The head of India's Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has claimed the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) will be operational by 2006. ADA director Dr Kota Harinarayana says the aircraft will finish flight testing by 2005 and enter service the following year. But an Indian parliamentary committee decided last year that service entry is unlikely before 2012-15.
First flight of the LCA was in January this year, five years behind schedule.
Harinarayana says three LCA prototypes are ready for testing.
Source: Flight International
