Naval LCA Tejas

[power_monger]

Did they build the single seat naval Tejas - NP-2? What is the status with that?

Though I feel two seat model is more suited to Navy's operational requirements. (Attack on enemy shipping).

I had read somewhere that Additional seat in fighter jet is added at a penalty on range i.e less fuel storage. If navy intends to use Tejas as interceptor/defendor of the carrier that it could be possible that navy chooses 2 seater tejas as range would not most important issue here.

But more and more fighter jets are increasingly turning single seater.I doubt navy going for two seater.

 

[PaliwalWarrior]

Did they build the single seat naval Tejas - NP-2? What is the status with that?

Though I feel two seat model is more suited to Navy's operational requirements. (Attack on enemy shipping).

np2 UNDERGOING GROUND TESTING

first fight in 20 days

LCA Navy’s second fighter ready to take off | idrw.org

 

[janme]

LCA Navy's second fighter ready to take off

India's second home grown carrier-borne fighter aircraft is expected to fly within a month, but its induction into the Navy is still several years away.

"The NP (naval prototype)-2 is now ready. It is undergoing ground testing. The first flight is likely in the next 15-20 days," K Tamilmani, director general in charge of aeronautical systems at Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) told Deccan Herald here.

The first Light Combat Aircraft of the Navy, NP 1, flew on April 2012 for 22 minutes after taking off from HAL airport in Bangalore. NP 1 was a two-seat trainer whereas NP-2 is a single-seat fighter.

The government so far has sanctioned construction of four indigenous naval fighters for aircraft carriers. Only after reviewing their performance will the Defence Ministry take a decision on whether DRDO and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited can be entrusted with the responsibility of building indigenous fighter for naval operations.

The Vikrant, indigenous aircraft carrier , which is under construction at Cochin shipyard and a second carrier that will be bigger than the Vikrant, are designed to carry LCA Navy as their weapon.

In the trial phase, the next challenge for LCA Navy will come by December when it will have to take off from a specially created shore-based ramp – a replica of the ski-jump in an aircraft carrier – in Goa.

"Take off from the shore based testing facility is likely by November," Tamilmani said. A Navy officer, however, pointed out that it could happen latest by December, subject to the approval of the defence minister.

Since LCA Navy is a STOBAR (short take off but arrested recovery) aircraft, the naval pilots will subsequently have to first practise a precise landing using an arrester hook on the shore-based facility before trying it on the ship. As of now, DRDO plans to approach the regulator for certification of LCA Navy by 2017.
The naval fighter is three years behind schedule as going by the original plan, NP-2 was to fly by the end of 2011.

The Centre sanctioned the LCA (Navy) programme in 2003 – ten years after approving development of Tejas LCA for the Indian Air Force and two years after the first flight of Tejas.

The sanction was to develop one trainer and one fighter (NP-1 and NP-2) along with the shore based testing facility. Later, two more prototypes (NP-3 and 4) were approved.

Flying with the GE-F-404-IN20 engine, it will be operating with beyond visual range missile, anti-ship missiles, conventional bombs, air defence guns, close combat missile and drop tanks.

Source : Defence News - LCA Navy's second fighter ready to take off

 

[sgarg]

This is good news indeed. Hope they complete all 4 naval Tejas quickly.

How much is the difference in fuel capacity of single seat and dual seat Tejas?

 

[sgarg]

There are no specs for two seat version.

However there is a possibility that internal fuel is same in both versions. It is possible by increasing the length of the aircraft.

What I see is 3000l internal fuel; and max 1200+1200+725 = 3125l external fuel.

Practical config on attack mission for Navy can be center-line tank + 2 anti-ship missiles + 2 BVR missiles + 2 WVR missiles. The jet should be good for 1000 km radius in this config.

For air defence, the jet can take 4 BVR missiles + 2 WVR missiles + center-line tank. Assuming higher fuel usage due to higher speed and maneuvers, the jet should still be good for a radius of 500 km.

 

[sgarg]

It seems to me that LCA Tejas can fulfill 90% of tasks needed by IN. The rest 10% can be performed by Mig-29 or Su-30.

Tejas can be effective in air defence of naval bases, air defence of carrier groups, and attack missions on shipping and land targets within India's exclusive economic zone.

Tejas gels well with India's defensive mindset and strategy.

 

[anupamsurey]

NLCA will have more teeth once the Brahmos is made compact and small enough for LCA to carry on, it will be a deadly combo.

 

[biswaranjanrath.sipu]

I hope hal would have reduced some weight in LCA NP 2 so that it will be easier to take off from ins vikrant IAC.

 

[PaliwalWarrior]

I hope hal would have reduced some weight in LCA NP 2 so that it will be easier to take off from ins vikrant IAC.

trials in Nov from SBTF ins hansa

live trials

 

[biswaranjanrath.sipu]

Is there any photo available for n-lca with arrestor hook ??? I did not find any photo of it on net.

 

[biswaranjanrath.sipu]

I think nlca have only some antiship capability. It will not hold good for dogfighting with other fighter such as j 11 of China.so for those purposes, mig 29k is the best.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Tejas comes with 90 degree bore sight HMDS ( DASH 3 ) which is more than enough to engage fighters at WVRs ..

I think nlca have only some antiship capability. It will not hold good for dogfighting with other fighter such as j 11 of China.so for those purposes, mig 29k is the best.

 

[sgarg]

NLCA will have more teeth once the Brahmos is made compact and small enough for LCA to carry on, it will be a deadly combo.

LCA can carry sub-sonic anti-ship missiles or lighter super-sonic anti-ship missiles. It is not necessary for every aircraft to carry every type of missile.

We have Su-30 for carrying heavy missiles.

NLCA can carry Kh-35 with around 120 km flight range and approx 600kg weight.

In anti-ship role, the Tejas will likely carry 2 Ashm, 2 BVR A2A, 2 WVR A2A and one centerline drop tank. This config should give it 1000km range which is quite adequate for patrolling India's EEZ.

India also has armed maritime patrol aircraft capable of hitting shipping at sea.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Not just KH-35 but Harpoon as well as JAGs doing now ..

 

[abhi_the _gr8_maratha]

nlca may be for attack on pakistan. For china it will be nlca2 and mig29k

 

[PaliwalWarrior]

biggest weapon for nlca mk2 gonna be Air launched Brahmos M

since it was navy who drove the mk2 project

it would always be in thier planning

 

[cobra commando]

Artistic impression of naval Tejas landing on INS Vikrant.
(Source: Tarmak007/ Image: Saurav Jain)

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Nice impression, Though i doubt its wing would be need for folding ..

 

[Zebra]

Can we add SAAB RBS 15F on N-Tejas?

Saab Naval Portfolio And Teaming With India


RBS15F
RBS-15 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Zebra]

^^
There are one new development RBS Mk4. It will have 1000km range.

RBS-15 Missile | History Wars Weapons

......The RBS-15 Mk IV is currently being developed, incorporating dual seekers. It will have a longer range and new missile link system. The radar signature has been reduced and its warhead can be changed depending on the mission. Future upgrades may include concept optimization for sea or land targets. The range of the Mk. IV would have to be significantly larger than others versions, over 1 000 km.