RAJYA SABHA
The initial operational
clearance of indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) will be
obtained for induction in Indian Air Force by year 2005-2006
and Final operational clearance by 2008.
Various phases of development
of LCA were accorded sanction by the government as under:-
|
Initial sanction -August
|
1983 |
| Phase 1 of Full Scale Engineering Development
(FSED) |
June 1993 |
| Phase 2 of FSED |
November 2001 |
Development delays are attributable
to technological difficulties, non-availability of infrastructure,
revision of development strategy by increasing indigenous content
and US sanctions imposed in May 1998. Light Combat Aircraft
incorporates state-of-the-art technologies. Flight test programme
is being accelerated through efficient use of software and by
resorting to multiple shift operations. Time schedule of production
phase has been compressed by dovetailing Limited Series Production
with Flight Test Phase.
This information was given
by the Defence Minister Shri George Fernandes in a written reply
to Smt NP Durga in Rajya Sabha today.
