Union Defence Minister Mr A K Antony told the Rajya Sabha that six major projects, including Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas’ and a couple of missile programmes, had been delayed. In a written reply, Mr Antony said the LCA phase-II, which was to be ready by December 2008, is now expected to be completed by December 2015. “The major ongoing projects of DRDO are lagging behind schedule,” he said. The Naval variant of the LCA’s Phase-I, which was tentatively set for completion in March 2010, would be delayed till December 2014. The ‘Kaveri’ aero engine, which was originally scheduled for roll-out in December 1996, recently got an extension at an additional cost and scope. The Airborne Early Warning and Control System, which was to be ready by October 2011, would now be ready only by December 2015. The Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) project would now be ready only by December 2015 instead of the previously scheduled May 2011 date. Air-to-Air Missile ‘Astra’ too would now be completed in December 2016 instead of August 2012.
Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com
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