Verma succeeds Kota as LCA project chief

BANGALORE: The Ministry of Defence on Friday issued official orders confirming the change of guard at Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the guardians of India''s pet fighter jet Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
Kota Harinarayana, the man who toiled to see the indigenous metal bird take to the skies, stepped down paving way for M.B. Verma, who took over as programme director, LCA.Air-Marshal (retd) Philip Rajkumar has already taken over as the ADA Director.
Verma told The Times of India that his first task would be to ensure that the TD-1 starts flying with changed control law for variable gains. "We will have to complete the design of PV1 which will be kept ready for weaponisation," he said.
Verma, who hails from Darbhanga village in Bihar, said that he would focus on the completion of the 4th prototype, which will be the production version of LCA.
ADA director Philip Rajkumar will henceforth look after the project management, interaction with Service headquarters, administration and technology development. "Small changes in the management style will have to be made so that the LCA project moves faster. We will now get back to TD-I, which with a new flight control software, will help expand the flight envelope," Rajkumar said.
He said with the combined effort of HAL and the ADA, the fighter can enter the Indian Air Force on schedule. Commenting on Kota''s sabbatical, Rajkumar said: "Kota''s monumental contribution to Indian aeronautics will stay for a long time. We cannot allow this rich legacy to be wasted."
Kota''s `light combat announcement'' to bid adieu to ADA family, surprised many purely because of the timing. "We knew he was looking for a break. But why immediately after the TD-II flight? He should have been here for some more time," a senior ADA official said.
For over a decade, Kota spent his life either at the drawing board or at the aircraft hangar. More than missing Kota, the ADA family is sure to miss his usual... "My dear, we will do it. Karo yaar, we can do it..."