1. Okay. I started this. So let me clear the confusion. I think many of us don't understand what is a pylon a launcher and in the case of the current Astra-Tejas integration a launcher.
2. The pylon, the adapter and the launcher are shown in the red green and blue boxes. The pylon is an attachment to a structural point in the wing called a wing-station/hardpoint to carry external loads. As simple as it looks, it has a lot of jobs
3. It must make sure that the payloads stay at an optimum distance from the wing and from one another. It must make sure that CG of the aircraft doesn't move too much based on what is loaded on the pylon. Some pylons may also carry other electronics like MAWS RWR etc.
4. But the primary objective of the pylon is to carry weapons, sensors and fuel. But the interface of drop tank must contain ways to carry the weight, power supply, controls and an interface to add/remove fuel. The interface to a bomb is different. So would be a missiles' & so on
5. Typically fuel tanks, bombs, LGBs etc. are directly attached to the pylon. The pylon has enough flexibility in its interface. However missiles need their own launchers.
6. A launcher is the interface between the pylon and the missile. It takes care of the launch (rail vs ejection) and all communications to and from the missile before and after the launch. For this reason, it tends to get quite specific to the missile.
7. IAF has aircraft of Russian, European and now Indian origins. Astra is going to go all Russian and Indian origin aircrafts. Tejas is supposed to carry missiles and ordinances of all origins.
Speak about tying ourself in knots (especially our own).
Speak about tying ourself in knots (especially our own).
8. Astra was integrated into Su-30 first. To keep the development cost & time low, it was decided to adapt launcher for the R73 missile .
Therefore, this fits onto a Su-30/Mig29 without any physical modifications
Therefore, this fits onto a Su-30/Mig29 without any physical modifications
9. Problem is that the interface of Tejas's pylons are not the Soviet fighters. Therefore, it needs an adapter to go from its interface to the Russian pylon interface.
10. This is an inefficiency that Tejas Astra combination must live with until the Astra specific launcher is designed which can be mounted directly on Tejas's pylons.
In my dreams, I also hope that they optimize the pylon itself for reduced drag (low hanging fruit).
In my dreams, I also hope that they optimize the pylon itself for reduced drag (low hanging fruit).
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