India to finish air, space projects by 2010: Kalam

M Chhaya in Kolkata | January 21, 2003 22:02 IST

rediff.com

President A P J Abdul Kalam on Tuesday said India would complete its air defence and space development programmes by the end of 2010.

"By the end of the current decade, India will have its own air defence and aeronautical systems in air and space," Kalam said at the 54th annual general meeting of the Aeronautical Society of India in Kolkata.

Kalam said work on designing the twin-engine Medium-range Combat Aircraft and reusable hypersonic cruise missiles is going on smoothly.

"The MCA is in the design phase and the scientists are making good progress," the President said adding that the work on hyperplane, a reusable space vehicle with 15 per cent payload factor, is also progressing satisfactorily.

"The supersonic missile system BrahMos is also being tested," Kalam said. He lauded Indian scientists for their work on reusable hypersonic cruise missile system.

Kalam said five engines of India's indigenously developed power plant for the Light Combat Aircraft, Kaveri, are also being tested. He said modern versions of the Advanced Light Helicopter and the LCA will soon emerge.

Th President, considered the pioneer of India's missile programme, also said progress is being made in developing space launchers, satellites and aeronautical systems like the hyperplane.