Bengaluru, Feb 7 (IANS) State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Saturday conducted the maiden test flight of the second prototype of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas naval variant here.
"The second LCA naval prototype (NP2) was flown for the first time for 35 minutes, giving a major fillip to the Tejas programme. Efforts of our aircraft research and design centre's engineers on the complex landing gear design made the flight possible, as it is different from the air force version," HAL chairman T. Suvarna Raju said in a statement.
Indian Navy test pilot Captain Shivnath Dahiya flew the twin-seater fighter plane under telemetry control provided by National Flight Test Centre (NFTC) director Commander J.D. Raturi and its chief test pilot Commodore J.A. Maolankar from the HAL airport here.
The chase aircraft was flown by Group Captains (retd.) Suneet Krishna, Prabhu and R.R. Tyagi.
State-run Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) programme director P.S. Subramanyam, who guided the design teams, ensured that the systems met the stringent requirements of a carrier borne aircraft.
Defence aviation regulator and certifying agency Cemilac (Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification), quality assurance agency, state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) participated in the maiden test flight.
The event marks the growth of the indigenous LCA (Navy) programme, aimed to achieve carrier compatibility technology demonstration, including arrested landing and ski-jump take-off, initially from the shore-based test facility in Goa.
"The success of the maiden flight of NP2 is a testimony to the efforts put in by our scientists and engineers in building the first LCA Naval fighter. With a trainer and a fighter in its stable, the indigenous carrier borne fighter programme is making headway in acquiring momentum," Raju said.
The NP2 incorporates most avionic hardware components. During design and building, the aircraft was customised (plug and play) to accept modifications for carrier landing aids like Levcon air data computer, auto-throttle, external and internal angle of attack lights.
"NP2 is the lead aircraft for arrestor hook integration, derby beyond visual range missile and tactical data link. Its inclusion into the LCA (Navy) flight test stable is significant in the indigenous carrier borne aircraft development programme," the statement added.
The central government sanctioned the naval programme of the LCA project in 2003, with the first stage of development comprising a trainer prototype and fighter prototype (NP2).
The defence ministry has also approved building two more prototypes under mark-1 for initial operational clearance (IOC) and two more aircraft under mark-2 for final operational clearance in the near future.
The Indian Navy will require 53 carrier-borne LCA fighters to form two squadrons.
Weather Update: Cyclonic storm Hamoon weakens, Delhi's air spoiled due to stubble; Read the weather conditions of other states
Fluctuations in weather activities continue in many states of the country. At the same time, the Meteorological Department has issued a new update regarding the cyclonic storm. The Meteorological
Solar Impulse 2 leaves Ahmedabad for Varanasi
Ahmedabad, March 18 (IANS) The Solar Impulse (Si2) aircraft, powered solely by the sun's energy, took off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Wednesday morning for
Russia frees American basketball star Brittney Griner, in return US frees arms dealer from prison
America's basketball star Brittany Griner has been released by Russia. In return, Russia's arms dealer Viktor Bout has been released by the US. The US has currently failed to secure the release of
China Coronavirus: Crowd of people at railway stations and airports, fear of this is troubling experts
Coronavirus in China: Coronavirus has caused widespread devastation in China. Despite the dire situation, the government has resumed air and rail services. Railway stations and airports in China's
15 years on, Chattisinghpoora and Pathribal families await justice
Srinagar, March 20 (IANS) Two elderly women, Jeet Kaur and Mirjani, bound by pain, tragedy and a delay in justice, are seeking closure of the infamous Chattisinghpoora massacre and Pathribal
Kerala to be first state with green ABS policy
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 27 (IANS) Kerala will soon become the first state in the country to have a policy document on biodiversity conservation related 'access and benefit sharing (ABS)', an
SC On IIT Student: Supreme Court helps a student who missed admission due to non-payment of fees on time, orders admission in IIT Bombay in 48 hours
SC On IIT Student: The Supreme Court on Monday helped a poor student while giving an extraordinary order in the interest of justice. According to the merit list of JEE, the student could not get
PoK: Russia set an example of friendship, told PoK and Aksai Chin to be part of India, a blow to China-Pakistan
The historical friendship between Russia and India has stood true on many occasions. Once again, when Pakistan and China are speaking in one voice on the support of terrorism, Russia has tried to stop
By 2040, the world will be burdened with 1.3 billion tonnes of plastic
According to a global model, in the next 20 years, we will be facing a serious problem of plastic in the world.
Rishabh Pant's car accident due to a nap: narrowly escaped, broke the window of the burning car, and came out; Was going home to surprise mother
25-year-old cricketer Rishabh Pant narrowly escaped in a road accident on Friday morning. According to the police, the accident happened due to dozing off. His Mercedes went uncontrolled and hit the