MCA to cost 2 billion dollars

Bangalore, Feb 12 (UNI) The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) will, in 18 months, come up with the configuration studies for the Multi-role Medium Combat Aircraft estimated to cost around two billion US Dollars.

''We have already initiated the work on the design requirement of the MCA and will be ready to approach the government in 18 months'' ADA Director P S Subramanyam told UNI. The configuration studies would be followed by detailed design and development before metal cutting for the first prototype could be embarked upon, he said. The development period would be around eight to ten years.

He said the aircraft would be comparable to the JAS 35 and F-22 of the United States. Development aspect would have to take into account the requirement of the Indian Air Force over the next 35 to 40 years.

Replying to a question he said that the programme would not be in duplication to the Fifth Generation fighter aircraft that was likely to be taken up by HAL with Russia. The MCA would be in the medimum multi-role aircraft category. The development of MCA would also not be affected by the immediate requirement of 126 MMRCA of the Indian Air Force, for which the military aviation majors including the Boeing and Lockheed martin were in keen competition.

It would have to be developed taking into various requirements including the avionics, weapon handling capability and stealth features. The MCA should be in a position to carry about five tonnes of armament.

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