The Indian Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is the smallest, lightweight, single engine, single seat, supersonic and multirole combat aircraft in the world. This fourth generation combat aircraft has been built incorporating some of the key technologies such as carbon composite, light weight, high strength material for primary structures and unstable aerodynamic configuration to make it light and agile. Quadruplex digital flight control system, glass cockpit and digital avionics give LCA multirole capabilities with carefree manoeuvering. These capabilities are further enhanced by several on-board sensors like Multi Mode Radar, Laser Designator Pod etc., communication and navigation systems supported by a powerful mission computer with micro-processor controlled Utilities Management, health monitoring and cockpit display system.

The LCA is a tailless compound delta configuration, aerodynamically optimized for good transonic manoeuver capability and low supersonic drag and excellent low speed handling qualities. It is powered by the GE F404 F2J3 engine. It is capable of carrying assorted weapon loads and drop tanks up to four tons at eight hard points below the wing and fuselage including a dedicated one for the Laser Designator Pod. Open system computing interface standards have been adopted in LCA avionics, making it easily upgradeable with availability of better and faster processors for onboard computations. All the aircraft utility systems such as fuel system, environmental control system , hydraulic system, electrical system and brake management system are controlled by microprocessors. The LCA avionics system has the unique capability of monitoring the health of these utility systems and displaying appropriate warnings in the cockpit. This capability also enables the Air Force to adopt on-condition maintenance philosophy for LCA squadrons, significantly reducing maintenance man-hours per flight hour and aircraft down time, making it available for more operational utilization in a year.

LCA feasibility study was initiated in the eighties and full-scale engineering development (FSED) Phase I was sanctioned by the Government of India in June 1993 at a cost of Rs. 2188 crores. After successful completion of the first block of flights of LCA ? TD1 , Phase II of LCA programme was sanctioned by the Government in November 2001 at a cost of Rs. 3302 crores. In addition to building and flight testing seven aircraft including two technology demonstrators (TD1 and TD2) , four prototype vehicles (PV1 to PV4) and one two seat trainer (PV5) , the FSED Phase II envisages manufacture of eight limited series production (LSP) aircraft at HAL. Delivery of half a squadron of LCA to the Indian Air Force by end 2007 is expected to coincide with the grant of Initial Operational Clearance (IOC). With the confidence gained through the technologies demonstrated in the programme so far , the Government has recently sanctioned the development phase of Naval version of LCA and work on this has just been initiated at Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and HAL with participation of the Indian Navy.

The LCA programme is spearheaded by the ADA under the Department of Defence R and D , with HAL as its principal partner. HAL has been responsible for a major share of work in the LCA programme. HAL has not only participated in all the design activities from concept studies to system and LRU design , it has been responsible for complete manufacturing , structural assembly and equipping of both the Technology Demonstration TD1 and TD2 , the main Airframe Static Test Specimen and Prototype Vehicles PV1 To PV5. Hal has also manufactured the Composite wing and other primary components in its composite shop especially established for LCA Programme. The LCA prototypes are maintained by HAL and readied for flight by NFTC pilots. A large number of DRDO laboratories, National Aerospace Laboratories of CSIR, certification agencies like CEMILAC and DG-AQA, Indian Air Force , VSSC of ISRO, BARC and academic institutions like IISc, IITs and Universities and Private and Public sector undertakings have participated in this programme. A large number of test facilities, integration rigs and simulators have been established at various LCA work centers. Also a number of software packages , design and analysis tools in Computer Aided Design, Computer Aided Manufacturing , Virtual Reality, Product Data Management, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Finite Element Method etc. have been development for real time applications for safety critical ob board systems and Independent Verification and Validation of these safety critical software systems have also been established at ADA. LCA Programme has not only produced a world-class combat aircraft but also built a strong base in aircraft technologies within the country, which would be available for ongoing and future aircraft programmes. It is only appropriate that in the naming ceremony of LCA, the Prime Minister, the Dy. Prime Minister, and the Defence Minister are participating along with the Standing Committee on Defence , Chief of the Air Staff and many other dignitaries to share this very proud moment for Indian Aeronautics and Team LCA.