India scouting for partner to develop higher thrust engine
India is in the process of scouting for a partner to develop higher thrust engine for its ambitious Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and the present version will take to the skies in 2010, Defence Minister A K Antony said on Saturday.
By PTI |
BANGALORE: India is in the process of scouting for a partner to develop higher thrust engine for its ambitious Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and the present version will take to the skies in 2010, Defence Minister A K Antony said on Saturday.
"LCA will be a reality. For higher thrust engine, we must have a new engine. We are looking for a partner to develop this," he told reporters after inaugurating the new campus of Defence Avionics Research and Establishment (DARE), a premium research unit for avionics at DRDO complex.
IAF and DRDO are working jointly towards this, he said.
IAF has already placed orders for 20 LCA and orders for another 20 was in the pipeline, Antony said, and denied that IAF was not interested in these aircraft.
Earlier, addressing the gathering, Antony stressed the need for developing indigenous technologies to counter the challenges posed by import restrictions and technology transfers.
He said the country would have to face problems if scientists did not develop indigenous technologies and the state-of-the-art equipment in the field of aeronautics.
ADVERTISEMENT
DRDO located in Bangalore, an IT and technology hub, has been entrusted with the task for delivering high precision system to IAF, he said. Antony said scientists should aim to minimise costs and cut down time with minimum dependence on foreign assistance. "Our endeavour is to develop cutting edge technologies and we will give required support," he said.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
