-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADA says NP-1 & NP-2 LCA-Navy demonstrators are heading towards carrier trials from a ski-jump (STOBAR) carrier, which in our case is the INS Vikramaditya. They are however currently not capable of operations from a CATOBAR carrier.
well now ADA must start work for "CATOBAR capable" .
Wonder how many tests could be done from the carrier?
Tejas has to be loaded onto the carrier at dock, INS Vikramaditya will travel into the sea, Tejas takes off & lands on a 'land' strip.
Then Tejas has to wait for INS Vikramaditya to re-dock - which may take several months! It's unlikely that the carrier would re-dock until its patrol op is completed. Also, it's unlikely that Tejas will be shipped/flown to the carrier-at-sea by other means!
IMHO they should spend their precious time doing full 'arrested recovery' at the shore based facility before doing just a take-off from carrier . A take-off op which will create a lot of media buzz but won't really add much to the program - but DRDO may be going just for that:MEDIA BUZZ
Pics of Tejas taking off from a carrier will convince 90% of the population that it is fully ready for carrier ops!
(just like Helina slung under a Rustom-1 for 'taxiing only' has convinced fanboys that Rustom-1 is an armed drone)