WINGS OF CHANGE TOWARDS A SMARTER FUTUREPROGRAMME... LCA Navy programme to design and develop a Carrier Borne Fighter aircraft was sanctioned in 2003 after the successful initial flight testing of LCA (Air Force) variant, Tejas. Two prototypes, a two seat Trainer (NPI), and a single seat Fighter (NP2) with more internal fuel, have been developed in Phase-I of the programme. These two aircraft will be used as Technology Demonstrators to carry out Carrier Suitability certification and Air Defence Weapon integration. The first LCA Navy prototype, NPI had its maiden flight on 27 Apr 2012. Since then, it has undergone 3 blocks of flight testing, where it has sucessfully completed various manoeuvers, flown with centerline drop-tank (CLDT) integratedandhasalso flown at supersonic speed. Itis noteworthy that NPI aircraft has successfully made its maiden Ski-jump Take-off from the Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) at Goa on 20 Dec 2014. The aircraft is currently undergoing next phase of flight testing. The second prototype and the first Naval fighter version NP2 has successfully completed its maiden flight on 7th Feb 2015. Phase-2 of LCA Navy programme envisages development of two single seat Fighter aircraft with a new higher thrust engine (GE-F414-INS6) and further design optimisation to reduce drag, LCA Navy Mk2 would undergo weight reduction through a redesigned landing gear and associated structure and increased internal fuel as critical driving factors in its design. LCA Navy Mk2 will have enhanced mission performance and better maintainability. NPI with CLOT wm Arrestor HookAIRCRAFT... BON CNR Sec Wace Re COR seer Re OER ame Cec eR en Ue TA MCE Pee ge eee i Mae ee eR ICR omen a eMac Dee Mee Ca ences aPC Nn ere ReSen nine a nec iva Avice cimur carn ecuietl ck clare tani Bem mer eat aati acne UC ie cake hea tac Vel re ae a eee eNOS a Uae eA onc ur aa eae a ue PI Re tne Res eS tee ee cee ua ecerg carriers of the Indian Navy. Flight Control system of LCA Navy is augmented with ere Rae cts eae eRe eae) mera ar A MAUR a rato so ac RRO Mes ecca og ee Macc Rene u eur eee Toe ea eee oy ea aU One UEC nea Rea OAC Eun nace RC We nee CaS Mec Een ce Clon) Res TESTING... Carrier Compatibility Testing (CCT) is a major challenge for any Naval aircraft. After initial testing in a typical Air Force ‘up & away’ flight envelope, CCT will be carried out in the Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) built at the Naval Air Station at Goa, replicating an aircraft carrier having Restraining gear and Ski-jump for take-off, Landing area has an Arresting gear and other landing aids as in the Aircraft Carrier. Once proved ashore, aircraft is cleared for flights on the Carrier. ‘ron Bird’ is a hardware in loop simulator consisting of Flight Control actuators, Hydraulics and Landing Gear. LCA Navy specific Iron Bird has been built with a cockpit to be used by Test Pilots to assess integrity of the Flight Control System Simulation in this facility includes naval aircraft specific launch and recovery simulation. Landing Gear for LCA Navy has been adequately strengthened to withstand increased landing loads in carrier operations. The design would be validated ona test specimen using a Landing Gear Drop test rig at 7.1 m/sec vertical sink velocity. Arrester hook being a new introduction for the Naval aircraft, will be tested in a dedicated test facility. All system equipments are qualified to withstand arrested landing shock. This has been successfully completed with specially designed fixtures and utilization of test facilities within the country,eT a2 rea) ST eee Carer ieee Mes Mec ur Rn eee aria rau ian a re reece cid ec Reece Da Ni rene aes ee cet aris ea ated Te aes eucicitas etc Pee og ee ete ican Mise a rls ROLE Sarg eae) aK Ts)Aeronautical Development Agency (Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India) Post Box No. 1718, Vimanapura Post re-560 017, INDIA 25733060 Fax: +91-80-25238493