Naval Counterpart Of LCA Tejas Conducts Maiden Operations From INS Vikrant
The Indian Navy announced today that its pilots carried out landing and take-off of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Navy (NP-2) on INS Vikrant. India has now demonstrated its capability to design, develop, construct and operate an indigenous aircraft carrier with indigenous fighter aircraft, the Navy stated. Following the LCA(N), the in service MiG-29K fighter also operated from the carrier.
The LCA(N) Mk1 program, which involved a LCA(N) Mk2 configuration approved in 2009 and cancelled in 2016 after the Navy decided to go for twin engine deck based fighters, now continues as a technology demonstrator. The LCA(N) is derived from the LCA(AF), named Tejas in Indian Air Force service. The LCA(N) prototypes had operated from the INS Vikramaditya carrier in January 2020.
Currently, the aim of the LCA(N) program is to progress technology needed for the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) and other fighter programs. Three prototypes, namely NP-1, NP-2 and NP-5, have been produced for the program with NP-5 rolling out in 2022. LCA(N) has already showcased automatic ski jump take-off from INS Vikramaditya. Eventually, LCA(N) will help demonstrate and develop Autonomous Take-Off and Landing (ATOL), Electronic Pilot and Manned-UnManned Teaming (MUM-T) technologies, eventually leading to optional manning.
A MUM-T demonstration using two LCA(N) and two UAVs is planned to be held off the coast of Goa, India. The LCA(N) will control the UAV camera payload, conduct joint manoeuvres with the UAVs and task the UAVs for strike missions. The demonstration would be conducted at low altitudes and at speeds of up to 400kmph. Such trials would be required to mature the MUM-T concept which would prominently feature in programs such as the HAL-NewSpace Research and Technologies Combat Air Teaming System (CATS), among others.
INS Vikrant, the first ever aircraft carrier built in India, was commissioned into the Navy in September 2022. However, this is the first landing of a fighter aircraft onboard the carrier. Aviation trials held earlier had involved helicopter operations alone as the aviation complex was not ready then. A MiG-29K which has been on deck since the early trials along with a wireframe model was taken onboard using a crane.
“The successful landing and take off of the indigenous LCA Navy on India’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier is a momentous step forward towards the realisation of our collective vision of AatmaNirbharBharat. The maiden landing of the Mig-29K also heralds the integration of the fighter aircraft with INS Vikrant. Congratulations to all those who made it happen.”
Adm R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff
Vikrant will operate the MiG-29K, the winner in the Multi-Role Carrier-Borne Fighter (MRCBF) competition involving the Dassault Rafale-M and Boeing Super Hornet as well as the under development TEDBF when it enters service in the 2030s.
The Indian Navy initially wanted a fifth generation fighter to replace the MiG-29K by 2032. In 2019, it was decided after consultation with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) to develop a 4++ generation TEDBF by 2028 after which a fifth generation aircraft would be developed. First flight of TEDBF is expected to take place by 2026, with sanction and funding expected to be granted by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) later this year.