The Kaveri may power the twin-engined medium combat aircraft
India has begun a conceptual study into a medium combat aircraft, intended to replace air force Dassault Mirages and SepecatJaguars from around 2010, according to Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, chief scientific advisor to the Indian defence ministry.
The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is carrying out the study into what is expected to be a twin-engined, multi-role strike aircraft. Much of the technology feeding into the programme will be derived from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project, says Kota Harinarayana, LCA programme director.
The plan also calls for the use of the Kaveri engine, now being developed for the LCA by the Defence Research and Development Establishment. Kalam says that one of the technologies which will be examined is the inclusion of thrust vectoring.
Although the Kaveri engine was on display at the Bangalore show, the LCA was absent. The aircraft was rolled out early in 1995, but has yet to be flown. ADA engineers are continuing working to validate the digital flight-control system.
According to Harinarayana, the aircraft will not be flown until the second half of 1997, a further slippage on the last projected flight date of February 1997.
A second aircraft is now in final assembly, with a further four single-seat and one two-seat trainers due to join the programme.
The first two aircraft will be fitted with General Electric F404-F2s; the third prototype will be the first to fly with the Kaveri engine.
The first Kaveri is undergoing ground tests, with high-altitude testing of the engine aboard a test aircraft, scheduled to begin in 1997.
The ADA claims that the an initial operating capability for the LCA is still 2002, with a final full operational clearance expected some three years later.
Source: Flight International
