India Successfully Flight Tests Naval LCA Variant

India has announced the successful maiden flight of the naval variant of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). The first prototype of the LCA Naval variant NP-1 took to the skies today from HAL Airport in Bangalore. The flight lasted about 20 minutes within the designated flight envelope and had been carried out with landing gear extended as a routine practice during the flight. The development plan of the Naval version envisages building of 2 prototypes, a two seat trainer (NP-1) and a single seat fighter (NP-2), as technology demonstrators to carry out carrier suitability certification and weapons integration. The naval variant will have additional features such as the LEVCON (Leading Edge Vortex Control Surface) to reduce the forward speed of the aircraft during carrier landing, Telescopic Landing Gear with high sink rate, Arrester Hook for deck recovery and fuel dump system for emergency deck recovery. The aircraft is specifically designed for take-off from a 14 degree ramp on the aircraft carrier deck and uses the Arrester Hook System to facilitate landing within the deck length of 90 meters.