India's Light Combat Aircraft to fly by 2011

India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft is on schedule and would be comparable to frontline Mig-29 and Mirage 2000 fighters when it starts rolling out by 2011, Defence Minister A K Antony said in New Delhi on Thursday.

"The fighter in both its air and sea versions is through," the minister said a day after undertaking an exhaustive stock taking of the project in Bangalore.

"It will be comparable to the frontline world fighters," he said and stressed that in next three to four years defence scientists will be carrying out more improvements in the aircraft.

He said the first two batches of the fighters to be inducted into the IAF would be powered by the American GE 404 engines.

"Even further batches could have the American engine as a number of tests were still to be undertaken on the indigenous Kaveri engine."

The minister said IAF, which has given the go ahead for induction of two squadrons, will soon decide to augment the numbers.

Antony accompanied by top ministry officials visited the Aeronautical Development Agency and Gas Engine Turbine complex in Bangalore to review the LCA project.

The minister is planning to take a trip to country's missile factories next month to review their progress.