Article Posted on : - Sep 28, 2011

A replica of naval LCA of India.

BANGALORE (PTI): The effort to build a carrier-borne naval fighter aircraft for Indian Navy achieved a significant milestone with the first successful Engine Ground Run of the first LCA Navy prototype, NP1, by DRDO.

Inching closer to the first test flight of the naval version of the Light Combat Aircraft, the defence agency successfully conducted engine trials of the warplane in Bangalore.

The first Engine Ground Run of NP1 aircraft, conducted at around 1830 hrs on Monday at its scheduled time, had the primary objective of checking the aircraft to engine integration and activation of various systems like flight control, hydraulics, fuel, electrical and avionics, which was successfully achieved, a DRDO statement said Tuesday.

“The aircraft will now go through a phase of refinements based on feedback identified during the course of the build up and also observed during the EGR, followed by a series of final integration checks and taxi trials before its maiden flight shortly,” DRDO said.

The team steering LCA (Navy) project comprises members of Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, HAL, DRDO, Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA), CSIR Labs, educational institutions, and other public and private sector partners.