Arrested recovery landing next big test for NLCA

By Anantha Krishnan M

https://twitter.com/writetake

Bengaluru, May 28: With the ongoing pre-Monsoon trials for the naval version of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) entering its last lap, the designers would now shift their focus towards the maiden arrested recovery landing missions (post-Monsoon), at INS Hansa in Goa.

While the current campaign is scheduled to end next week, sources confirm to Mathrubhumi that the prototypes would be now readied for arrester hook landing trials from the Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF), on their return to Bengaluru.

“Extensive data has been gathered so far and these would be analysed by various system groups. We would assess whether any changes need to be incorporated on the prototypes. Later, arrester hook will be installed on NP2. We have already carried out the Ground Vibration Test (GVT) and Structural Coupling Test (SCT),” an official said.

At Bengaluru, based on the flight test data, scientists have already conducted wind tunnel tests for different combinations of LEVCON (Leading Edge Vortex Controller) and Slats to obtain optimum configuration.

“Structural Test Specimen (STS) tests have already been carried out on the specially-built Main Airframe Static Test (MAST) created at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). The limit loads for high sink rate and full arrester hook loads have been successfully tested. This is an important precursor for the taxi-in engagement at the SBTF,” says the official. @Mathrubhumi

* Ski-jump launches no more a major challenge

* NLCA launches done with R-73 missiles

Full report, here: http://bit.ly/1sDHGPH

LCA NP1 all set for ski-jump trials at SBTF Goa | NP-2 likely to have first flight soon

By Anantha Krishnan M

https://twitter.com/writetake 

Bengaluru, Dec 8: Scripting a new chapter in India’s naval aviation history, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Naval Prototype-1 (NP-1) is all set to undertake critical trials at INS Hansa in Goa for the first time. Sources confirm to OneIndia that the NP-1 undertook ‘extensive pre-requisite flying’ at HAL Airport in Bengaluru ahead of its expected ferry to Goa soon. 

“The aircraft is in a good shape now. In the last two weeks alone, we did five flights. Specified speed, Mach No, altitude, Angle of Attack, undercarriage operations and ground accelerations all have been tested and found satisfactory,” an official said. 

The NP-1 (trainer variant) was rolled out with great fanfare on July 6, 2010 and the aircraft had its maiden flight on April 27, 2012. As on December 6, 2014, the platform could only achieve 29 flights. 

NP-1 to perform a challenging task at SBTF: An advance team of experts have already landed at Goa ahead of the NP-1 campaign at INS Hansa. “Modifications on the NP-1 have already done for the ski-jump activities. Ski-jump is a technologically-challenging task achieved by India. Only very few countries (US and Ukraine among known nations) can boast of a facility like SBTF,” the official said. 

The SBTF is currently regularly used by the MiG 29Ks, before their operations onboard INS Vikramaditya. “The MiG 29Ks have been undertaking ski-jump and arrester hook landing for some time now. The LCA Navy will be doing only ski-jumps now. We will have two-week preparation time ahead of the first mission,” the official added. 

The NP-1 will be ferried (flown from point to point) from HAL Airport and it would cover the distance to Goa within an hour. It will be first a home-grown naval aviation platform will to land at INS Hansa. Commodore T A Maolankar from the National Flight Test Centre is expected to pilot NP-1 during Goa mission. 

he Navy is expected to give an official name for the LCA Navy soon as they were not keen to go with Tejas. It was former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee who named the IAF variant as Tejas. The ADA-HAL-Navy teams plans to invite PM Narendra Modi for the naming ceremony in future. 

The trials at the SBTF are crucial as it would give the team confidence to undertake further trials on NP-1. A second prototype (NP-2, fighter variant) is also getting ready at the HAL hangars, which is expected to have its maiden flight before the end of this year. 

Largest R&D programme in India: The LCA programme has become the largest R&D programme India has undertaken in the military aviation/ aerospace arena. Each LCA costs around Rs 250 crore, while the GSLV is pegged at Rs 220 crore, PSLV Rs 80-100 crore and Agni Rs 50 crore. 

“Though the aircraft is dogged with some problems right now, few local sorties have set the stage for the ferry. Joining NP-1 will be PV6 trainer and probably LSP7 from the Tejas flightline. The latter two may further proceed to Leh. In parallel, the HJT-36 (Intermediate Jet Trainer) is also scheduling sea level trials and asymmetric stores jettison exercises at Goa,” an official said. 

SBTF is a tech marvel: The SBTF replicates a static model of the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) being built at the Cochin Shipyard. The SBTF has 14 deg parabolic profile ski-jump for take-off and an arresting gear for landing. The main objective of SBTF is for the certification of naval LCA for ship-borne operations, which is a mandatory requirement ahead of the aircraft’s operations onboard IAC for the carrier compatibility test (CCT). 

The SBTF is equipped with restraining gear system with ski-jump for take-off and an arresting gear system for landing. It also uses an optical landing system, TV landing control system, light signaling system and a series of auxiliary units, akin to the IAC. 

The story so far dogged in delays: Similar to its elder sibling Tejas, the Indian Air Force (IAF) variant of LCA, the NP-1 too got embroiled in serious developmental issues, delaying the project. In the past, its designers at the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and makers at the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) had to deal with nagging issues linked to the arrestor hook, landing gear and LEVCONs (control surfaces which allow for better low-speed handling). 

In an interview to OneIndia recently, Navy Chief Admiral R K Dhowan had expressed concern over the delay in LCA naval programme. “It’s an important programme for us and we have the IAC (Indigenous Aircraft Carrier) in Kochi getting ready and the SBTF waiting for LCA Navy. It’s important that the programme is speeded up,” the navy chief had said. 

Naval sources say that the Navy Chief is expected to review the progress of the project in Delhi on December 8. “The Chief will also be briefed about the scheduled events that are expected to be undertaken at SBTF,” a naval official said. 

Copyright@OneIndia

Straight from the horse's mouth: Mag report on NLCA delays & more...

C D Balaji

Here's what the LCA-Navy  boss C D Balaji had to say about his pet mission. While he is out of bounds for newspapers, it was worth finding a piece of info on NLCA after a long time. The above matter is taken from Aeromag Asia -- a publication piloted by former HAL chief CGK Nair and journalist Sunny Jerome. 

Interview courtesy: Aeromag Asia

FRRB clears NP-1 for first flight | One more HSTT next week

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Serivce

Bangalore: The naval variant (NP-1) of India's Light Combat Aircraft is ready. Having missed many deadlines like its air force avatar – Tejas, sources now confirm to Express that the Flight Readiness Review Board (FRRB) has cleared NP-1 for first flight. Rolled out on July 6, 2010 amidst cinematic settings and blessed by defence minister A K Antony, the NP-1 ran into a spate of technological challenges. As this piece goes live, the total systems onboard NP-1 have completed fault-free tests on Iron Bird – ahead of the possible maiden flight.
Sources say that the platform has so far completed four low-speed taxi trials (LSTT) and one high-speed taxi trial (HSTT). “On Thursday, the NP-1 did an HSTT at 220 kmph, lifting the nose-wheel. We are now hoping to have the first flight next week,” sources at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) said. While some crucial parts of NP-1 gave nightmares to both designers and engineers, including the bulky undercarriage, sources now confirm that the defects have been rectified.
The NP-1 will be put through another HSTT next week before the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and HAL combine take a final call on the first flight. “Everything is in place and our engineers and technicians are leaving no stone unturned ahead of the first flight. We had some software snags which have been rectified at the right time,” HAL sources said. 

(Copyright@The New Indian Express)

Flying Soon! LCA NP-1

Flying soon -- that's the best and safe way to report. There are some last-minute concerns, which are being addressed now. Sources point to two actuators (may be more) which had developed snags. Then there are landing-gear battles ADA-HAL-Navy teams are currently engaged in. These are first-time developments and we need to be patient. Will it fly this week? Is it planned for March 29? Just speculations. All the best to Team NP-1.

Coming soon: LCA NP-1

A long weight! Bulky undercarriage delayed LCA NP-1 maiden flight; ADA-HAL burn the midnight oil baking Antony's X'Mas gift!

LCA NP-1 during the EGR at Old Bangalore Airport in September 2011. Photo: DRDO 

By Anantha Krishnan M.

Express News Service

Bangalore: It's official. The undercarriage of the naval version (Naval Prototype NP-1) of India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is bulky by 400-500 kg. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), who are jointly developing the NP-1, is burning the midnight oil to iron out what they call 'nagging developmental issues.' NP-1 is a trainer with tandem seating and NP-2 will be a single-seat fighter.

Insiders associated with the programme attributed the delay in NP-1's first flight to the undercarriage. “In September 2010, we observed that the undercarriage was over-sized. During traction-retraction and the undercarriage's incorporation into the fuselage, there were many surprises awaiting us. This is a very critical piece with the hitting impact on the ship going to be much higher,” an official with HAL's Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) said. The official claimed that the issues related to the arrestor hook, landing gear and LEVCONs (control surfaces which allow for better low-speed handling) are being addressed completely. Interestingly, the undercarriage was built by HAL.

With the Naval Project Team (NPT) monitoring every bit of the NP-I closely, the official told The New Indian Express that all future aircraft in the naval programme will come with a new undercarriage. In September this year, NP-1 had successfully completed the engine ground run (EGR) and the taxi trials are set to begin soon. “We will fly the NP-I with the same undercarriage making some slight corrections. If a lighter undercarriage has to be integrated at this stage, it will delay the programme further. We cannot rush the project. Young boys are putting their hearts out and working seven days a week. Making planes are not child's play,” the official said.

Sources at ADA say that efforts are in full swing to make the fly NP-1 ahead of Navy Day (December 4). Capt Maolankar of National Flight Test Centre is likely to fly NP-1 on its maiden flight. During the roll out of NP-1 on July 6, 2010, an excited Defence Minister A K Antony had said that he was confident that the ADA-HAL-Navy team would swing it and make NP-1 fly by December end. “It will be the best New Year gift to the nation,” Antony had said then.

With yet another New Year throttling down for a landing, it is left to be seen whether Team NP-1 can gift Antony an X'Mas gift in the form of a first flight.

Weight and watch!

Copyright@The New Indian Express

Tech integration challenges hit LCA Navy; NP-1 set for engine ground run

By Abraham V. Kuruvilla

Close to one year after its roll out (July 6, 2010), the first prototype of India’s ambitious Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) naval variant (NP-1) is overcoming a series of technological challenges that have cropped-up during its development stage. NP-1 is a trainer version of the naval variant with tandem seating, while NP-2 will be the fighter version and single-seater.

Having missed many deadlines (which is understandable considering the complex issues involved with a naval platform), the officials now say that the much-awaited first flight would take place only in September. This too only if all the issues are ironed out.

Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) P.S. Subramanyam tells Tarmak007 that the delay is mainly due to the challenges being posed by some of the new technologies during the integration stage. “We had problems related to the landing gear, arrestor hook, and LEVCONs (control surfaces which allow for better low-speed handling). This is how technology development occurs.  Now we have sorted out all major issues and have tested all naval systems. The structural coupling test has also been completed. The NP-1 is now ready for the engine ground run,” he said. 

Normally, the first flight can occur approximately six weeks after the engine ground run. “After the EGR, we will have the low and high-speed taxi trials and then the first flight. Developing the NP-2 is our next task.  Being a single-seater, the development of NP-2 will be faster,” the ADA chief said.

He said the shore-based test facility (SBTF) coming up in Goa is proceeding ‘ahead of the schedule.’ By October 2011, the take-off area will be ready and by next year (2012) the landing area too will be in place.

NP-1 is the first indigenous effort to build a complete air element for the Indian Navy. With a GE-F-404-IN20 power-plant, NP-I is designed for ski jump take off and arrested landing, with high landing loads. The platforms after NP-1 and NP-2, will be powered by the GE-F-414 engines.

(Posted by the author, a Tarmak007 intern from Madras University.

Limited updates on the blog till July.)

Men, Machine, MoD & Media! Yesterday’s Breaking News, Today! LCA Navy rolled out. Here’s all that you didn’t know!

The photographs might not be of top quality as it is taken with the blogger's amateur camera. I did not make an attempt to give captions, fearing that it will be bigger than the report!

Apologies! I am writing this piece on the historic roll-out of LCA Navy in Bangalore on July 6, 2010, 24 hours after the event. It’s 24 hours after my fellow-bloggers broke those exclusive visuals; 24 hours after my friends in the electronic media did the PTC from the vantage angles; 24 hours after my print pals wrote their stories and snippets; 24 hours after the shooting spree by shutterbugs. The show is over. All the showmen have left. Now, what’s the big deal? Read on…It’s NOT exclusive!
My birthday gift?: This blogger turned 37 on July 6. Friends on Facebook joked on the Wall that the ‘nation gifted an LCA to you’. SMSes and calls wishing good health and happiness started coming in from morning. Amidst all these feel-good moments, I reached the Aircraft Research and Development Centre (ARDC) to cover the event for Aviation Week. The stage was set for the big show. Like, relatives anxiously waiting for the bride and groom to tie the knot, journalists waited at their designated spot. The Navy Band played some stunning numbers, keeping the crowd enthralled. The who’s who of ADA, HAL, DRDO and NAL were all in attendance, sporting their designer ties. The back-room boys were running helter-skelter, ensuring everything was in place.
Antony checks-in: The smart MC signaled the arrival of India’s defence minister AK Antony at HAL airport. “Any moment he will be here,” he announced. Soon, Antony checked-in along with his parivar from Dilli. The convoy… the mad rush to open the door of his Ambassador… salutes… flashes… Amidst all this madness, usual with a VIP arrival, the small-built-big-man of Indian defence occupied the dais. Honestly, the minister was hardly visible from a distance. His low  chair was the villain. Then the bouquet and the mineral water bottle in front of him blocked whatever was visible of his head. In fact the lone man standing behind him — a security official — kept pointing out to the organizers that the chair was too low.
A world record for praises: The show began. Speeches, one after the other. ADA Chief, PD LCA Navy, HAL Chairman, DRDO Chief, Secretary DP, Chief of Naval Staff, HAL’s Director Design and Antony all had their share of time to get a huge applause from the audience. Probably PD LCA walked away with the best and informative speech, capturing the essence of LCA Navy. Close to him was Navy Chief, who wanted to learn from the past and put the aircraft to the skies at the earliest. Others used the occasion to praise, praise and praise one another. HAL Chairman Ashok Nayak started with his now-famous opening remark in Kannada: Namaskara. It packs a punch, and is loaded with tons of energy. It can knock you out of your chair if you are not seated properly. His ‘Namaskara’ often gets him the first round of applause.
As the non-stop praising session continued, the many self-styled defence journalists and experts seated in the press box, including this blogger, began to get more and more frustrated. Soon, Antony’s turn came and he started with an apology for arriving late. “An unusual scene at Delhi airport caused the delay. I am sorry for it,” he took off. Applause. Then, the minister started his speech, playing to the gallery. “You promised me that the LCA Navy will fly by October. You must keep that word, I say,” he told the stars on the dais. They all nodded their heads, probably knowing the ground realities! Antony won the hearts of all those present, with his inimitable style of speech. It was like the wife telling the husband: “You promised me to take me out for dinner…” We will wait and see if ADA-HAL will keep up the word given to Antony.
Unsung hero remembered: The most striking point of the day was when the father of the LCA programme, Dr Kota Harinarayana, was remembered by the elite guests on dais. Dr Kota, the unassuming and charming hero was seated in the audience. It would have been a fitting tribute to the legend of Indian aviation, had the organisers at least given him a bouquet, out of the large number available. Even today, most of the scientists, designers and engineers associated with the LCA programme never fail to thrill to the very name of Dr Kota.
A class act:  Events organized by HAL are definitely getting better by the day. Most insiders give the credit to Ashok Nayak, whose skills as an organizer need no introduction. He is known for doing things in style. The Aero India HAL stalls in 2005, ‘07 and ‘09, the first HAL-built Hawk handing-over event, the HAL Kasargode facility stone-laying ceremony, the first ever HAL Day event, the LCH first flight and now the LCA Navy have all graduated from one level to another. There’s definitely class to HAL events, though there are some insiders who question the money spent on all these events. While some in the media were still wondering whether a roll-out needs so much hype and celebration, there’s not much one can do, as it has become an acceptable norm for Indian defence and aerospace establishments to tell the world about their achievements in style. A roll-out is like the engagement, and the first flight may be like the wedding! So, LCA Navy will now undergo end-to-end system checks, ground run, low/high speed taxi trials and eventually make its first flight. We will be there again!
The roll out: Oops! I am missing the moment. So, LCA Navy amid man-made smoke, lights and applause was rolled out of the ARDC hangar, with a man seated inside. The MC screamed -- THE LIGHT COMBAT AIRCRAFT LCA NAVY (read each word with a 2-second pause to get the impact.)  The man inside the cockpit waved the Tri-Colour, and that was the most defining moment of the day. A.R. Rahman’s Vande Mataram played in the background — the perfect song to fit the mood. Within no time, Antony & Co was shepherded to the cockpit. It was a great sight to watch Antony in the cockpit in his trademark white mundu and white khadi shirt. He obliged photographers and waved. It was like a pilot waving after a landmark maiden flight. Truly, it was a great moment for Indian aviation.
The LCH flight: Antony got an opportunity to witness the flight of Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) after the LCA navy roll out.  (He had missed its maiden LCH flight on May 23, owing to the Boeing crash in Mangalore a day before.) The LCH, definitely a mean and sturdy machine, performed some limited maneuvers. Team LCH won the hearts of the media again, with most of them getting yet another opportunity for an up-close with the machine.
The press meet:  Probably this was the most disastrous event of the day. Seated next to Antony were the DRDO Chief, Navy Chief, Secretary - Defence Production, and HAL Chairman. It’s very, very rare that the Bangalore Media get to see all the five at one go. But, barely four questions, and the press meet was over in 15 minutes. A question on Kashmir, coastal surveillance, Navy satellite and one more. Just can’t figure out the logic behind enacting this farce. Disappointment was writ large on the face of many who wanted to ask questions, but never got a chance, because the minister was in a hurry. “He wanted just 10 minutes for the press meet,” was the official version given. The questions barely went beyond the first row. The only surprise at the press meet was the HAL chief making the members of the media hand over the LCH models to Antony and his team.
Media woes: A couple of senior journalists met Antony soon after the press meet and requested him to facilitate exposure to Bangalore journalists, as 95 per cent of those covering or writing on defence and aviation in Bangalore seldom visited a facility outside Bangalore. And, 90 per cent of them would not have seen even the facilities in Bangalore! Antony agreed to the demands and asked his Media Head Sitanshu Kar to look into the matter. With the rumbles in the Bangalore journo fraternity growing and a strong forum of defence writers all set to take wing, the days ahead will tell us if Antony has got the message right. “In a year, we get to see the Defence Minister once or twice, and our interactions are limited to just 10 to 15 minutes. The best period for Bangalore journalists covering defence was during the tenure of George Fernandes as he was very pro-active to our needs,” a senior journalist with a national TV channel said.
The missing man: DRDO’s Media Head from Delhi Ravi Gupta was barely seen during the entire exercise. Though DRDO was carpet-bombing the media with press releases, the man supposed to be taking care of the media was missing in action. Most of the Bangalore journalists did not see the new media head of DRDO. With this blogger chasing him for the last two months to organize a visit to Bangalore’s DRDO labs (just a 2-minute walk from my house),  he probably had strong reasons to play the ‘hiding game’! It’s time Dr Saraswat and team put some pro-active media managers in Delhi during the ongoing DRDO revamp. It's a shame that DRDO, despite all the  non-stop negative publicity it receives, don't want to put in place an effective branding mechanism.
Finally, tarmak007 salutes the efforts of many unsung heroes who contributed to the success of LCA Navy at ADA and HAL. Best wishes for the maiden LCA Navy flight. Cheers!

The CNS interview: LCA (Navy) would add punch to the Navy’s Blue water vision: Admiral Nirmal Verma

Catch an exclsuive interview with CNS Admiral Nirmal Verma on the occasion of LCA (Navy-NP-1) roll out on this blog and Aviation Week. Interview going live Friday evening.