LCA for US Navy?
The US Navy has started earlier this year a global search for the replacement of its Boeing T-45C Goshawk fleet in use with the Naval Air Traning Command. On 19 May 2020, Scramble Magazine reported on the US Navy's request for information (RFI) for its Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS).
The RFI is focussed on the suitability of an existing land-based jet trainer aircraft design to satisfy certain requirements under consideration for the next generation US Navy undergraduate jet trainer aircraft. Of particular interest, and the subject of this RFI, is the capability of a non-development aircraft that is able to perform Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) events and Carrier touch-and-go events, and the corresponding effects of these high sink rate landings.
By surprise, India has sent a detailed project plan to the US Naval Air Systems Command, offering the Lead-in Fighter Trainer (LIFT) variant of its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). The offer includes advanced avionics that enables the LIFT-LCA to mimic almost all types of fighter aircraft – from cockpit display to control performances. The fighter trainer is based on the LCA Tejas Mk1A, which has more capabilities than the earlier version of Tejas in terms of operational roles, enhancing the combat ability through the incorporation of active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, electronic warfare (EW) suite and-beyond-visual range (BVR) missiles.
A demonstrator will be produced only when the US Navy will go ahead with the selection process and shortlist it for the next step.
Although HAL responded to RFI, Scramble Magazine assesses that its is very unlikely that the US Navy opt for an aircraft as the LCA. The possible candidates for the non-development jet-trainer are the Boeing T-7A Redhawk, the KIA T-50 Golden Hawk, Aero L-39NG, M-346 Master (and possibly the M-345). In 2018, tried to participate in the US’ T-X programme which sought to replace the USAF Northrop T-38 Talon. That attempt failed from the early beginnings and the USAF eventually purchased the T-7 Red Hawk.
Photo: Atamvir, kindly provided by Airliners.net