Commercial production, slated to begin in 2005, may well be delayed despite the IAF wanting its induction as early as 2003. This despite the warning issued by the Standing Committee for Defence that unless the LCA's test flight took off on schedule in 1997-98, ``any further delay would delay induction in 2003''.

The two prototypes undergoing integration testing to be test, flown in 1999, will overshoot the deadline by at least four years, sources said. The multi-mode radar, an important sensor of LCA, undergoing testing at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Hyderabad, to be test-flown in a Hack Aircraft in 1999, will not take off before 2003 either, sources told The Indian Express

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Sources go on to add that the project is expected to take up another Rs 25 billion over and above the Rs 15 billion already spent. Once ready, the aircraft would be the ``smallest, multi-role, supersonic fighter in the world,'' LCA Project Director Dr Kota Harinarayana said at Aero India 98. ``It has high performance and agility far superior to aircraft of its class available in the world. LCA can replace the MiG series of aircraft (MiG 21, 23 and 27), A-4, F-5, Mirage III,'' he had said.

It was also expected to be cheaper compared to other new generation aircraft that have been developed in Europe (JAS-- 39, Rafale, EFA-- 2000) and USA. It was the same story fifteen years ago. LCA was billed as the lightest fighter ever built, powered by an indigenously-built engine that would perform superbly in hot and high conditions. This won the aircraft orders both at home and abroad, especially from the Middle East.

Then it was planned thrust vectoring nozzles would be attached to its GTX 35 VS Kaveri engine, bringing the LCA on par with global technology while simultaneously increasing its flight envelope. All that has long since faded. The LCA, having overshot several deadlines is yet to take off the ground.

In June 1997, instead of getting airborne, Technology Demonstrator 1 (TD1), one of the two LCA prototypes (the other being TD2), remained in the hanger, undergoing systems integration tests which were expected to get completed before the year was out. The LCA was already two years late. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) did not spring a pleasant surprise at the Aero India 98 either. The LCA remained on static display.

TD1 was rolled out on 17 Nov 1995 and was static display at Aero India 96 too. Kalam had said at Aero India 96: ``We are asking the world's aeronautical community to join us so that we can bring down LCA's production cost and enter the global market''.

So British Aerospace and Alenia helped with the wing, which is constructed of composites and Martin Marietta, with the digital flyby wire control system. Meanwhile the IAF continues to shore up its capabilities with a series of upgrade programmes and the purchase of Sukhoi-30.