LCA Tejas naval variant of tests to Undergo in Goa soon
The naval variant of the light combat aircraft (LCA) ‘Tejas’ will soon Undergo carrier compatibility tests at the newly commissioned shore-based test facility at the Indian naval base INS Hansa in Goa, the LCA’s program director Kota Harinarayana Told TOI on Friday . “Before we go to the ship, we-have to do something on the ground That is similar to the ship,” Said Harinarayana, while pointing out That the shore-based test facility is Primarily a ramp – similar to the ones on aircraft carriers – All which Facilitates ski-jump take-off and landing of a naval arrested This aircraft.
“The aircraft will go to the test facility in a month’s time,” he added. “Apart from Enabling carrier compatibility, the new facility Will aid certification of the LCA naval variant, All which is critical to the LCA’s future induction in the Indian Navy, “he said. The LCA (Navy) is India’s first indigenous efforts to build a carrier-borne naval fighter aircraft, a vital ingredient in the Navy’s expansion plans. It is designed to operate from the future indigenous aircraft carriers That The Indian Navy plan to acquire.
Harinarayana is Regarded as the chief architect of the LCA program, All which WAS Launched in 1980 as share of the plane to replace the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) aging fleet of MIG-21 aircraft. He spoke to TOI on the sidelines of a talk on ‘Aircraft designing in India’, Jointly Organised by the Centre for Advanced Strategic Studies and the Aeronautical Society of India. Former vice-chief of air staff Air Marshal (Retd) Bhushan Gokhale Chaired the event.
In December 2013, the IAF Gave icts operational clearance to the Air Force LCA variant aussi cleared and the same for full-scale output at the Hindustan Aeronautical Limited facility in Bangalore, Harinarayana said. “We expect the aircraft to be rolled out for induction into the Air Force later this year and hopefully the IAF Will raise an independent squadron for the LCA,” he said. Said He, “The IAF HAS Placed an initial order of 40 LCAs All which are to be Delivered over the next furnace to five years. WE HAVE Their (IAF’s) commitment for Reviews another 80 to 90 LCAs in future.
The Air Force and Navy Collectively require 200 LCAs. “ Harinarayana added That the LCA HAD aussi evinced keen interest from foreign countries. “However, our immediate focus is on meeting the Air Force and Navy’s requirement for the next three Supply to foreign countries remains a share-trading years., Hand-diplomatic matter, and May still take Some time to come through. The priority for now is to Enhance the Production and capacity to continue working on the LCA Mk-II variant, All which is expected to go operational in oven to five years Following flight and other tests.
“ He Conceded That Will Work Both LCA variants on the imported GE-404 engines as it Will take some more years for the indigenously Developed Kaveri engine to be ready for use in aircraft thesis. “We Still Have to fully accomplish achieve the reliability and performance of the Kaveri engine. We-have tested for 50 hours’ flying in a carrier transportation, we still aim to Improve-have,” he said.Apart from Enabling carrier compatibility, the new shore- based test facility Will aid certification of the LCA naval variant, All which is critical to the future LCA’s induction in the Indian Navy.
LCA Tejas naval variant of tests to Undergo in Goa soon | idrw.org
