As the Indian Na vy was about to commence Navy Day celebrations on December 4, came the news that was somewhat disconcerting for the Indian aerospace industry. The service had decided not to induct the indigenously developed naval variant of the light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk I. This platform was being developed for deployment on the INS Vikrant which is still under construction at the Cochin Shipyard. In a formal statement, Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), said, “The LCA Navy in its present form does not meet the naval qualitative requirements (QRs) to be a carrier-based aircraft. It is too heavy for the engine that it has got. It does not meet the weight and thrust ratio requirement to be able to take-off with full weapon load.”

The project to develop the LCA Tejas, the smallest and lightest multi-role supersonic combat aircraft of its class, was launched over three decades ago. Meant initially for the Indian Air Force (IAF), this single-engine, delta wing, tailless aircraft, was designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in partnership with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Later on, with the fleet of Sea Harriers approaching retirement from service, in the search for a suitable replacement, the Indian Navy evinced interest in the programme and entrusted ADA with the design and development of the naval version of the LCA capable of operating from an aircraft carrier. Special design features of the naval variant for operation from an aircraft carrier included aerodynamic enhancements to improve low speed performance, installation of arrestor hook for landing on deck, a much stronger undercarriage to cater for impact of deck landing and redesign of the cockpit for naval operations. All these features made the development programme of the naval variant a daunting challenge, significantly greater than that for the development of the version for the IAF. Consequently, the programme suffered technical glitches leading to delays and missed timelines.

The first prototype of the naval variant of the LCA Tejas, the NP-1, was rolled out in July 2010. The then Minister of Defence A.K. Antony described the event as a “defining and a memorable moment.” Although the NP-1 was expected to undertake its first flight in 2010, the programme hit a roadblock. The Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification declined its certification as it wanted HAL to reduce the weight of the landing gear. The naval variant could undertake its maiden flight nearly two years later on April 27, 2012. The second prototype, the NP-2, took to the skies on February 7, 2015. The Indian Navy had indicated a requirement for 50 aircraft to equip two front-line squadrons to operate from aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant. In fact the Indian Navy went ahead and placed an order for its first six aircraft at unit cost of $22.3 million.

At this point in time, ADA has in place two naval variants of the LCA Tejas Mk I as technology demonstrators. As pointed out by the CNS, the naval variant of the LCA Tejas equipped with the GE F404 engine is clearly underpowered. While ADA has plans to develop the LCA Tejas Mk II with the more powerful GE F414 engine, it may take more than a decade for this new platform to be a reality. While the CNS has made it clear that the Indian Navy would support indigenous effort to build an aircraft capable of operating from an aircraft carrier and meeting with the defined operating parameters, it was not prepared to compromise and accept a platform that does not meet the stipulated QRs. As the LCA Mk II may take over a decade to be available, the Indian Navy has decided to explore options to procure a suitable aircraft from abroad.

Currently, the Indian Navy has a fleet of 45 MiG-29K aircraft capable of operating from its aircraft carriers. Apparently, the service is looking for better alternatives. The issue has acquired a degree of urgency as the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant is scheduled to be deployed in December 2018. However, this date is somewhat uncertain as a recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) states that Cochin Shipyard had projected a revised delivery schedule as 2023. This gives some time to the Indian aerospace industry to resolve issues plaguing the naval Tejas.

Having invested more than Rs. 3,635 crore so far in the development of the naval variant of the LCA Tejas, the decision by the Indian Navy to reject the platform is not only hasty, but will come as a serious blow to the ‘Make in India’ campaign of the government.