Source : The Indian Express
BREAKING: LCA Navy prototype NP5 completes successful maiden flight
The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Naval trainer prototype NP5 successfully completed its maiden flight on Friday, Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) said in a statement.
The aircraft was piloted by Captain Amit Kawade (Indian Navy) and Wing Commander Siddarth Singh (RETD).
The aircraft took off from Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) Airport at 1420 hours.
“LCA Navy is Designed and Developed jointly by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and HAL. The first trainer prototype NP1 was flown on 27 April 2012 and the fighter prototype NP2 was flown on February 7, 2015. Both Naval Prototypes (NP1 and NP2) have achieved major landmark milestones like ski jump take off and arrested landing demonstrations on Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) at Dabolim Airport, Goa and operations from indigenous aircraft carriers. The aircraft demonstrated 18 arrested landings and Ski Jump take offs from INS Vikramaditya in Jan 2020, including hot refuelling capability,” a release from DRDO said.
In aviation, ski jump is an upward-curved ramp that allows the aircraft to take off from a runway that is shorter than the aircraft’s required take off roll.
Recently, LCA Navy participated in the carrier trials from INS Vikrant and performed 10 ski
Jump take offs and arrested landings on February 6 this year. “LCA Navy has completed the landmark achievement of being the first indigenous fighter aircraft landing on
to the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant,” DRDO said.
“LCA Navy is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies such as Fly-by-wire flight control system, glass cockpit and advanced mechanical systems. The aircraft can be operated seamlessly both during the day and night. It features advanced hands free ski jump take-off and landing flight control modes. LCA Navy Prototypes are carrier compatible and can operate with Air-to-Air weapons for combat missions. The new prototype NP5 will soon undertake field and carrier operations from both INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. LCA Navy NP5 incorporates all improvements identified during exploitation of NP1 and NP2 is a production ready aircraft,” the release added.
Capt Kawade (IN) expressed that the handling qualities were extremely satisfactory and all test points envisaged have been successfully completed.
Officials from the DRDO said, “In addition of NP5 aircraft to LCA Navy prototype fleet will help to accelerate flight testing activities which will provide designers vital inputs towards design and development of the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF), the prestigious futuristic carrier aircraft programme of our country. LCA Navy can also serve as an effective training platform for Indian Navy pilots for operations from the aircraft carriers.“
TEDBF is a multi role combat aircraft currently under development for the Indian Navy. BREAKING: LCA Navy prototype NP5 completes successful maiden flight BREAKING: LCA Navy prototype NP5 completes successful maiden flight BREAKING: LCA Navy prototype NP5 completes successful maiden flight BREAKING: LCA Navy prototype NP5 completes successful maiden flight BREAKING: LCA Navy prototype NP5 completes successful maiden flight BREAKING: LCA Navy prototype NP5 completes successful maiden flight IgMp
