Monday, Jun 24, 2002
Monday, Jun 24, 2002 |
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By Our Special Correspondent
Speaking to presspersons here on Sunday, he said the main strength of the proposed LCA would be its ability to take off and land even from the decks of small aircraft carriers. He said the required clearances for the naval aircraft were expected to be received soon. Dr. Harinarayana expressed optimism that limited production of the LCA for the Indian Air Force would be possible by 2006 as planned earlier. As of now, it was proposed to build eight aircraft but the production of some more was likely to be cleared this year. He said the second Technology Demonstration (TD-II) flight of the LCA earlier this month had gone off successfully paving the way for testing further prototypes. The third prototype was likely to be tested by this year-end out of the seven technology demonstrations proposed before commencing limited production. He expressed satisfaction over the performance of the indigenously-developed Kaveri engine during testing on the land. It would be put to high-altitude testing after the development of two prototypes. About the transport plane, which is also on the LCA's drawing board, he said it would be a multi-role aircraft with a capacity to carry 120 passengers or cargo of equivalent weight. It would be more advanced than the transport planes in the AN series produced by Russia. Answering a question, he said the delay in inducting a new aircraft like the LCA into the air force was `not unreasonable'. It had taken countries like the U.S., Britain, Germany and Italy between 10 and 12 years to induct new generation aircraft into the defence forces whereas India would be taking 16 years. He said the main reason for this was the fact that the last fighter aircraft was built in India in 1962 and there was no further activity for nearly 25 years. "Aeronautics is a field where you have to run to stay where you are," he added. Dr. Harinarayana said the credit for getting full-scale clearance for the LCA went to A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, who persuaded the Centre to sanction it in 1993. He said few people were aware that Dr. Kalam was Director-General of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which was developing the LCA. Y. S. Rajan, Scientific Secretary to the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, who was also present, said that nearly a third of the 60 home grown projects promoted by TIFAC ( Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council) were coming up in Andhra Pradesh. He said it was a good sign that the State was witnessing a higher level of entrepreneurial activity. Both the scientists were here to participate in seminar organised by IQRA Society for Career Guidance.
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