ADA to Refine Air Intake and Canards Design of Tejas Mk2 After Crucial Wind Tunnel Tests in France

India's Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is refining the design of its Tejas Mk2 fighter jet based on crucial wind tunnel tests conducted at the French National Aerospace Research Center (ONERA), according to reports.

The tests, which simulated real-world flight conditions, provided critical data on the aircraft's aerodynamic performance, particularly focusing on the air intake and canards.

ONERA, a world leader in aerospace research and development, played a key role in analyzing the Tejas Mk2's airflow dynamics and performance parameters. The wind tunnel tests focused on evaluating how the air intake and canards perform under stress, allowing engineers to identify areas for improvement.

Canards, small forward-mounted control surfaces, are incorporated into the Tejas Mk2 to enhance maneuverability and control at higher angles of attack. The ONERA tests provided valuable data on their influence on the jet's aerodynamic profile, enabling ADA engineers to fine-tune their positioning and shape for maximum effectiveness. This is expected to improve the aircraft's agility, stability, and handling in combat situations.

The air intake system, vital for ensuring optimal airflow to the engine, was also a key focus. The tests provided insights into optimizing the Tejas Mk2's air intake for improved efficiency, reducing drag and enhancing airflow even at high speeds and altitudes. These refinements are expected to boost performance in both supersonic and subsonic flight regimes.

The findings from ONERA will be incorporated into the next batch of Tejas Mk2 prototypes as ADA prepares the aircraft for its first flight, expected in the coming years. These enhancements are expected to improve the fighter’s aerodynamic efficiency and contribute to its operational effectiveness.

The Tejas Mk2 is an advanced version of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), designed to meet the Indian Air Force's evolving operational needs. Featuring a larger fuselage, more powerful GE-F414 engines, increased payload capacity, and advanced avionics, the Mk2 represents a significant upgrade from its predecessor. The addition of canards and other design enhancements aim to significantly boost the aircraft's maneuverability, speed, and combat effectiveness.

This development comes as India continues to strengthen its domestic defence industry and reduce its reliance on foreign suppliers. The Tejas Mk2 is expected to play a crucial role in the Indian Air Force's future, providing a domestically produced, advanced fighter jet capable of meeting the challenges of modern aerial warfare.

 

[R. Singh]

ADA+HAL should hire Dassault as tech consultant to further improve Tejas-AF-MK-II ! ADA should also copy Under wing pylon/weapon station as Rafale fighter have like triple missile launch pylon ! Next make internal weapon bay variant of Tejas- Af-MK-II ! Seek tech for Plasma coating to evade RCS and Geometric stealth airframe !

 

[Ravi Krishna Iyengar]

Why is NAL not able to do these wind tunnel Tests. Are we still dependent on France. Secondly, what about close proximity between CFD results in house and ONERA results. We had issues in Mk1. Thirdly, Why France now when we earlier went to USA? Isn't it too late for this stage of Mk2, since CDR is over? We can't have two different batches of Mk 2 flying with different aerodynamics. Appears project will be delayed.

 

[sanket]

Good Developments , there will b no delay in roll out & First Flight of First prototype as refine will b done in next prototype

 

[Satya Dev]

Can DSI (Diverterless Supersonic Inlet), RRP (Retractable Refueling Probe) & lowering the Canard position improve TejasMk2 performance?

 

[kumar]

Our wind tunnel facilites need to be improved to this level going further.

 

[swatkats_razor]

Can DSI (Diverterless Supersonic Inlet), RRP (Retractable Refueling Probe) & lowering the Canard position improve TejasMk2 performance?

Privatization of HAL will definitely improve Tejas Mk2's performance.

 

[GMR]

So the design has not been freezed yet!! But every day there is an article on time lines on roll outs!!!

 

[AK S]

Privatization of HAL will definitely improve Tejas Mk2's performance.

No it doesn’t. HAL is not designing MK2. Rate of delivery may improve though

 

[AK S]

Our wind tunnel facilites need to be improved to this level going further.

It takes time and money. Capex defence budget has been very tight since ages.

 

[AK S]

So the design has not been freezed yet!! But every day there is an article on time lines on roll outs!!!

Refinements are different from CDR/design freeze. Refinements are rolled out from one prototype to another.

 

[Nishant]

I remember Professor Prodyut Das made the same findings about the canards and air intakes...somehow I thought it could be some kind of sabotage, coming so late when the prototype build is about to start. Seems the professor was right, my bad. Kudos to the professor.

Thread 'Current Position of Canards in Tejas Mk2 Could Lead to "Developmental Problems", Caution Expert'

Aug 26, 2024

Professor Prodyut Das, a former Mechanical Engineering professor at IIT Kanpur and a renowned expert in aerospace structures, has raised serious concerns about the design of the Tejas Mk2 fighter jet in his recent blog post. His primary concern revolves around the placement of the canards on the aircraft, a configuration he deems "extremely disturbing" and likely to cause "developmental problems."

Prof. Das points out the uniqueness of the...

• Raghav Patel
• Replies: 48
• Forum: Archives

 

[Rational Guy]

Wait so Mk2 design not frozen??? And India doesn't have wind tunnel to test here?

 

[NSR]

Air intakes should be bigger for sure to accommodate the needs of powerful engine.

Canards are too close to air intakes and need to do exhaustive wind tunnel testing and aerodynamics analyses to figure out the optimum placement.

Whole solid modeling should be such that drag can be reduced all along and also radar cross section signature can be reduced to improve the stealthiness as much as possible...

Glad to know that they are using second source French help to refine the designs.

 

[Akshat]

No it doesn’t. HAL is not designing MK2. Rate of delivery may improve though

HAL is responsible for manufacturing the prototype though and they are late by decades in that.

 

[Sathish Kumaram]

Benchmark the facilities in windtunnel..make the test facility in India..
Next time we will test these things in Bharath only..it may be difficult to get all the knowledge in single go..slowly but surely laydown the path..

 

[aks2820]

I read in Prof Pradyut Das' article that aeronautical agencies world wide have found it impossible to correctly model the effect of canards on the airflow into intakes. They have therefore found it better to place the canards on the outside of the intakes or further up the fuselage to steer clear.

Air intakes should be bigger for sure to accommodate the needs of powerful engine.

Canards are too close to air intakes and need to do exhaustive wind tunnel testing and aerodynamics analyses to figure out the optimum placement.

Whole solid modeling should be such that drag can be reduced all along and also radar cross section signature can be reduced to improve the stealthiness as much as possible...

Glad to know that they are using second source French help to refine the designs.

 

[kurtwallis wallis]

Prof. Dr. Pradyut Das Head of Aeronautical and Space engineering Dept. of IIT-M has put a HUGE fear into ADA scientists now... There is a HUMONGOUS design mistake of putting canards directly in front of air intakes, as such a design will guarantee crashes due to disruptions of air flow over wing control surfaces and spoiling air inlet intakes efficiency....

 

[kurtwallis wallis]

Refinements are different from CDR/design freeze. Refinements are rolled out from one prototype to another.

Might be implementing changes that Prof. Pradyut Das of IIT-M suggested about canards placements...

 

[Vijigishu ( विजिग्शु )]

Prof. Dr. Pradyut Das Head of Aeronautical and Space engineering Dept. of IIT-M has put a HUGE fear into ADA scientists now... There is a HUMONGOUS design mistake of putting canards directly in front of air intakes, as such a design will guarantee crashes due to disruptions of air flow over wing control surfaces and spoiling air inlet intakes efficiency....

Dr. Prodyut did say about canard placement but it wasn't this. Canards aren't directly in front of air intakes, where are you seeing that? He said its placement can be rectified by redesigning the front fuselage, but nowhere he said it's directly in front of air intakes.

 

[Sandeep]

So the design has not been freezed yet!! But every day there is an article on time lines on roll outs!!!

The design has been frozen ages ago and we are now manufacturing the prototypes of Tejas MK2. So this is just a repeat article from years ago.

 

[avinash]

Once prototype is ready, IAF will test it rigorously in lunar conditions. It will be then taken to challengers deep and its max speed will be compared to Rafale at seal level. Subsequently, its payload carrying capacity will be judged by flying it with elephant attached at all hard points. Thereafter it will be stationed against 6th gen fighter in bvr scenario with limitation of using only GBUs against the opponent. After decades of testing, our import jeevis will declare it uncompetitive in current market scenario.

 

[Akshat]

Once prototype is ready, IAF will test it rigorously in lunar conditions. It will be then taken to challengers deep and its max speed will be compared to Rafale at seal level. Subsequently, its payload carrying capacity will be judged by flying it with elephant attached at all hard points. Thereafter it will be stationed against 6th gen fighter in bvr scenario with limitation of using only GBUs against the opponent. After decades of testing, our import jeevis will declare it uncompetitive in current market scenario.

And once again people like you came to bash our brave soldiers without knowing the truth.

These planes are to be tested and certified by DRDO. IAF has no role beyond providing the specs and any assistance required to conduct the tests.

It is indeed DRDO and HAL who seem to be import Jeevis and don’t want to make anything in India on time. Remember, original date to put Mk2 into production was 2016. 😂😂😂 And we don’t even have the prototype yet.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

So its now proven that the CDR was a waste of time as even they seem to have realized that the design frozen was half-baked and needs several structural modifications to make it effective. Got to wonder what they were baying about, when they kept crying for funds.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

Refinements are different from CDR/design freeze. Refinements are rolled out from one prototype to another.

Any structural changes made to the to the airframe after the CDR essentially means that the design process was flawed in the first place. Mere refinements do not require wind--tunnel tests, the structural modifications to airframe do require wind-tunnel testing. The fact that flawed structural features were carried forward even after CDR and were not eliminated during PDR and then CDR itself needs investigation.

 

[PKPRS]

Good Developments , there will b no delay in roll out & First Flight of First prototype as refine will b done in next prototype

But still too fat to Super Cruise, how about ADA didn’t know about ONERA five years ago, why are they still testing the aerodynamics when they should be rolling out the prototype.

 

[PKPRS]

Any structural changes made to the to the airframe after the CDR essentially means that the design process was flawed in the first place. Mere refinements do not require wind--tunnel tests, the structural modifications to airframe do require wind-tunnel testing. The fact that flawed structural features were carried forward even after CDR and were not eliminated during PDR and then CDR itself needs investigation.

due to GE F414 engine and recommendation from GE ADA had to make changes to the design of intake, may be that’s why this test.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

due to GE F414 engine and recommendation from GE ADA had to make changes to the design of intake, may be that’s why this test.

Wasnt the MK2 always meant to incorporate the GE F-414? So it would have to be considered during PDR/CDR itself. Its not like they were changing the engine mid-way.

 

[PKPRS]

Wasnt the MK2 always meant to incorporate the GE F-414? So it would have to be considered during PDR/CDR itself. Its not like they were changing the engine mid-way.

No, it was an after thought due to marketing from GE, was initially pursuing EJ-200 which is more compact, then GE came into the picture and offered F414.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

No, it was an after thought due to marketing from GE, was initially pursuing EJ-200 which is more compact, then GE came into the picture and offered F414.

Nope, u dont design a fuselage without considering the engine. Afterall the engine well has to be of optimal diameter to accomodate the engine. Engine is always considered during design phase itself. Its like designing a car body without considering the engine size and designing suspension without considering the wheel size.