,000 - 29,000 kg
Runway needed : 800 - 1000 m
Weapon payload : 6,000 - 8,000kg
Hard points : Stealthy = 6-8, Non Stealthy = 12-14
Engine : 2 x k-10 after burning turbofan engine (GE-414 to power 4 Prototypes at initial stage of development)
Dry thrust : 75 KN (K-10)
Wet thrust : 110 - 125 KN (K-10)
Internal fuel capacity : 7,000 lts (can hold 5,200 - 6,000 kg )
Speed : Mach 2.2-2.5 (using after burner)
Cruising speed : Mach 1.8 (without after burner)
Range : 2,800 - 3,200 km
Combat radius : 1,000 km (without air to air refueling)
Ferry range : 5,000 km
Flight service ceiling : 55,000 ft
G-limit : +9/-3.5

Cockpit

AMCA will feature a large area display with touch screen function and voice command activation system. Unlike older generation aircrafts, AMCA will feature a side stick configuration leaving a little space for pilot and increasing his combat effectiveness.

(PICS for representation only)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tR-KgdVpCw

(Large area display of MWF at DEFEXPO 2020)

Avionics

The aircraft's avionics suite will have IRST and advance situational oriented electronic warfare systems and all aspect Radar warning receiver (RWR), Self-Protection ja laser warning receiver (LWR), missile warning suite. Defence alectronics applications laboratory (DEAL) has designed and developed a next-generation network centric aircraft management system (including weapons) including various features such as data fusion, cooprative engagement capablity, decision aids, integrated modular avionics, and intern signature control with sharpening for low observability. The aircraft will use integrated modular avionics for real time computing, and the fibre optic cables used on the aircraft feature photonic crystal fibres technology for faster exchange of data and information. Unlike the HAL's previous fighter aircraft, the Tejas, which has a digital flight-control computer and hydraulic controllers, the AMCA has a distributed processing system employing fast processors and smart subsystems and will be electronically controlled via a "central computational system connected internally and externally on an optic-fibre channel by means of a multi-port connectivity switching module". This results in using the IEEE-1394B-STD a departure from MIL-STD-1553B databus standard.

Radar

As same like every other fifth generation fighters, The AMCA too hosts superior avionics and sensor suites. The AMCA hosts new generation GaN based AESA for superior detection and performance. Currently there is no fighter jets has GaN based AESA radars. However many ground based radar available with GaN transceiver modules.

Some information’s reported that, state owned LRDE is initiated a project to develop a small size air borne X band GaN based AESA radar for AMCA. LRDE already shows a model of AESA radar in last years Aero India exhibition. However the Uttam is not good for fifth generation fighters like AMCA.

It’s reported earlier that, India and Israel working for a joint project to develop a GaN based AESA for fighter jets. However due to the importance of the program the information’s are highly classified. It’s clear the Radar too be a joint venture between either US or Israel.

Sensors Suite

The infrared based systems like IRST, missile warning systems, laser warning system also added internally in the AMCA. The IRST sensors are placed in all sides of the AMCA to provide full angle coverage like in Rafale and F 35. The proposed IRST system is work similar to the F 35’s EOTS who shares the information’s to friendly units like via the satellite and highly secured data links.

AMCA also comes with self protection jammer system to jam enemy radar guided missiles from both air and ground. electronic counter measure systems to confuse the infrared guided missiles and a radar warning receiver too added to detect enemy radar frequency’s.

The Senor suites in AMCA led by the LRDE and BEL which include many private and foreign contributes.

Propulsion

AMCA is a twin-engines aircraft which is powered by 2X GTRE k9 or K 10 engine that can capable of producing 110-125Kn thrust each.The aircraft has a maximum take off weight is 29 tonnes and 2 tonnes of internal weapons and 6 tonnes of internal fuel. It can achieve maximum speed of 2.5+ Mach (2665 + Km/h) at high altitude and Mach 1.2 at sea level and able to supercruise at Mach 1.8. AMCA would have range of 3,200 km and climb at the altitudes @ 13,716m/min.

Armaments

Air to air Missiles :