NAL Develops Hybrid Composites and FSS Radome for India's AMCA Jet, Critical Elements for Stealth and Performance

The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) has achieved significant milestones in the development of key technologies for India's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, a crucial initiative in India's pursuit of defence self-reliance.

NAL's advancements in hybrid composite materials and Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) radome technology represent crucial steps towards realizing the AMCA's stealth and performance objectives.

The AMCA, envisioned as a fifth-generation stealth fighter, demands cutting-edge solutions to minimize its radar cross-section (RCS) while maintaining structural integrity. NAL's development of a test box and air intake-duct assembly using co-cured hybrid composites addresses this challenge directly.

This innovative approach combines the strengths of different materials in a single structure, resulting in a lightweight yet robust component with enhanced stealth characteristics.

The co-curing process further enhances the material's durability and simplifies manufacturing. By minimizing the AMCA's radar signature, these hybrid composites contribute significantly to its ability to evade enemy detection.

In addition to the composite advancements, NAL has also made significant progress in developing an FSS radome for the AMCA. The radome, which protects the aircraft's radar system, plays a vital role in maintaining its stealth capabilities.

NAL's FSS radome is designed to be virtually transparent to radar waves, preventing reflection and minimizing the aircraft's overall RCS. This technology also allows for frequency selectivity, enabling the AMCA's radar to operate effectively while remaining concealed.

NAL's expertise in CAD modeling and detailed analysis has enabled precise shaping and testing of the radome, ensuring optimal performance.

These technological breakthroughs bring India closer to its goal of producing an indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet that meets the demands of modern warfare. The development of hybrid composite structures and the FSS radome not only enhances the AMCA's stealth and performance but also underscores India's growing capabilities in advanced aerospace technologies.

 

[PKPRS]

Little by little AMCA is getting ready, the complete product will be hopefully ready by 2040.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Hope we have indigenous radomes for Tejas Mk2 as well.

 

[PKPRS]

Hope we have indigenous radomes for Tejas Mk2 as well.

ADA already made one for the GaN AESA Radar.

 

[PARASHURAM]

Vocal for local. It's important to us we are mastering every critical technology. Only missing element is Jet engine technology. We must try out some of the box solution to achieve this goal. Private sector participation is the key to success.

 

[Taus Melek]

Little by little AMCA is getting ready, the complete product will be hopefully ready by 2040.

By that time the Chinese and possibly the Pakistani would have over run the Indian Airforce!

 

[PKPRS]

By that time the Chinese and possibly the Pakistani would have over run the Indian Airforce!

Pakistan might even try to take the whole of Kashmir and china the Ladakh and Arunachal if we have 36 4th gen Rafale to fight against the combination of J20/ J35 and FC31/KHAAN.

 

[Mayank Shukla]

Pakistan might even try to take the whole of Kashmir and china the Ladakh and Arunachal if we have 36 4th gen Rafale to fight against the combination of J20/ J35 and FC31/KHAAN.

The Indian Air Force is not the only force that defends our borders. Even if Pakistan were to acquire 5th generation fighters, our army is strong enough to hold the ground. It’s not easy to defeat Indian forces on Indian soil—the Russia-Ukraine war is a great example. You’re right, our Air Force may lack in terms of fighter aircraft, but they are not the only means of defending our borders.

 

[P2S2]

Little by little AMCA is getting ready, the complete product will be hopefully ready by 2040.

Mass is going to speed up past critical points like encountered by China. Accept scientific developments handed on a platter gratefully. Don't disappoint with backwardness, arrogance or corruption. Efficiencies in productivity generates more gifts of technology.

 

[MacMohan]

Still today import radome for LCA. Mk1, Mk1A. Plain radomes. Why not make for them first and stop import.

 

[Sandeep]

Still today import radome for LCA. Mk1, Mk1A. Plain radomes. Why not make for them first and stop import.

Developing something takes time and to test it all out will easily take several years. There was such an urgent need for jets to be produced as quickly as possible because of the falling squadron strength and to replace retired jets. There just wasn’t enough time, staff, resources or people in DRDO with the knowledge, education and experience to develop it.

 

[Sandeep]

Vocal for local. It's important to us we are mastering every critical technology. Only missing element is Jet engine technology. We must try out some of the box solution to achieve this goal. Private sector participation is the key to success.

For the AMCA we will develop it with France most likely as a MoU was signed early this year but now they are trying to sort out the contracts. We will get to develop and manufacture it 100% indigenously without any restrictions or limit to the technology. We could also use it for the Tejas MK1A and MK2 if we wanted to.

 

[Sandeep]

Pakistan might even try to take the whole of Kashmir and china the Ladakh and Arunachal if we have 36 4th gen Rafale to fight against the combination of J20/ J35 and FC31/KHAAN.

Pakistan can try as much as possible but will always fail. China wouldn’t attack because it knows we can use our nuclear weapons as a shield. If China was so mighty why did they have to retreat from Ladakh?

 

[Sandeep]

It’s great that progress is being made but now they need to start manufacturing the prototypes so that testing can begin. This should be done on a mission mode basis and several private sector companies should be ready to manufacture them very quickly, on time and to the highest quality.

 

[P2S2]

Developing something takes time and to test it all out will easily take several years. There was such an urgent need for jets to be produced as quickly as possible because of the falling squadron strength and to replace retired jets. There just wasn’t enough time, staff, resources or people in DRDO with the knowledge, education and experience to develop it.

Purchasing technologies is much cheaper when there's an urgent need it also allows it's competition to seek out the purchaser thereby providing crucial info about possibilities which researchers may have missed. A strong nationalist stance on decently rewarding production would translate into a groundswell of lucrative businesses providing strong national finances. Past situations can't be used to judge present abilities. Others see possibilities that's why they offer technology. India would leap across the gap with Chinese help too because of their history. Arrogance makes China make doubly harder, desperation has provided quicker developments with shortcuts.

 

[PKPRS]

Pakistan can try as much as possible but will always fail. China wouldn’t attack because it knows we can use our nuclear weapons as a shield. If China was so mighty why did they have to retreat from Ladakh?

How are we going to take back POK and GB with this Airforce.

 

[sanket]

How are we going to take back POK and GB with this Airforce.

By using our strike corps and make a full on armoured thrust along the latest Kashmir borderline all the way until we reach the Afghanistan border. That will trap their troops that are deployed on the LOC and cut their supplies and communications. Then hold that new defence line. At the same time the air force will be conducting key strategic strikes on critical bases, air fields and infrastructure all of the time. Also our navy can blockade their main port in Karachi and stop their oil imports and trade. Soon they will have no choice but to declare a ceasefire or let their country starve.

Taking back POK is essential because that will give us total control over all of the Indus River and Pakistan only has that river water to rely on. We can slow of threaten to divert that water if they carry on misbehaving. Also that cuts their trade link with China and for goods they will need to import more from the ports. That also cuts China's access to bypass the Indian Ocean to sell or import supplies to their eastern part of the country.