First ‘engine ground run’ of LCA’s naval prototype conducted

Bangalore: An indigenous programme to build a carrier-borne naval fighter aircraft crossed another significant milestone when the first Engine Ground Run (EGR) of the LCA Tejas (navy prototype) NP1, was successfully conducted. The NP1 is the first naval prototype.

According to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the first Engine Ground Run of NP1 aircraft, conducted for its scheduled time, had the primary objective of checking aircraft to engine integration and activation of the various systems like flight control, hydraulics, fuel, electrical and avionics, which was successfully achieved.

"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, a DRDO statement said.