LCA team gets first naval variant

The Indian Navy, Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the others that constitute Team LCA (light combat aircraft) have been successful in getting the first prototype of the LCA naval variant LCA-NP 1 airborne.

The next challenge staring in the eye will be to evolve a testing methodology to check the compatibility of the aircraft on the Indian Navy carriers.

The Indian Navy, along with ADA, has sought the help of the United States Navy to share its expertise while resolving some of these issues, although the US will not have full privy to the design and development of the indigenous aircraft.

“With the US having over half-a-century of experience in developing and maintaining carrier-borne aircraft, we are getting valuable help from to resolve issues, especially with the undercarriage and related problems,” a source familiar with the developments said.

Sources in the Navy said the US Navy is not being paid for the consultancy as the arrangement is a government-to-government arrangement. “We only take care of their travel accommodation and other requirements,” a source said.

Under the memorandum of understanding signed for the purpose, the US consultancy will not cover design-specific or commercial aspects.

It is specifically for carrier-borne operations and they are also helping Team LCA with crucial technologies like the ski jump take off and arrest landing –– technologies that make the LCA naval version a great asset for the Indian Navy –– allowing it to take off from vessels during war and other counter-insurgency operations and land back on them.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, ADA Chief P S Subrahmanya said: “The US Navy Carrier Suitability Test Team is, in fact, conducting audits of our test findings which has been very beneficial for us given the fact that this is India’s first attempt at developing a carrier-borne fighter.”