In a major development, India pitched LCA Tejas LIFT (Lead in Fighter Trainer) also known as SpORT to United States Navy for their requirement of Jet Training System.
As reported by ET, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited responded to a official Request For Information (RFI) issued by United States Navy for their global search for Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS).
Tejas LIFT, which India offering to US will be based on Tejas Naval Airframe with MK-1A standard avionics and sensors.
Apart from HAL, 3 other contender are also participating in the competition. First one is from Boeing/Saab which is offering their T-7 Red Hawk jet, Second one is from Italian company Leonardo, offering T-100 Integrated Air Training System and the final is from Korea Aerospace Industries/Lockheed Martin KAI T-50 Golden Eagle.
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Out of these all platform, HAL Tejas LIFT is the most advance platform and it is meeting every parameters of the tender.
Tejas LIFT is equipped with an advance cockpit and fitted with wide area Multi Functional Display, means data from all the different sensors will reflect on a single screen.
The aircraft cockpit will come up with a side stick controller instead of centre controller stick, just like all the modern western aircraft, which makes it perfect for US Navy.
LIFT incorporates advanced avionics that enables it to emulate almost all types of fighter jets, from cockpit display layout to control performances during training.
As per RFI, US Navy requires an operational platform and HAL Tejas is the only aircraft in this competition which has proven landing and flying capability from an aircraft carrier – INS Vikramaditya.
Meanwhile Naval Tejas is develop to launch from STOBAR carriers but it can be easily modified to launch CATOBAR platform.
US Navy requires more than 300 of such platform and it can become a big opportunity for India, if HAL able to win this competition.
Although, one thing that can go against HAL in this competition is the presence of two big Defence companies (Lockheed Martin and Boeing) of United States in the competition.
