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Cabinet panel okays LCA plan

Bangalore, April 13
The Union Cabinet Committee for Approvals has cleared the Rs 1,000 crore programme for development of three Naval variants of the indigenously developed state-of-the-art multi-role light combat aircraft (LCA).

Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) Director, Air Marshal (retd) P. Rajkumar told UNI that the Agency had already completed the project design phase for the LCA Navy. The full-scale engineering development of the Naval variant would commence shortly.

He said the naval variant would cost only 25 per cent the normal development cost as most of the technology would be drawn from the development of the parent aircraft. The prototypes would be built and flown to obtain clearance for deck operation by mid-2007, he added.

To a question, he said the naval version would have slight changes in the airframe and also in the aerodynamic structure in the front of the aircraft. The under-carriage would have to be strengthened. Since the aircraft has to take off at 130 knots per hour from the decks of an aircraft carrier, the flight dynamics should be modified.

The LCA was the only fourth generation combat aircraft, apart from the French Rafael, to have a naval variant designed from the start.

The LCA programme was currently on in full-swing as both the technology demonstrators (TD) have completed 62 flights so far, and work was on at a brisk pace to realise the maiden flight of the first prototype LCA-PV1 by June or July this year.

The PV1 was expected to be about 500 kg lighter than the first two aircraft due to the extensive use of carbon fire composites in the fuselage. While the two TDs have an empty weight of about 6,800 kg, PV1 would weigh 6,300 kg.

The second prototype, expected to be the full production version, would be ready for takeoff by early next year, he added. The prototype would have a composite content of 40 per cent — the highest percentage of composites employed on any combat aircraft. The PV2 would also have a considerably modified avionics suite, built after experience gained from the flight of the TD models. ‘’The main difference would be the open architecture mission computer which will have modular software. It will enable the ADA to integrate a wide range of weapon system both western and Russian,’’ a senior ADA Scientist pointed out.

The PV 2 would also for the first-time carry a multi-mode radar, which was moving ahead rapidly in its development programme. The Head up Display (HUD) designed by the Central Scientific Instrument Organisation, produced by the Bharat Electronics Limited, would also be new and provide a wide field of view.

With considerable delay in the indigenous development of Cauvery engine, that would power the production version of the LCA, was expected to join the Indian Air Force by 2007, the limited series production of eight aircraft and also the five prototypes, including one trainer variant, would be fitted with the upgraded version of General Electric F404 F2/13 engines. According to sources, even the first squadron of LCAs would be fitted with these engines.

Apart from the naval variants, in all, seven LCAs were planned in the initial phase. Besides the two TDs, there would be five prototypes with one of them being a trainer with twin seats, HAL and the ADA had also signed an agreement last year for limited series production of eight LCAs. UNI