Thursday, February 10 2005 20:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Indian Air Force today expressed confidence of inducting the much-awaited Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) into its fleet.

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the Aero India 2005 presently going on at the Air force Station Yelahanka in Bangalore, Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi said that the 40 LCAs, fitted with the US-make GE 404 engines, would be inducted in two phases.

Talking to reporters, Tyagi said that the indigenously developed Kaveri engine would be preferable but since it is yet to reach the operational stage, the first lot of LCAs would fly on US engines.

Asked persistently to choose between GE 404 and indigenous Kaveri, Tyagi said, "Nothing is more satisfying than flying an Indian-made engine".

Elaborating on the ageing AN-32s, the Air Chief said that the Indian Air Force is in touch with the aircraft industry to upgrade the AN-32 aircrafts.