<p>Learning from its experience with the air force version of the light combat aircraft (LCA), Team LCA is gearing up for the design and development of NP-5, the fifth prototype of the naval variant of the LCA.<br /><br /></p>.<p>P S Subrahmanya, chief of Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the nodal agency for the LCA programme, said: “We believe that we would need more than two aircraft to go through the certification process and get the aircraft inducted into the Navy and so, we will have NP-5.”<br /><br />NP-5 will be in addition to LCA-NP 1, the first prototype (twin-seater trainer) which completed its maiden flight on April 27, 2012, and LCA-NP 2, a single seat fighter, which is in the process of development.<br /><br />Although ADA is yet to decide whether the prototype will be a fighter or a trainer, sources said: “The Tejas (IAF version), which has more than six aircraft flying ‘continuously’ is yet to complete the certification process. So we have learnt that it would be very time-consuming to try and get through the process with only two aircraft for the naval version.”<br /><br />The prototype will be powered by the GE-404 engine that powers other LCAs.<br />“This will be the fifth prototype because we have already allocated and released the designs for NP 3 and NP 4 (LCA MK-II) to be powered by the GE-414 engines and cannot change that now. But NP 5, we now think, will be necessary, keeping in mind the certification process,” Subrahmanya said. And the only thing left before India signs deal with GE Aviation for 99 GE-F414 engines now is the clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).<br /><br />The Price Negotiation Committee (PNC), which was set up in late 2010 has finalised the deal after having surpassed all the hurdles before it and the file is now expected to go to the CCS anytime. The PNC, comprising representatives from the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Navy, the Ministry of Defence (MoD), HAL, ADA and the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) negotiated with GE and the US government for over 15 months before coming to a conclusion.<br /></p>
<p>Learning from its experience with the air force version of the light combat aircraft (LCA), Team LCA is gearing up for the design and development of NP-5, the fifth prototype of the naval variant of the LCA.<br /><br /></p>.<p>P S Subrahmanya, chief of Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the nodal agency for the LCA programme, said: “We believe that we would need more than two aircraft to go through the certification process and get the aircraft inducted into the Navy and so, we will have NP-5.”<br /><br />NP-5 will be in addition to LCA-NP 1, the first prototype (twin-seater trainer) which completed its maiden flight on April 27, 2012, and LCA-NP 2, a single seat fighter, which is in the process of development.<br /><br />Although ADA is yet to decide whether the prototype will be a fighter or a trainer, sources said: “The Tejas (IAF version), which has more than six aircraft flying ‘continuously’ is yet to complete the certification process. So we have learnt that it would be very time-consuming to try and get through the process with only two aircraft for the naval version.”<br /><br />The prototype will be powered by the GE-404 engine that powers other LCAs.<br />“This will be the fifth prototype because we have already allocated and released the designs for NP 3 and NP 4 (LCA MK-II) to be powered by the GE-414 engines and cannot change that now. But NP 5, we now think, will be necessary, keeping in mind the certification process,” Subrahmanya said. And the only thing left before India signs deal with GE Aviation for 99 GE-F414 engines now is the clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).<br /><br />The Price Negotiation Committee (PNC), which was set up in late 2010 has finalised the deal after having surpassed all the hurdles before it and the file is now expected to go to the CCS anytime. The PNC, comprising representatives from the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Navy, the Ministry of Defence (MoD), HAL, ADA and the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) negotiated with GE and the US government for over 15 months before coming to a conclusion.<br /></p>
