The country's ambitious Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and the Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) programmes have been hit by international sanctions suffering delays, according to the Defence Minister George Fernandes. Making a pitch for giving a pivotal role to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Fernandes said this was a must as the country had to make a drive to emerge as a self sufficient aviation power.
Despite the sanctions, HAL had done a wonderful job, he said addressing members of the parliamentary consultative committee attached to his ministry. Lamenting that the HAL was denied its due role in the past, he said that the situation has changed now and the country looks forward to HAL to make India an aviation power. Fernandes said there was need for greater interaction by the country's aviation scientists and technocrats working at the HAL with leading worldwide aeronautical organisations to enable it to become a globally competitive aerospace company.
He recalled his recent visit to HAL, while accompanying the British Defence Secretary Geoffrey Hoon and told the members that the visiting dignitary was highly impressed by the HAL. Bureau Report