The Indian Navy is kicking around the idea of ordering a small number of naval N-LCA fighter jets to operate as a dedicated training and technology development squadron for frontline naval aviators and future combat assets. The idea hasn’t yet crystalized into a paper proposal, but internal discussions are believed to be looking at 12-15 aircraft that will be built by HAL.
The idea of purchasing and inducting the N-LCA, while still only theoretical at this stage, would be a complete about-turn from the Indian Navy’s standing decision of years not to induct the platform, and instead focus its energies on two proposed programs — the indigenous twin engine deck based fighter (TEDBF) and a proposal to purchase at least 26 multirole carrier based fighters, a contest between the American F/A-18 Super Hornet and French Rafale. In February, Livefist reported that the Rafale had been declared to be in pole position for the contract after trials with the Indian Navy.
In February this year, two years after its first deck landings on an aircraft carrier, an N-LCA ‘trapped’ on the navy’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. You can read all about those landings here. While the N-LCA is still below performance requirements demanded by the Indian Navy from a fleet fighter, energy in the program has almost certainly helped revive interest in the program to the extent that a proposal to actually order a handful of airframes is being spoken of internally.
In late 2018, the Indian Navy leadership declared that it wished to see the N-LCA fly off Indian aircraft carrier decks. That sentiment has not only been given wings by the N-LCA program’s sprightly performance on both the INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, but with several serving and veteran naval aviators professing sense in giving the N-LCA squadron space in the Indian Navy.
A senior officer familiar with internal discussions tells Livefist, “Moving the N-LCA out of the National Flight Test Centre (NFTC) and into the navy proper would mean cockpit time spread across many more numbers of naval aviators than just those involved in the NFTC. Our test pilots at the NFTC have done yeoman service on the program. It would be the most fitting tribute to their sustained faith in the program that the navy brings some of these platforms into operational service for a specific purpose. It would in fact provide a unique bridge between test teams and frontline fliers. While the N-LCA was delinked from frontline usage requirements, it is also true that this platform can serve a very useful purpose in service that does not impinge on other modernisation pursuits.”
Another officer suggests that pushing the N-LCA into the navy would subject the aircraft to the full rigours of naval aviation and pull it out of the possessive embrace with which dedicated test teams may regard them. “It would give the N-LCA a chance to fully stretch its wings in the real world, with the opportunity to train batches of pilots in STOBAR operations, something they currently do abroad,” he says.
Senior officers at the LCA’s development hub, the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in Bengaluru, said they were unaware of any move to pitch a small package of N-LCAs to the Indian Navy, and that they had dedicated all resources towards the TEDBF program, though they did leave room for an “enthusiastic section within the service” which believes the N-LCA has had a raw deal. They also agreed that a contingent of active service N-LCAs in the Indian Navy would provide a nerve centre of customer feedback that would feed right into the TEDBF program.
This is a fantabulous idea, whose time has come. No need to import Rafales or F-18s even as stop-gap arrangements.
Naval (other defence services are mostly similar) officers use fancy words to indicate that they belong to a ‘superior’ service. They don’t make mistakes at all. Only GoI, PSUs, civvies make mistakes.
My own take on the matter is that the defence services officers are insecure ie., they place themselves higher than what they are actually.
What are thy inecure about ?
Actually such discussion should seep into public domain from here onwards.
I fully endorse that and in believing so these people do a great disservice to the forces, the country and to the countrymen whose hard-earned money gets wasted by their antics
GdjjzojbabwbbznknzbbxhxhbehjxhbsbvsvxhjsocnenendkxjdbebfbhivvshsuHcaggsujdnnfijfnffjfjj
training purpose they can use tejas1 for actual usage go for tejas 2 with small modification that is cost effective and potent fighter and also quickly they can get it.
I feel induction of N LCA in navy is a good idea for the aircraft to prove it’s critics wrong, give valuable feedback for the future TDFC deck based fighter program & also train our current & future navy fighter pilots on our aircraft carriers & save on valuable exchequer money spent on sending them abroad for deck based training & lastly might also bring orders from abroad for our very own Naval LCA.
Espionage and Counterespionage has no takers in our country which is very nasty.
It is clear.Indian defenceman officers are scared to operate India made units due to inbuilt superior technology and of course their superior attitude to known third rate imported war machines!! Just call off all superior tech loaded Made in India war machines..Let us understand generals of all Indian defence services are not saimts and sages!! Grab the usual glitch words of superior tech of even useless imports for obvious reasons..we need a defence minister like( late Manohar parrikar to call off the bluff of Indian senior generals!! People should be aware of his dressing down of Northern command generals for arguments not to make border roads in Ladhakh and Arunachal!! Present defence minister with all his patriotism/ great work is not a match to equipment procuring Machivellis of defence department!!
Other than destroyers and frigate (where Warship Design Bureau has done a good job), IN’s procurement plans and actions are muddle headed and lack clear direction. That there will be a long gap between Project 75 & 75I was obvious long ago. So why such a late decision on three more Kalvari class submarines? Similarly why sleep over N-LCA for so long? Why waste so much time over the farcical contest between the Raphale M and F/A 18 when the logical route should have been a straight G2G agreement for the former? Now a third carrier which will tie down IN’s precious few capital ships in carrier defence. Are we going to project power in the South China Sea? Defence services officers are truly insecure and make themselves appear knowledgeable with some tactical abilities and little strategic abilities.
I am not a robot. I am a human being.
Speaking good english or the so called fancy words, is indicative of precision and clarity of mind. U convey exactly what is expected which is the essence of military efficiency. Results in optimal useage of scarce resources with minimal casualties. Our training is designed for 0 error syndrome. In military operations your currency death, hence you have to get it right, first, always and every time, as a runner-up position implies you have compromised your nation and your country men who have reposed faith in you. Any casualty in war, you as a commander will carry the burden of guilt for the rest of your life including the deceased dependents.
Dear mr rao on a professional matter your comments on defence officers are indicative of your envy and inferiority complex. By the way are you from military or anyone in your family? We military officers function with a singular aim and objective to ensure enhanced and guaranteed national security. Everyone incl yourself knows their worth. Ask the mirror. God may grant you better wisdom.
This is an extension of the BJP’s Nehruvian Gandhist commitment to “reservations” how else can one justify the pronouncement of an unfit for purpose aircraft for Indian Defense? Tejas lacks ceiling, range, stealth and payload for contemporary war. Will Modi and Rajnath now impose SC/ST requirements for all those wishing to fly all aircraft other than Tejas to bring everybody to the same competence level as themselves?
Being an AME ex Navy has a feeling that it would be good to have a small number of N LCA for operational training needs, and the last not the least regarding service officer remark is 100% correct.
N-LCA MKII will be good trainer version like wise Airforce Hindustan Lead-in Fighter Trainer (HLFT-42).Next Gen Supersonic Navy Trainer version with ’ that will play a “critical role” in modern combat aircraft training with state-of-the-art avionics like Active Electronically Scanned Array, Electronic Warfare Suite, Infrared Search and Track with Fly by Wire control system,incorporating a more powerful General Electric F414 INS6 engine, canards and other design changes.