India's Tejas Mk1A Gets an Air Intake Upgrade – Here's Why It Matters

India's Tejas Mk1A Gets an Air Intake Upgrade – Here's Why It Matters


India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas continues to evolve, with the recent Mk1A variant unveiling a significant upgrade to its air intake system. This crucial modification promises to enhance the aircraft's performance characteristics, especially during crucial phases like takeoff and landing.

The Challenge and the Solution​

The engineering team behind the Tejas focused on improving pressure recovery in the Mk1A's air intake. This means ensuring the engine receives the optimal amount of air, especially at low speeds.

To achieve this, they replaced the older single-door Auxiliary Air Intake Door (AAID) with a new 3-door design. Additionally, they carefully optimized the shape of the intake itself (known as the cowl).

Details of the Redesign​

Initial attempts to improve performance focused on adjusting the shape of the 3-door system's openings and its ability to change the amount of air entering.

While this yielded some positive results at low speeds, it was also causing problems at high speeds. This is due to something called spillage drag, where extra air bypassing the engine creates unwanted resistance.

The breakthrough came from optimizing the cowl geometry to better manage airflow near the engine inlet. This, combined with the refined 3-door AAID, is expected to significantly increase pressure recovery.

The Benefit​

The net result of these design changes is a predicted 3% improvement in pressure recovery within the air intake. This translates directly into increased engine efficiency, ultimately giving the LCA Tejas Mk1A a tangible performance boost.

Conclusion​

The upgraded air intake system, initially seen on LCA Navy Mk1 prototypes, represents a key step in the Tejas program. It demonstrates a continued commitment to refining the aircraft's design.

These improvements contribute to solidifying the LCA Tejas as a capable and versatile fighter within India's defense forces.
 
Again skipping the question like always. Tell me the material gain Iran got with those weapons.
Vengeance, Islam say kill the infidel and go to heaven. How you argue with that? Second they ability to hit Israel is a status symbol. Now, all in Islamic world will bow to them. Do you understand or do you just act stupid.
 
Vengeance, Islam say kill the infidel and go to heaven. How you argue with that? Second they ability to hit Israel is a status symbol. Now, all in Islamic world will bow to them. Do you understand or do you just act stupid.
How many Israelis got killed?
 
India could also start numbering jets like US, Russia, China, etc. does.

We already had HF-24 Marut designation. Could have continued with Tejas or devised a new one.
Why do we have to go back to 60 year old plane numbering. Can’t be get little simpler.
 
Again not answering the question. What has Iran achieved with these weapons? Answer specifically.
I agree with you this, Iran& other militant groups continuously fire drones & missiles since 6months but not even a single US soldier got harmed but in Jordon which not involved someone fired a drone killing 3 US soldier entire middle East burned, even now also Iran can deal with US funded militant groups in Iran & can arrest US spies but they wasted 300 drones / cruise missiles , Iran already a bankrupt country it gave US a option to strike it. Iran's 95% e onomy depend on oil, US can strike all oil fields in half day ,It is appearing like Iran leaders were US puppets ,they achieved nothing, but if US / isreal strikes oil prices will go extremely high the same thing what US wants
 
They say a few ballistic missile got through? You tell me?
You are the one making the claim. So you tell me. Their defense system doesn’t counter every missile but only the ones targeting the city (or residential areas). So highly possible that the missiles which were not intercepted fell on barren land. On the other hand Israel openly attacked Iranian embassy and killed multiple military generals.
 
That was a problem in earlier designs, now they moved the inlet forward and away from the wings, we can easily see that in latest MK2 designs.
It's still obscured hidden under the wing and that is a huge limitation. A inlet has to be placed ahead of wing root to avoid ingestion of boundary layer turbulence.
 

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