In a major boost to self-reliance in aircraft technology, the indigenously designed and manufactured naval version of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) made its maiden landing and take-off from the indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on Monday.
“A historical milestone achieved towards Atmanirbhar Bharat by Indian Navy as naval pilots carry out landing of LCA (Navy) onboard INS Vikrant. Demonstrates India’s capability to design, develop, construct and operate indigenous aircraft carrier with indigenous fighter aircraft,” the Navy said in a
statement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year in September dedicated the INS Vikrant to the nation. The aircraft weighs more than 45,000-tonne and built at a cost of Rs20,000 crore. It can carry 30 aircraft, including MiG-29K fighter jets and helicopters. The warship can accommodate a crew of nearly 1,600. The Navy had said the aircraft carrier would be able to play a role in ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
At present, India has two operational aircraft carriers, including INS Vikrant and Russian built INS Vikramaditya. The landing tests of the LCA at the latter were successfully conducted in 2020.
Once ready for induction, both the aircraft carriers will have one squadron (one squadron has 18-20 jets) each of the LCA on board besides either the F-18 or the naval version of the Rafale fighter jets, besides the Mig-29Ks. While the US manufactures the F-18s, France manufactures the Rafales. The IAF has already inducted all the 36 Rafales into service.
As regards the Tejas LCA, the IAF has inducted a batch of Tejas aircraft. Initially, the IAF had placed an order with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for 40 Tejas aircraft.
Later, the IAF placed an order to the HAL for the procurement of another batch of 83 Tejas at a cost of over Rs 47,000 crores.
As regards the Vikrant test, sources said LCA naval version is a technology demonstrator. However, the landing and take-off is crucial as it highlights that India has developed niche technologies specific to deck-based fighter operations, and this will pave the way to develop and manufacture the twin-engine deck-based fighter (TEDBF) jets.
The flight trials on board INS Vikrant involve the Russian-origin MiG-29K fighter jets that use the ski-jump to take off from the aircraft carrier and are recovered by arrestor wires or what is known as STOBAR (short take-off but arrested recovery) in navy parlance.
Twelve MiG-29Ks are likely to be deployed on INS Vikrant and it will operate a new deck-based fighter that the navy is looking to buy as an interim measure to meet its requirements before the indigenous TEDBF is ready in a few years, the officials said.
As the TEDBF will take seven to eight years, the Navy plans to procure 26 F-18s or Rafales to maintain its operational readiness.
The Navy is working with the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and Aeronautical Development Agency on the TEDBF project.
