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Reports noted that India will soon form a joint committee made up of representatives of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and organizations involved in developing the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) to design and develop specifications for the Medium Combat Aircraft (MCA). These organizations are the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the National
Aeronautics Laboratory (NAL), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the DRDO, which will help develop futuristic sensors and systems for the MCA.
Initially, five to six prototypes at a cost of Rs. 5,000 crore would be developed. When the current fleets of the IAF would be phased out by 2020, 250 medium fighters would be required by the IAF. The MCA would be India’s first foray into building medium range category (14-15 tonnes) fighters1.
- 1. “Indian Air Force, DRDO and HAL to Frame Requirements for Fifth Generation Fighter Jet,” May 5, 2009, at http://www.india-defence.com/reports/4357