Bangalore, June 23, 2005, Madhuprasad (Deccan Herald News Service)

More than four-and-a-half years after its first flight, India’s prestigious aeronautical project the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), has stumbled on a roadblock. As of now, there are no takers for the indigenous aircraft.

The Indian Air Force (IAF), the only projected customer at present, has not placed an order for even a single aircraft so far with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) – the production house.

The IAF chief, during the Aero India 2005, claimed that the IAF would place orders for 40 aircraft but there have not been any concrete developments on this front. HAL, on the other hand, has launched the Limited Series Production (LSP) of the LCA.

Production is supposed to commence in 2006-07 to be completed by 2007-08.

Till now, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has forked out the money for the LSP, but once the IAF places a firm order, it would have to earmark funds from its own budget and therefore remains hesitant to do so.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has shown its commitment to the project through the approval for the manufacture of eight LSP aircraft, in addition to the prototypes sanctioned earlier.

Even then the project will become meaningful only when the air force actually places a firm order.

Test flights

According to informed sources, at least 200 successful flights are necessary to declare the end of the LCA’s Technology Demonstration (TD) phase. It has now completed over 300 flights.

Another 1,100 flights are required to obtain the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC), probably by 2010. Obviously, urgent steps are needed to ensure the successful completion of the project.

Even though LCA prototypes, referred to as the TD-1 and TD-2, flew with an indigenous Head Up Display (HUD) and the HAL’s integrated communications system (both claimed to be superior to imported equipment) many of the 40 odd systems, originally expected to be procured from the US, are still under development. This has resulted in further delay. Given that both the HAL and the IAF procure a large quantity of systems and components to meet their requirements, this needs to be done for the LCA project too. Especially engines, radar, electronic warfare and smart weapon systems, besides flight control actuators. If the IOC is not obtained by 2010, the IAF is quite likely to lose interest in the LCA project.

Additions

As of now, the IAF has ensured an adequate fighter aircraft inventory with the acquisition of the Sukhoi-30 MKI and the license production arrangement with HAL to manufacture the aircraft.

Also some Mirage 2000s, with upgraded avionics suite and armament, are also likely to be acquired soon.

Essentially the IAF is gearing itself up to cope with perceived delays over the induction of the LCA into squadron service.