Mock up model of lca-tejas Naval version

The naval prototypes are designated has NP-1 and NP-2; these are respectively the two-seat and single-seat variants. A design permitting operation from a carrier deck with a 14º ski-jump was approved in early 1999 and the final design was frozen , and development go-ahead was granted in mid-2002, although major funding was not released until early 2003. The naval prototypes have strengthened landing gear and other necessary modifications for service on an aircraft carrier. NP-1 is planned to achieve first flight in 2007, followed by NP-2 the next year.current status of development of this naval prototypes is not yet know but ,In April 2003, the MoD released to ADA the sum of Rs10 billion (USD210 million) for developing two prototypes, single-seat NP-2 and tandem-seat NP-1 , NP-1 and NP-2 prototypes, will be powered by F404-GE-IN20 turbofans, which have been developed specifically for the Tejas by GE, following a USD105 contract awarded by ADA to GE in February 2004 to develop and deliver 17 such engines by this December, and another 20 by early 2008.Both aircrafts NP-1 and NP-2 will commence their carrier launch-and-recovery flight trials in late 2009 from INS Vikramaditya, and are expected to enter service by 2012.it will carry similar weapons package as to airforce version of tejas but with more role dedicated to anti ship role and air defence ,it has been reported that russian aviation experts are helping in the Naval Tejas development and navy is expected to order 20 plus aircraft with 60 more in future orders

LEVCON

LEVCON ( Leading Edge Vortex CONtroller ) is a deflectable aerodynamic device in wing apex region LEVCON surface is deflected +20 (down) to 30 (up) from its neutral position.Downward deflection of LEVCON is used for reducing aproach speed for carrier landing

ARRESTER HOOK

Recovery on the ship will be by using aircraft arrester hook engaging ship's arresting gear with 90m wire pull out,the aircraft will experience deceleration of nearly 4.5g during deck landing. also nose landing gear will experience higher loads due to a larger pitch moment at the instant of hook engagement

LANDING GEAR

Main and Nose undercarriage has been designed for a significantly higer sink rate of 7.5m/s arising out of the requirement of a fixed glide slope and flare less landing on a carrier deck. A new telescopic design has been adopted for LCA-NAVY .

3D-CAD CENTER FUSELAGE IMAGE

Center fuselage structure of NP (Naval Prototype)-1 that has been strengthened

CANOPY OF NP-1

Canopy of the NP-1 is very similar to that of the airforce's Tejas Trainer version

SPECIAL RUNWAY

After series of NP-1 flights take place a Special runway has been modified in Naval aviation base (INS HANSA) in Goa to carry out simulated aircraft carrier certification, the runway has been laid with special arrester cables on certain section of the runway to test and simulate carrier landing ,at least four arrester cables will be laid on the certain section of the runway and when the aircraft's arrestor hook touches the cable (Third) the hydraulic mechanism which is connected to the cables when the cables run out of after engagement, thereby stopping the aircraft.carrier landing test will allow to examine the pressure put on the arrestor hooks and the aircraft airframe , while to simulate carrier take off runway will be raised to simulate the carrier take off ,this runway will also be used for future Training of naval pilots for naval tejas