The 6 th generation crisis” Prof. Prodyut Das 24 July 2026 When the planets line up, as they sometime do, astrologers get their knickers into a twist, for they try to argue “how can THAT happen” rather than merely reporting “range and bearing”. Aeronautically we seem to have arrived somewhere there with the 6 th , gen. Big changes in the role of aircraft in battle are needed but the idea is being resisted. The 4 th . Generation requires replacement, the 5 th generation that were fielded have not been dazzling successes being literally “more trouble than they are worth” – frankly I now await, solely as an aviation fanatique- the economics of cheap Chinese “Stinger” equivalents vs. F 35...
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The inherent Handicaps of the DRDO Labs Prof. Prodyut Das 5 th July 2026 The DRDO has produced some very remarkable products. I have in mind the Sonars developed by Cdr. Paul Raj. It was ahead of world standards at its time. The GTRE Kaveri engine- even the bench test models- was a remarkable achievement. It came close to its design dry thrust rating without too many “mods”- if it was not “lucky”- it is a tribute to the masterful use of CAD/CAE by the engineers concerned and augurs well for the future . The slander done to the INSAS reflects more to the limitations of the calibre rather than in technical quality of the design by ARDE. The failures of DRDO need dispassionate study for correction. The usual din is that funding/ Govt. backing /molly coddling was inadequa...
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The Design of the MiG 17 Prof. Prodyut Das 11 May 2026 The MiG 17 was so close in design to the MiG 15 that it was initially designated MiG 15 Bis/ 45, the 45 referring to the ten degrees increase in wing sweep over its predecessor. Though near identical to its predecessor, its engineering Historiography is a case study in frugal engineering combined with careful improvement of a good base. The superb MiG 15- really a one and a half generation aircraft- was morphed into an effective match to the 3 rd generation Western fighter despite technological constraints in the engine which enforced a larger fuselage cross section, was slow to throttle responses and reportedly coul...
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The Indian Aeronautical Industry- Birth, decline and the future – Prof. Prodyut Das 08 June 2026 The Indian Aeronautical Industry is now in its 86 th year. In terms of continuous existence, it is older than the German Aeronautical Industry though comparisons must end there, When Lala Hirachand Walchand, was refused permission to build the Hindustan Aircraft Limited in Calcutta in 1939 he chose to go to the Wodeyar Maharaja of Mysore State who donated land and invested in the new Company. The original plan for aircraft manufacture was disrupted by the Second World War and HAL became a giant MRO for the SE Asia theatre of war. It was an enormous blessing in disguise. The Indians were exposed not only to a vast range of the very latest designs but also the direct exposure to American Management methods including taking decisions “on the feet”- the “Gung ho” but methodical approach of Americans to meeting challenges that war time MRO brought. The later re...