The Indian 5 th generation- an axiomatic review Part 2 of 3. The glister of technology engine power vs supercruise Prof. Prodyut Das 23rd January 2026 Super cruise Super cruise is not new. It is being repackaged. The HF 24 with its ancient Orpheus engine could do about M 1.1 and the GAMD Super Etendard reached M 1.2 without afterburning for its ATAR 8K 50 both aircraft having simple “fixed” intakes. With variable intakes that could go up by another 0.1- 0,15 M i.e. M 1.3- 1.4 is possible. So if you want super cruise, you don’t need wonder engines. The old ones would do. (see table later) The catch is that if you add “stealth” to the menu it needs an internal weapons bay of at least 1.0- 1,6mts x 3,5 mts x 0,5 mts; Supersonic aerodynamics is “funny”- apparently the drag penalty of the “sow belly” is not so much as you expect but the thrust required would go up by another about 30kN over and above the installed thrust of a HF 24 or a Super Etendard. So if you ...
Posts
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
The Indian 5 th generation- an axiomatic review Part 1 of 3. The Politics Prof. Prodyut Das What I am going to say: 1. Warfare is changing due to AI 2. We may want a real 5 th .generation not a poodle faked 4 th .generation like the F 35. 3. From 1. And Op, Sindoor it follows that we have time. From 2 it follows that the proposed engine collaboration is not required which seems to be the usual fund bait. If required the 120 kN engine can developed from the Harrier’s Pegasus. 21 st January 2026 A summary of the change In the 1971 war the IAF took 48 hours ( 180 sorties, 8 losses, 3 KIAs ) to knock out Tejgaon /Kurmitola air bases complex. In Op. Sindoor India had Pakistan on the phone within 15 minutes and, half a year later, PAF Nur Khan is still hors de combat . The angry posts in the Western Financial papers downplaying Op. Sindoor is sweet confirmation of its success. ...
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
2025 – a commentary and review Prof. Prodyut Das 7 th January 2026 This piece is for Indian Readers and foreign readers may miss the context of references. ADA and DRDO organized a seminar in Bangalore on the occasion, (I can scarcely believe the effrontery!) , of the Silver Jubilee of the first flight of the Tejas. This, mind you, after 41 years of setting up of ADA and not a single usable aircraft to be had, uncertain production plans even for the next quarter and everyone else from the Import lobby downwards being blamed for the complete failure so far. In fact. I am told, HAL was not invited on the platform which if I were HAL would take it as a blessing in disguise. The founding Director ...