The LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) is India's second indigenous jet fighter
design, after the HF-24 Marut of the 1950s.  Development began in 1983; the
basic design was finalised in 1990, and two prototypes are currently
approaching completion, with first flight expected sometime in 1995.

The configuration is a delta wing, with no tailplanes or foreplanes, and a
single vertical fin.  The LCA will be constructed of aluminium-lithium
alloys, carbon-fibre composites, and titanium.  The design incorporates
"control-configured vehicle" concepts to enhance manoeuvrability, and
quadruplex fly-by-wire controls.

Both prototypes are powered by General Electric F404-GE-F2J3 engines, but
an indigenous engine, the GTX-35VS Kaveri, is being developed for the
production LCA.

No official name or other designation has been assigned to the LCA yet.

Vital statistics:  length 13.20 m, span 8.20 m, empty weight 5500 kg, clean
TO weight 8500 kg, max TO weight not given, max speed 1699 km/h (Mach 1.6);
power plant:  one 83.4 kN GTRE GTX-35VS augmented turbofan; armament:  one
GSh-23 twin-barrel 23mm cannon (220 rounds); 7 hardpoints; max external
load over 4000 kg.