Some time ago, the Indian Navy version of LCA fighter jets completed aircraft carrier take-off and landing operations, which attracted wide attention from the outside world. What is LCA? The pilot's opinion seems more convincing. A foreign website recently interviewed LCA's flight test team leader Rajeev Joshi. Of course it should be noted that Indian pilots are not at all ambiguous about boasting about their own fighters. Kankongtian compiled the article as follows:
India’s pocket-sized "Glorious" fighter is a curious design. It appears to be a small "Phantom" 2000 with a "Thunder wing" (Saber-37's cut-rooted delta), and its empty weight is smaller than that of the miniature Gripen. In short, it is an extraordinary light fighter that is often misunderstood outside of India. We spoke with Rajeev Joshi, the flight test team leader, to learn more. The cockpit of
LCA is not as small as expected.
What is your first impression of "Glory"?
When you approach it, you keep telling yourself that this is a very small plane! Its aerodynamic shape then comes to your mind. You walked around the nose and found that you could not explain the shape of the wing in words... and then you suddenly realized: "Ah! This is what they call an'inverse compound delta'". When you try to observe the landing gear well, but do not bend down close enough to the ground, parts of the aircraft may touch your head, which reminds you that this is a "light aircraft". Although
is compact, it still has a very solid feel. Contrary to your expectations of such a small airplane, step into your seat and look around the cockpit from left to right. You will feel relieved. You think "Hey, this is not a small cockpit after all." Once you have tied yourself in the cockpit, it feels as comfortable as in any medium fighter, of course this does not include the "flanker." The neatly arranged switches, logic control buttons and glass cockpit look very smart. The various switch positions and your distance design seem to be the best, of course, many people have reported that their elbows will be hit! Put the joke aside, this is a good cockpit. It can be overlooked from the nose and sides of the aircraft, even if its view is not the best among fighter jets. The cockpit display of
LCA was considered advanced if it were put in the 1980s. The
inspection and procedures are reduced to the simplest, and the pilot can prepare for takeoff in just a few minutes. The full-authority "automatic low-speed recovery" function makes the aircraft truly worry-free driving, more worry-free than any other fighter aircraft in the world... You can drive as rough as you can-when she says "no", she Will take over and restore momentum for you.
It can glide very well when slow, and the sensitivity of the front wheel steering will first surprise you, especially if you are used to the solid and relatively slow feeling of Russian aircraft, but it is easy to adapt to it. There are very few takeoff checks, and you will soon find that the GE F404 engine can easily enter the takeoff state. If it is a clean configuration takeoff, the takeoff acceleration is impressive and pleasant. The control during take-off and roll-off is very sensitive, and the nose can be properly maintained at the correct angle. Due to the loud noise inside the cockpit, the roar of the F404 engine does not sound much in the cockpit. With the reassuring "disarm" signal on the landing gear panel, you are lifted off! "What is the best aspect of
?
's small size and good sensor kit. The avionics system is designed to be improved and upgraded at any time, which is a great advantage. The biggest advantage of the plan is its design and The integration is done independently by the country. This allows the aircraft to continue to improve until it reaches the best. The small size and low (radar) characteristics of
, coupled with a good sensor suite, make "shining" relative to larger aircraft It is in a favorable position. No matter in the visual range air combat or the beyond visual range air combat, the "Glorious" performs well in the typical "first enemy discovery and first enemy destruction." The head sight works well in fast engagement, and Coupled with the missile "Line of Sight" (LOS) to make the first shot effect good. The head sight is a multi-function device used for multiple tasks. The
flight control system is excellent and is constantly being improved. Based on the operational feedback of the fleet In order to make it more agile and responsive. In this field, 100% domestic flight control system is also a big advantage. This is our own and can be adjusted continuously. This process is very good, relatedFeedback on the operation and how to make it "feel" better will be resolved quickly. The full-authority "Automatic Low Speed Recovery" (ALSR) function makes the aircraft truly worry-free piloting, stronger than any other fighter in the world. This may cause controversy, but I am willing to defend this position in the debate! ALSR and other more advanced control law modes make this score higher. You can control her according to your own ideas-when she says "no", she will take over and restore you. The control and manipulation of high gain tasks (such as air refueling) are excellent. It will beat the contemporaneous or older aircraft in the area, and it really makes you feel like a great pilot! "What is the worst thing about
? The irony of
is the size! The size essentially limits the internal fuel, so compared to other aircraft, the legs are shorter. However, if you focus on it as a light fighter In fact, the fuel factor is reasonable. The combination of the F404 and the aircraft is very fuel-efficient, and can carry an external fuel tank and a high-flow in-flight refueling system. Generally speaking, it is not bad.
What's your evaluation of the following performance of "Glory" : Z1z
A. Instant turning ability.
can quickly bite the opponent! However, the resistance of the delta wing platform will indeed begin to show up later.
B. Continuous turning ability.
is good at medium Mach number and medium height, just Like an airplane of this size, but it will be affected by external objects.
C. Acceleration ability.
climbs well, and acceleration is also good. Optimizing aerodynamics and reducing drag are a continuous process, the purpose is to make it Get better.
D. The climb rate
is reasonable and meets the required parameters.
E. The high angle of attack performance
is extremely good! In this regard, it is difficult to enter difficult situations... The excellent control law makes "Glory" win in this respect This is a victory. But remember, it’s unfair to compare here with a Russian fighter jet equipped with a thrust vector control system. The nose is very directional in low-speed combat, and ALSR allows you to fully trust the aircraft. High angle of attack maneuver It is comfortable to reverse and reverse. Like any fighter controlled by a flight control system, the roll rate and pitch rate will indeed decrease with high angles of attack.
LCA and F-16 and "Typhoon" fighter aircraft shape comparison. How
cockpit What?
You can’t call it a mansion, it’s better to describe it as an affordable house. As I said before, although the external dimensions may give a small hint, the internal space is not crowded , This is surprising. The designer is simply a space magician. Of course, the scores I give are not very high, but some guys who fly by "Glory" will definitely score high, and they won't complain!
"Guanghui" is a platform for continuous improvement and development, so there is enough space to accommodate new hardware panels... It has been satisfied, which is a good thing. Another helpful thing is that as a platform based on an open architecture, the platform It has an all-glass cockpit, so most of the content that needs to be added is completed by software in the system. It is processed through existing software and programmable multifunction (MFD) displays and other displays, so the available space (although it is very saving ) Seems to be enough. The wing of
Saab-37 has also been cut root, but its main intention is to reduce the downwashing effect of the canard on the wing. The
air conditioner is very efficient, maybe the power is a bit too high! You It does feel necessary to increase the temperature from time to time. We have conducted test flights across a wide range of the country (and we are very large and touch all extreme conditions!), I have never found out what it wants to change. The initial airflow feels very much, but the sound is also loud. The automatic management function quickly makes it comfortable. The Martin Baker seat is very comfortable, and the tilt angle allows you to adapt well to overload. In summary, it is acceptable to carry out air, ground and air missions for a long time.
3 MFD allows you to display all pictures on any screen, and there is also an Up Front Control Panel (Up Front Control Panel) that allows you to easily handle all external objects. "Near HOTAS" (near HOTAS) makes the operation easier. . Through these display control panels, almost all controls of all systems are backed up, soThere is no need to panic if there is a malfunction or a device fails. They have a good ability to absorb more systems and related controls without causing excessive system load. "How mature is
? Z1z
is in a combat unit, which says everything. Public news sources will tell you that the "brilliance" of the final combat configuration will be delivered soon, and the upgrade to the LCA Mk1 standard has begun. For us, this is an exciting new experience, a fighter that can be used for combat, and it is still evolving. Sounds paradoxical? No, it is mature enough to fight, but it’s a bit tender and needs Continuous development." How does
compare to other high-speed jets you have flown? Which aircraft has the most similar flight characteristics? The maximum angle of attack of
LCA reaches 26 degrees, which is relatively high among the three generations.
"Glory" is inspired by "Phantom" 2000. Of course, "Phantom" is a respectable model, and therefore very similar. The flight quality of wire-by-wire control? The closest to "Phantom" 2000, the touch and handling are similar.
What is the biggest (false) "myth" about "brilliance"?
Before talking about the biggest "myth", we must first admit the biggest fact. Indeed, it has taken a long time-you can see this in public information, it is not a secret. This prompted me to answer the biggest myth about it: not only was it too late, but it did not meet our requirements. Now, this is a myth. This plane is exactly what we want. It is agile, fast, light and economical. In the next 15 years, it is also very capable of equipping new systems. It is a well-made light fighter that can carry a variety of heavy and exciting new technologies in the next few years.
need some details? We are discussing an advanced new radar (local or imported), advanced new missiles (local and imported), new radios and new guided munitions, new and more powerful domestic mission computers and architectures, more powerful monitor. And achieved an amazing leap from air force type to navy type! Yes, I am proud of our achievements, I mean that the "Glorious" navy model successfully demonstrated the takeoff and landing of its aircraft carrier! How effective is
in the current state?
will defend its honor from BVR (beyond visual range air combat) to close air combat. It can drop precision guided munitions and iron bombs as needed. It can be refueled in the air by a large tanker. Its upgrade is rolling: Mk 1A will appear in a few years.
will be a little troublesome at first? Yes, of course there is this problem, but it is absolutely normal for a fighter aircraft, from design to development to the combat department's fleet.
What is the most memorable thing when you fly "Glory"? Z1z
adds canard wings to LCA, which is the next trend.
There is no doubt that I carried out the first air refueling contact of the "Glorious" fighter.
Which "brilliant" modifications have you flew?
prototype, trial production type, and of course in-service mass production type.
What equipment or kits do you want to add to LCA?
is a small intelligent precision guided munition used in air-to-surface strikes, so that it can carry a larger number of ammunition.
How do you see the future of this aircraft?
will undergo a powerful and comprehensive upgrade in the future. The medium to long-term future belongs to the next generation of fighters, and they will benefit from the success of this fighter. They are different creatures outside the "shining" family. Both the Medium Fighter (MWF) and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) are well designed and may change the rules of the game. Looking forward to exciting days.
