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The News in the press was almost like a ‘scream’ – “What Tejas wants, Tejas gets”. This was in response to the stated infusion of an additional massive financial dose of Rs 8.000 crore ($1.7 billion) to sustain the now 27 years old indigenous LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) project. According to the reports, Tejas, India’s effort at building a jet fighter after many decades (since the development of HF-24, Marut, which was prematurely taken out of service way back in 1982) is likely to obtain initial operational clearance (IOC) by the year-end with possible induction into the IAF’s squadron service in 2011. But, the rate at which the flight testing plus avionics and weapons integration programees are progressing, the above timeframe appears to be highly ambitious. In fact, there has been all-round skepticism of the project over its inordinate delay. Some analysts have gone to the extent of questioning the wisdom of continuing with the project, dubbing it a total failure.

But Defence Minister A.K. Antony has strongly defended the LCA programme again on February 2, stating, “Today I can assure you with confidence… I can declare at last LCA is going to be a reality”. Dismissing all criticism about the project taking close to three decades, he said that the involved agencies in the programme strongly believed in the LCA and that the Centre would back the programme. Admitting that the LCA had to undergo rigorous trials before it became a complete fighting machine, he however emphasised that the development of a new aircraft was not easy and that the gestation period was very long. He told reporters “Don’t expect miracles. Our expectation is to give a momentum for indigenisation.

Antony is right in a way as the entire situation has acquired a ‘Catch-22’ like status. The programme has moved ahead to an extent where it is deemed to have reached ‘a point of no return’. It would therefore not be in the national interest to foreclose the programme at this late stage. Needless to say however, that all concerned agencies must now work on a war-footing, while harmonising their efforts to ensure no further time delays and cost overruns.

It is worth noting that till end-2009, the development costs had already exceeded Rs 4,800 crore. With the new allotment of Rs 8,000 crore and the so far planned induction of only about 200 aircraft into the IAF/IN, the amortised cost of development itself would come close to Rs 64 crore per aircraft. The predicted unit cost of Rs 100-150 crore would not be sustainable and may touch Rs 200 crore or even go beyond that. However, in the long run, even this should be acceptable to the planners as long as the services get the desired product with operational capabilities, as envisaged. But, that is where lies the ‘crunch’!!