days before the second
anniversary of its maiden flight the
naval variant of the Light Combat
Aircraft-LCA Navy (NP-1) has
successfully completed its first super
sonic flight signaling that the aircraft
is now able to fly faster than the speed
of sound.
The Bangalore-based Aeronautical
Development Agency (ADA) the nodal
agency for the development of the
LCA said that this feat was achieved in
the month of March.
The NP-1 during the flight is said to
have crossed the Mach 1 barrier.
An aircraft is classified as a supersonic
aircraft when it is able to clock Mach1
speed.
Sources told dna that the aircraft flew
at a specified altitude and went
supersonic touching 1.1 Mach speed.
This milestone is considered significant
as the LCA Navy programme since it
made its maiden flight on April 27,
2012 had made little progress. In next
one year after its first flight the NP-1
made just four test sorties.
The NP-1 which is the sole prototype
build under the LCA Navy programme
by the ADA has been bogged down
with a few problems and had to
undergo a few modifications with
regard to the landing gear and a
few other systems to meet the ski
jump requirement. The LCA Navy is
being developed to operate from an
aircraft carrier with a concept of ski-
jump take-off but arrested recovery
(STOBAR).
The aircraft to prove that it is fit for
carrier-borne operations it would be
subjected to ski-jump launch and
arresting recovery tests at the naval
air station in Goa.
Meanwhile, air force version of the LCA
which is known as Tejas has already
flown several sorties covering a flight
envelope at supersonic speeds. ADA
says that the aircraft can attain
maximum supersonic speed at all
altitudes. The aircraft can attain a
maximum speed of Mach 1.8.
Compared to its Air Force counterpart,
the LCA is different as it has a new
stronger and longer landing gear,
arrestor hook for ship deck landing,
front fuselage drooped for better over
the nose vision to
facilitate ship landing, an additional
control surface to reduce ship landing
speed and consequential changes in
various systems. The NP1 aircraft
would be flying with the GE-F404-IN20
engine.
The LCA will replace the depleting Sea
Harrier squadron and operate along
the MiG29 K's by 2014 from the
Indigenous Air Craft Carrier which is
being constructed at Kochi.The
outgoing Government has
already sanctioned limited series
production of the LCA Navy under
which eight aircraft would be
developed.