India’s first indigenous Naval Light Combat Aircraft, the LCA (Navy) NP1 was rolled out by the Union Defence Minister AK Antony from HAL Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) hangar in Bangaluru today. <br/><br/>Speaking on the occasion the Defence Minister disclosed that the indigenous trainer version of the Light Combat Aircraft LCA for Indian Navy will be test flown by year-end. He expressed confidence that the Indian aerospace industry will succeed in delivering such an advanced fighter to our navy in the next five years. Citing successful examples of indigenisation like the Arjun MBT and the LCA (Airforce) he said, efforts like these will give the indigenisation process a shot in the arm. Shri Antony further informed that a Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) is under construction at the Naval Air Station Goa for which specialized equipment will be supplied by the Russian Side. <br/><br/>The Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Verma and other senior officers of the ministry of Defence like Secretary for Defence Production Shri RK Singh, Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister and DG of ADA Dr. VK Saraswat, Chairman HAL Ashok Nayak, Director ADA Shri PS Subramanyam were present on the occasion.