NEW DELHI – The semi indigenous buolt Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas(NP2) for the Indian Navy is getting ready for aircraft carrier operationswith the fighter undergoing tests to prove the arrestor hook system atShore Based Test Facility (SBTF), Goa. The Spokesperson of the Indian Navyposted a short video of the LCA Navy undergoing taxi-in with an arrestorhook on its Twitter handle.
The LCA Navy first flew with a tailhook on July 23. With the LCA Navy nowfitted with an arrester hook, the fighter is now getting ready to test flyoff a carrier deck.
Earlier, in December 2016, the Navy had expressed its unhappiness over thenaval version of LCA Tejas and claimed that the fighter was “too heavy” tofly off or land on its carriers. Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba hadcited “overweight” as one of the reasons for ruling out LCA Tejas foraircraft carriers, adding that the force was looking at procuring analternative jet.
“As far as the carrier-based aircraft is concerned, we need it in atimeline of the induction of the aircraft carrier. We have the MiG 29K,which operates from Vikramaditya and will operate from (indigenous aircraftcarrier) IAC Vikrant. We were also hoping to operate the LCA (Light CombatAircraft-Tejas) from these two aircraft carriers. Unfortunately, the LCA isnot being able to meet the carrier’s required capability. That is why weneed an alternative aircraft to operate from these two aircraft carriers,”Lanba said.
He said that at the moment the Navy is in the process of identifying theaircraft that will meet its requirements. “If you look around the world,there are not too many options available and we need this carrier-capableaircraft sooner than later. So, I am looking at next five-six years,” hesaid.