HAL Tejas Mk1:Inlet Aerodynamic Limitations and Thermal Failure Analysis(Strictly from public data). Submitted to AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power

[Trigodil]

This is an independent academic preprint submitted to AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power. All values derived from publicly available data using standard aerospace methodology (NASA TM-88273, TM-104329, SAE ARP1420C, Seddon & Goldsmith).

Dedicated to Wing Commander Namansh Syal, killed at the Dubai Airshow, November 21, 2025.

What this paper covers:

• Tejas Mk1 bifurcated lateral inlet DC60 distortion growth under high-AoA and negative-G conditions.
• Fixed splitter plate diverter limitations under off-design attitudes.
• Lumped-parameter thermal accumulation model across the reconstructed display sequence.
• Compressor stall margin degradation (pressure loss + DC60 + thermal effects)
• Mk1A three-door AAID modification as documented evidence of pre-existing Mk1 inlet deficit.
• Three redesign alternatives: DSI, chin/ventral intake, rear-shifted lateral

Key Parameters:

• Engine: GE F404-GE-IN20 (GE Aerospace)
• Nominal Mass Flow: ~66 kg/s (GE Data Sheet)
• Max Exhaust Temperature: ~2110 K (NASA TM-88273)
• DC60 at high AoA (derived): 0.12–0.15 (This work)
• Mass Flow at 25° AoA (derived): ~42 kg/s (This work)
• Mk1A Pressure Recovery Improvement: +3% (IDRW / HAL)
• F404 Thermal Time Constant: 30–45 s (Kurzke 2018)

Tejas Mk1 preprint:

Academia: https://www.academia.edu/165616464/...estigation_of_the_2025_Dubai_Airshow_Incident

GitHub: https://github.com/Trigodil/tejas-inlet-analysis