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India’s second home grown carrier-borne fighter aircraft is expected to fly within a month, but its induction into the Navy is still several years away.
“The NP (naval prototype)-2 is now ready. It is undergoing ground testing. The first flight is likely in the next 15-20 days,” K Tamilmani, director general in charge of aeronautical systems at Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) told Deccan Herald here.
The first Light Combat Aircraft of the Navy, NP 1, flew on April 2012 for 22 minutes after taking off from HAL airport in Bangalore. NP 1 was a two-seat trainer whereas NP-2 is a single-seat fighter.
The government so far has sanctioned construction of four indigenous naval fighters for aircraft carriers. Only after reviewing their performance will the Defence Ministry take a decision on whether DRDO and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited can be entrusted with the responsibility of building indigenous fighter for naval operations.
The Vikrant, indigenous aircraft carrier , which is under construction at Cochin shipyard and a second carrier that will be bigger than the Vikrant, are designed to carry LCA Navy as their weapon.
In the trial phase, the next challenge for LCA Navy will come by December when it will have to take off from a specially created shore-based ramp – a replica of the ski-jump in an aircraft carrier – in Goa.
“Take off from the shore based testing facility is likely by November,” Tamilmani said. A Navy officer, however, pointed out that it could happen latest by December, subject to the approval of the defence minister.
Since LCA Navy is a STOBAR (short take off but arrested recovery) aircraft, the naval pilots will subsequently have to first practise a precise landing using an arrester hook on the shore-based facility before trying it on the ship. As of now, DRDO plans to approach the regulator for certification of LCA Navy by 2017.
The naval fighter is three years behind schedule as going by the original plan, NP-2 was to fly by the end of 2011.
The Centre sanctioned the LCA (Navy) programme in 2003 – ten years after approving development of Tejas LCA for the Indian Air Force and two years after the first flight of Tejas.
The sanction was to develop one trainer and one fighter (NP-1 and NP-2) along with the shore based testing facility. Later, two more prototypes (NP-3 and 4) were approved.
Flying with the GE-F-404-IN20 engine, it will be operating with beyond visual range missile, anti-ship missiles, conventional bombs, air defence guns, close combat missile and drop tanks.
Source : Defence News - LCA Navy's second fighter ready to take off
