LCA made its maiden landing on board the INS Vikrant; marking a milestone towards the Navys self-reliance plans

The Naval variant of India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) made its maiden landing on board the INS Vikrant on Monday, marking a milestone towards the Navy’s self-reliance plans.

In a statement, the Navy called the development a historical milestone towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.

“It demonstrates India’s capability to design, develop, construct and operate indigenous aircraft carriers with indigenous fighter aircraft,” the statement added.

The aviation complex of INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September last year, is currently in the process of getting operationalised. Officers had earlier said the aviation trials will be carried out this year. At present, two prototypes of the Naval LCA-Mk1 are operational as part of the aircraft development.

The successful arrested landing of LCA (Navy) on INS Vikramaditya was demonstrated by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in In January 2020, following which the Navy had said it needs a twin engine aircraft for the carrier.

The DRDO is in the process of developing a Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) for the aircraft carrier. As per Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) officials, it will be operationally ready in eight years once the project secures the approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).

While the existing INS Vikrant carrier would be operating the existing Mig-29Ks in service, the Navy is looking at procuring an advanced fighter — between the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet and the Dassault Aviation Rafale, which will fill the gap in the interim before the TEDBF is inducted by 2032.

INS Vikrant has over 2,300 compartments, designed for a crew of around 1,700 people, including specialised cabins to accommodate women officers.

The carrier has a top speed of around 28 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots with an endurance of about 7,500 nautical miles. It is 262 metres long, 62 metres wide and has a height of 59 metres. Its construction began in 2009.

The Navy said the ship is powered by four gas turbines totalling 88 MW power and has a maximum speed of 28 Knots. The IAC project has been implemented under the three phases of contract between the Ministry of Defence and Cochin Shipyard Ltd, beginning May 2007. The ship’s keel was laid in February 2009.