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The Indian Navy's plan to procure eight Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Navy Trainer jets is facing significant delays as the service insists on the successful completion of extensive trials before finalising the acquisition.
These indigenous aircraft are considered essential for establishing a robust, in-house training programme for pilots learning to operate from the decks of India's aircraft carriers.
The proposed acquisition aims to form at least two squadrons of the naval trainers. These jets are designed to provide aspiring naval aviators with critical hands-on experience in carrier take-offs and landings.
This would fill a crucial training gap that currently exists after pilots complete their initial instruction on the BAE Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT), which is not capable of carrier operations.
A domestic training solution would reduce the reliance on overseas training facilities and older aircraft for this specialised skill set.
Sources indicate that the formal procurement process for the eight LCA-Navy Trainers, which are based on the Mk1 platform, has made little headway in recent months.
The delay is not due to a lack of interest from naval leadership but stems from the Navy's stringent requirement that the aircraft's final design and capabilities be fully tested and proven before a contract is signed.
The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the aircraft's developer, is currently using the existing prototypes for other advanced research, but many specific carrier-qualification tests for the Navy remain pending.
The LCA-Navy Trainer is envisioned as the vital intermediate step for pilots transitioning from the land-based Hawk AJT to frontline naval fighter jets like the MiG-29K and the Dassault Rafale-M.
By using these trainers, pilots can master Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) manoeuvres—the method used for launching from and landing on Indian carriers like the INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant.
This will help build a self-reliant and consistently trained group of carrier-qualified pilots in India.
The existing trainer prototypes are also playing a dual role as technology demonstrators for India's future naval aircraft.
They are providing invaluable data for the development of the more advanced Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF), a flagship programme for the nation's aviation self-reliance goals.
A third prototype trainer, designated NP5, has already completed its maiden flight, helping to accelerate the overall testing and validation process.
Furthermore, these platforms are being used by the ADA to test futuristic concepts like Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUMT), where a pilot in one aircraft can control uncrewed systems.
Despite the current procurement hurdles, ongoing discussions between the Navy and the Ministry of Defence signal a firm commitment to inducting these indigenous trainers.
The future timeline for their official induction and the formation of operational squadrons now depends entirely on the successful completion of pending trials and the finalisation of the aircraft's configuration by the ADA.
