LCA is the world's smallest, light weight, multi-role supersonic combat aircraft. It has been designed to meet the requirements of Indian Air Force as its frontline multi-mission single-seat tactical aircraft.
It is India's second indeginous fighter, the first one being the 1960's HF-24(Hindustan Fighter) 'Marut'. 129 Marut fighters were manufactured. Marut had limited supersonic capability (It could go supersonic in dives). The LCA will be the first supersonic combat aircraft to be built and flown in India itself. Interestingly, the requirements of both LCA and HF-24 and very similar. India had previously attempted to build a supersonic fighter : the HF-73, a development of the Marut. HF-73 was to use engines with more power. The project was cancelled after a crash.
LCA can be inducted starting 2008 into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in limited numbers, though 'full-scale' induction won't happen anytime before 2010. Further delays are expected. Most critics put the date of induction between 2012 and 2015.
Origin: India
Type: Multi-Role Fighter
Max Speed: Mach 1.8
Max Range: N/A
Dimensions: Span 8.20 m / 26 ft 11 in Length 13.20 m / 43 ft 3 in Height 4.40 m / 14 ft 5 in
Weight: 18,740lb (8500kg)
Powerplant: One 11,701lb st (5319kg)Indian GIRE GTX-35VS Kaveri Turbofan
Armament: Internal GSh-23 23mm cannon with 220 rounds. Seven external stores pylons for a variety of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons.
Operators: India
The idea for this plane was born in 1983. It's development has been an extremely painful process. The Indians had to develop most of the workings themselves, with some 'hand holding' by foreign firms. The US sanctions following their nuclear blasts only worsened the situation.
If the LCA succeeds, India may go ahead with development of the MCA, a stealthy twin-engined jet.
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