The light combat aircraft’s (LCA) flight demonstration which Defence Minister A K Anthony witnessed on Tuesday at Bangalore symbolises the trials and tribulations of Indian R&D. The LCA development which involves a triangular relationship between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has been mired in controversy since the early 1980s.

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) – a part of DRDO – was created to oversee the LCA programme with assistance from HAL. The LCA which was supposed to make its first test flight in 1991 flew only 10 years later in 2001. Such a long delay in the project management schedule has financial implications and is estimated to have raised the expenditure from Rs 1,500 crore to Rs 2,750 crore. Apparently the conflictual relationship between the three stake holders – the DRDO, the HAL and the IAF also compounded the delay.

Today the LCA programme has cost the exchequer over Rs 5000 crore, while the IAF is considering procurement of 126 multi role combat aircraft from Western aeronautics majors. It is a tragedy that the LCA even today does not meet the IAF’s air staff requirements or product specifications. The aircraft is overweight and therefore the US made GE-F 404 engine lacks the desired thrust to power the LCA. Moreover, the indigenously designed Kaveri engine that was supposed to replace the US engine is nowhere in sight. While the challenges and complexities of aero-engine development are understandable, good techno-commercial decision making is necessary to overcome these problems. Now the DRDO has made the proposal to opt for joint aero-engine development with foreign manufacturers. But no decision has been taken. Evidently, major flaws characterise the LCA project management.

The ADA was envisaged originally as a funding, managing and monitoring agency for the LCA programme and the HAL was supposed to undertake the development of the aircraft. Initially the ADA kept out the IAF from the LCA programme but lately the Air Force appears to be driving it. The politics of military aeronautics has plagued the LCA programme for far too long and it is high time that those responsible should deliver the goods on time.