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Journalism of Courage
The LCAs initial clearance is welcome. But the aircraft,and MoD,have a long way to go.
The grant of the initial operational clearance IOC to the Light Combat Aircraft LCA Tejas marks the release to service of the indigenously developed fighter aircraft projected as the ideal replacement for the MiGs. But it would be premature to celebrate. An IOC does not certify actual combat readiness. The LCA has been three decades in the making and the Tejas requires a lot of work before the final operational clearance FOC its weapons systems are nowhere near fully in place,and without the full integration of the combat suite,the LCA cannot be called combat ready. The challenge of developing the MK-II version comes thereafter. Apart from weapons components,Hindustan Aeronautics Limited HAL will face the tough task of equipping Tejas with in-flight refuelling capacity.
The DRDOs poor planning,over-optimistic timelines and lack of coordination with the armed forces are responsible for the cost and time overruns of major projects. Antonys faith in HAL and the LCA it has yet to fully develop is,therefore,questionable. As long as defence PSUs are not made to compete and collaborate with private manufacturers,India will persist in thinking small and missing the strategic perspective on armaments. Nor will it build the military-industrial complex befitting the worlds fourth largest armed forces.
