Army rejects naval version of indigenous Tejas light combat aircraft for being “overweight”

The fighter plane cannot operate from aircraft carries and is now seeking lighter aircraft from the global markets.

New Delhi, Dec 3: The Indian Navy on Friday rejected the Light Combact Aircraft (LCA) Tejas for being “overweight”. Tejas does not meet the thrust-to-meet requirement to take off with full fuel and arms load froma  aircraft carrier’s deck. The fighter plane cannot operate from aircraft carries and is now seeking lighter aircraft from the global markets. The new alternative fighter from abroad will arrive in next five to six years.

“We will continue to support Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), but the naval LCA in its present form unfortunately does not meet our qualitative requirements for carrier capability,” Times of India quoted Admiral Sunil Lanba on Friday.

Observing that the aircraft does not fit it into the Navy’s needs, Lamba said, “The Navy needs a carrier-based aircraft in the timeline of the induction of the aircraft carrier. If you look around the world, there are not too many options available and we need this carrier-capable aircraft sooner than later. So, I am looking at next five to six years.” (ALSO READ- Tejas to be available for export to friendly nations: Manohar Parrikar)

The Navy currently operates Russian MiG-29K fighters from the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. It will also fly from the first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant once it enters service. The Navy Chief said that they would soon approach the government for approval of a second IAC weighing 65,000 tonnes which  is currently in the design phase. The Navy is looking for an alternative to the Mig-29.

In April 2012, the Naval LCA made its maiden flight and two prototypes are currently undergoing flying as part of the development. (ALSO READ- Tejas aircraft: 8 facts about light combat aircraft inducted into IAF today)

Under the LCA project which was cleared in 1983, the Navy was supposed to get around 50 of the indigenous fighters, while the IAF is going to get at least 120 Tejas. The defence ministry in November gave the initial approval for procurement of 83 Tejas Mark-1A fighters from HAL, prior to which IAF had earlier ordered 40 Tejas jets. IAF will received Mark-1A version, only by 2020.