Indian Navy's Acquisition of 12 LCA-Navy Trainer Aircraft Delayed Due to Rigorous Testing Requirements, Order Unlikely Before 2027

The Indian Navy's plan to procure 12 LCA-Navy Trainer aircraft for deck-based training of its fighter pilots has hit a snag. According to a naval official, the acquisition is facing delays due to the Navy's insistence on rigorous testing and finalization of the aircraft's configuration before clearing it for production.

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has manufactured three LCA-Navy aircraft so far, including two trainers and one single-seater variant. These aircraft are serving as technology demonstrators (TD) for the Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) program, gathering crucial data and validating systems required for carrier operations.

However, to effectively serve as a trainer for aircraft carrier operations, the LCA-Navy Trainer requires further modifications. These modifications are still being finalized, leading to uncertainty about the timeline for the aircraft's final configuration.

The Indian Navy envisions the LCA-Navy Trainer as a crucial step in its pilot training pipeline, following the Hawk 132 Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs). This would provide pilots with valuable experience in taking off and landing from aircraft carriers, preparing them for both the Rafale M and the future TEDBF.

The delay is primarily attributed to the rigorous testing and validation process demanded by the Navy. The development and testing of the LCA-Navy directly influence the TEDBF project, making it essential for the trainer variant to meet all operational requirements before proceeding to production.

Another potential factor contributing to the delay is the LCA-Navy Trainer's use of the same GE F-404 engine as the single-seat IAF version. This engine has faced supply issues in other HAL projects, potentially causing further delays.

While a naval official has indicated that the final configuration of the LCA-Navy Trainer might be finalized soon, the placement of an order is still expected to take time due to the meticulous testing and validation process. It is now estimated that the order for the LCA-Navy Trainer might not materialize before 2027.

This delay highlights the Indian Navy's commitment to ensuring that its pilots are trained on the most capable and reliable aircraft possible. While the delay is undoubtedly a setback, it underscores the Navy's focus on long-term operational readiness and safety.

 

[sanket]

Well, at least the Naval LCA, with additional modification and rigorous testing, will be finalized by 2027, while the Rafale M trainer version was absent from Dassault's naval fighter jet pitch for Naval Tender 26. At least ADA is validating systems and features demanded by the Indian Navy for carrier operation. It will take time. TEDBF is expected to be the last fighter jet to be inducted among Tejas MK2 and AMCA.

Developing one fighter at a time and developing four fighters are different. Some aero-giants can't even develop one fighter at the same time; it takes decades, and very few in the world have mastered developing naval versions of fighter jets. ADA has enough time to do additional modification and rigorous testing, plus the engine delay is one factor. TEDBF is set for its first flight after 2030.

 

[Bks98]

How long testing will go on For the naval version?

 

[Mithun Raj]

Excellent approach by navy and ADA to have naval Tejas for training.
this will give very good data and information for future design efforts.
Even mark 2 can be placed as a good option for mig 29 since they too have a very limited range and payload

 

[Anant]

How long testing will go on For the naval version?

12-18 months or so, I'd imagine. Among other things, testing would involve taking one or two of the Tejas Ns to sea abroad a carrier, and doing extensive take-off and landing testing to look at wear and tear, mechanical reliability, etc.

 

[sanket]

How long testing will go on For the naval version?

The naval version is different and very complex compared to land-based fighter jet development. This is India's first naval fighter jet development program, plus it's single-engine, so it will definitely take time, but it is crucial for developing TEDBF. A very small number of countries have mastered this. TEDBF has time for rollout; before that, LCA Naval will be perfected.

Engine supply is also a problem. Twelve is a big number considering GE is unable to deliver a single engine to date. Second, GE hasn't yet enhanced its engine production rate for GE404. Preference will be given to the 83 LCA MK1A order for engine integration, as GE is likely/expected to supply 12 to 16 engines per year in 2025, subject to supply chain issues being sorted out. I think for landing and takeoff from the deck, it will be better to have an integrated GE-404 engine rather than testing on a reserve engine. LCA Naval, being single-engine and with a reserve engine, will be very risky.

 

[venkat]

Did Indian Navy test anything at all before ordering the Mig-29K?

 

[Aayush Pratap]

Even coders don't do this much testing... 😆 😂

 

[beencensured]

Excellent approach by navy and ADA to have naval Tejas for training.
this will give very good data and information for future design efforts.
Even mark 2 can be placed as a good option for mig 29 since they too have a very limited range and payload

Original plane was the Tejas naval to fly with gef414 engines, and so would have been a Tejas mk2 naval.

 

[Akshat]

Did Indian Navy test anything at all before ordering the Mig-29K?

Well firstly, there were only 2 options for India at the time - Su 33 or Mig29. Migs were already operating with IAF and did a great job during Kargil. Furthermore, they did test Mig 29s, and even added a number of specific features to them.

And moreover, the era of favoring Russia is over now. More relevant question is, did they test Rafales before ordering them? And the answer is a resounding yes.

 

[Sandeep]

It’s very important that we do provide the navy with at least a squadron of different variants of the Tejas naval jets.

Primarily we can use half a squadron of the Tejas naval jet to test different type of technology and equipment like a radar or EW suite etc that we are developing so that we can install it on the TEDBF.

We should also use the other half of a squadron to train and test pilots so they can get a lot of experience and practice on how to take off or how to land on a carrier jet. This will mean that pilots before being tested on the naval rafale twin seat jets will have more practice and experience before the are tested with the advanced technology and capabilities. This will reduce the risk of any training accident or crashing a very expensive modern Rafale naval jet due to any inexperience and pilot errors.

 

[VF VF1]

Now trainers are not actual fighters, so an underpowered Kaveri, whenever it is certified from Russia (within 3 months by March 2025), is okay to be fitted with an afterburner, again certified, and made as a Trainer LCA-Kaveri for the IAF and IN as well.

 

[VF VF1]

@Sandeep
Right now for next 2 years you dont have even 1 surplus GE-404 IN 20 engine so forget all these

 

[kumar]

With the present engine issue, this won't affect the project that much. But we need to negotiate for f404 production in India. Atleast after trump takes over.

 

[Sandeep]

Right now for next 2 years you dont have even 1 surplus GE-404 IN 20 engine so forget all these

Yes there are engine delays but we can still place the orders and just install the engine whenever they arrive or they can install an older variant used in testing the Tejas MK1 jets.

 

[Anant]

@Sandeep
One Tejas N squadron would help, yes, but these need to be homogenous. A mix-and-match of different Tejas variants is a logistical nightmare. As for the rest, I agree.

 

[Anant]

Well firstly, there were only 2 options for India at the time - Su 33 or Mig29. Migs were already operating with IAF and did a great job during Kargil. Furthermore, they did test Mig 29s, and even added a number of specific features to them.

And moreover, the era of favoring Russia is over now. More relevant question is, did they test Rafales before ordering them? And the answer is a resounding yes.

True, and a few more points about why the MiG-29K was chosen over the Su-33:

1. The Su-33 was already an older aircraft type that had proven to be a massive maintenance headache (even more than the MiG-29K would be). Moreover, they had seen a fair number of losses / damage incidents.

2. The Su-33 had never been upgraded, and so was essentially a 1980s fighter in the 2000s. On the other hand, the MiG-29K, while rejected by Russia after their carrier program collapsed, had been kept up to date by the Mikoyan Bureau, and was logistically very similar to the MiG-29SM.

3. The Su-33 was very large aircraft, and given the limited size of the hangar and elevators of the Vikramaditya, using the Su-33 would mean fewer aircraft (one estimate is that this would have given a total of 18 aircraft and 10 helicopters as opposed to 26 aircraft and 10 helicopters with the MiG-29K).