Naval variant of LCA Tejas to be tested today

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 9

In an important milestone, the naval variant of light combat aircraft (LCA) ‘Tejas’ will tomorrow undergo shore-based test to check its compatibility with sea-borne aircraft carriers.

The plane has been built by the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, a company of the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The tests will be carried out at the Indian Navy’s specially designed shore-based test facility (SBTF) in Goa. The facility has a ramp – to mimic the one on aircraft carriers – which facilitates ski-jump style take-off and also has arrested landing facility for aircraft. The same parameters and method is used to fly and land fighter jets from the deck of aircraft carriers.

Sources said the naval variant of the Tejas has arrived at Goa and was undergoing pre-flight check for the tests to start. The aircraft will be based on indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The 40,000-tonne warship has been launched at sea and its outfitting is on. Naval pilots trained at the same facility to practice their skills on the Russian built MiG29K fighter jets based on the carrier, INS Vikramaditya.