LCAs get the go-ahead

MUMBAI: The Centre recently gave the go-ahead for producing eight Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Kota Harinarayana, former LCA programme director stated.
Harinarayana, who handed over charge to M.B. Verma last week, told TNN here on Wednesday that the eight aircraft will be produced at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bangalore.
“A full- fledged production team has been formed for this purpose,’’ he stated.
The LCA is an indigenous new generation single engine frontline fighter.
The planes will replace the ageing MiG series of fighters with the IAF and also help in creating a technology base for advanced aircraft development.
The LCA is the smallest light-weight multirole supersonic fighter in the world in its class. He said apart from the eight LCAs, seven prototype versions of the fighter will also be produced, including a trainer.
According to him, there are several improvements in the second LCA which flew for the first time on June 6 in Bangalore over the first aircraft.
The significance of the flight lies in the fact that the fighter is now moving closer to the production standard. The third LCA has already rolled out.