The LCA design was finalised in 1990 as a small tailless
delta wingedmachine with
relaxed static stability(RSS) and control-configuration to enhance manoeuvrability performance.
[8][26][27] A review committee was formed in May 1989 which reported that infrastructure, facilities and technologies in India had advanced sufficiently in most areas and that the project could be undertaken.
[27]
Project definition commenced in October 1987 and was completed in September 1988. Dassault Aviation of France was hired as a consultant to review the PD and provide advice based on its extensive aviation expertise.
[22]The phase cost
560
crore(US$88 million).
[15] It was decided by the government that the full-scale engineering development (FSED) of the programme would proceed in two stages.
[15][27]
Phase 1 commenced in April 1993,
[15]and focused on "
proof of concept" and comprised the design development and testing (DDT) of two technology demonstrator aircraft which were named as TD-1 and TD-2. This would be followed by the production of two
prototype vehicles (PV-1 and PV-2), TD-1 finally flew on 4 January 2001.
[27]FSED Programme Phase-I was successfully completed in March 2004 and cost ₹2,188 crore.
[15