The Hindu : National : DRDO, IAF differ on LCA schedule?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 12, 2004

National

National

DRDO, IAF differ on LCA schedule?

By Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI, OCT. 11. The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) is apparently not amenable to the request by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to accelerate flight-testing of the indigenously-designed engine, Kaveri, for the light combat aircraft (LCA).

Highly-placed sources say that while no official letter has been sent to the IAF, the DRDO is unlikely to accede to the suggestion.

The Chief of the Air Staff, S. Krishnaswamy, had recently said that though work on developing India's first combat aircraft was ``slow,'' it was ``progressing reasonably well.'' He had suggested that the DRDO conduct a quality review of the project and accelerate flight-testing.

Sources said the DRDO feels that the flight-testing timetable should not be tampered with, as compressing the schedule can lead to unforeseen problems. It feels that development of the LCA is the most complex and difficult project it has taken up so far. It will be happy to continue progressing slowly, rather than speed up things and face difficulties.

Replacing U.S. parts

The DRDO is confident that without accelerating the LCA schedule, the IAF will receive the first squadron of indigenous fighters by 2007. However, the planes will be fitted with American engines. If all goes well, the second squadron should have Kaveri engines.

Though it will publicly not admit it, the IAF is not keen on having two squadrons with different engines, particularly American ones. With the armed forces having already faced trouble when the United States imposed an embargo after the 1998 nuclear tests, the IAF is not in favour of having a critical component of American origin.

The IAF persuaded the Defence Ministry to ask British Aerospace, makers of the advanced jet trainer (AJT), to replace all American components. The Ministry agreed to pursue further negotiations only after the British company complied with its request.

Of the 66 AJTs that will replace the MiGs for training rookie pilots, not one component is of U.S. origin.

As things stand, it appears that the IAF may have to reconcile itself to having American engines in the first LCA squadron, as the DRDO is not in favour of tampering with the testing schedule.

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