LCA far from acquiring combat worthiness

By Atul Aneja

NEW DELHI, JAN. 4. The maiden flight of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) this morning is an important milestone in the development of this plane. But the much-delayed LCA is expected to take years before it can be fielded in combat.

The LCA, at one point of time, was meant to be the backbone of the fighter fleet of the Indian Air Force. Designed as a multipurpose plane, it was meant to intercept incoming hostile planes as well as to undertake ground attack offensive missions deep into enemy territory. Not surprisingly, designers say that the plane can attack with a four-tonne combat load. Apart from interdiction, the LCA was meant to be technologically equipped to jam enemy radars as well as specialise in night warfare.

Given its multi-role capability, the LCA's induction was central to make the IAF a ``lean and mean force'' based on hi-tech multipurpose planes. It was also meant as replacement for most of the MiG series planes with the IAF.

Despite this morning's flight, the LCA may be delayed. According to the Ministry of Defence, the LCA may be ready for combat duty ``not before 2012, and probable by 2015''. That would mean that the interdiction of this plane will take place after 32 years of its sanction in 1983. An estimated Rs. 3,000 crores have already been invested in this project.

The development of engines is central to this project. India's earlier venture, the HF-24, which was developed with German help in the sixties, suffered because of an underpowered engine. Several HF-24s were shot down during combat with Pakistan as they were lethargic in pulling up after a strike on account of a deficient engine. The Kaveri engine, which is being developed for the LCA, has already completed more than 1000 hours of testing in Russia. The LCA is expected to be fitted with the Kaveri engines by 2005 and during initial trials it is being powered by the U.S.-built GE-404 engines. Given the delays in developing the LCA, the IAF has made its contingency plans. It has already signed a nearly $ 3- billion deal for manufacturing around 140 Russian origin SU-30 planes in India. With the acquisition of over seven squadrons, which would be progressively inducted, the multi-role SU-30 is likely to be the backbone of the IAF in the next 20 years or so. The IAF is also upgrading the MiG-21 planes in order to off-set the LCA delays.

Since the LCA is likely to take another 15 years to develop, technologically it may not be the frontline plane at the lapse of this period. In fact, the IAF by then may be looking for technologically superior alternative to the SU-30 by then. The IAF's interest in the LCA by 2015 is therefore questionable.

Development of the LCA, however, will help in creating valuable infrastructure, generating advanced skills for aircraft designing and manufacture which can be harnessed subsequently.

SLRDC avionic systems flown in LCA

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, JAN. 4. The Strategic Electronics Research and Design Centre (SLRDC) at the Hindustan Aeronatics Limited (HAL) here has announced that eight avionic systems designed by it had flown in the maiden flight of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) here on Wednesday.

In a press release, Mr. S.K. Rawal, General Manager, SLDRC, said the systems included the main communication system for air-to-air and air-to-ground communication, a standby communication system, a radio altimeter for measuring the aircraft's altitude while in flight, an audio management unit for giving different audio signals to the pilot and an identification friend or foe unit.

The electrical and engine monitoring system, a digital hydraulic electronic unit and a starter engine control unit, developed for the first time are said to be flight critical items and are used for monitoring and controlling several parameters of the aircraft, which are a part of its fly-by-wire system.

Mr. Rawal said that the indigenous development of all these items opened up a vista of possibilities for development of avionic systems for future aircraft programmes. He said the systems would go into production at the Hyderabad unit of the HAL.

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