No, LCA is not a French design. Dassault was a consultant when LCA was designed. And since we decided to go for a compound delta design, there is not much difference in how varied the designs are even if two independent designers from different countries designed the same plane.
In fact, the French backed out of the LCA program because they complained about not getting enough work in it. When we asked for a digital FBW, they only offered up analog FBW. Even for Kaveri, they offered blades that were obsolete even by 80s standards. Had the French been involved, as you state, LCA wouldn't have been delayed as much. LCA specs changed after the French left in 1987 or 1988, one of those two years. It became a 4th gen aircraft after that, with digital FBW, multimode radar etc.
One thing you gotta learn is no one, I repeat, no one will give away any major technology. This includes the French also. When someone pointed out that we should allow the French to be involved in the AMCA, I rejected it saying the French will keep the AMCA a decade behind by giving away obsolete tech and forcing more Rafales on us.
As for the US, yes, they offered an engine to us that they didn't use themselves, the F404. It was part of their post Cold War political realignment with India. The engine was chosen before the Union fell anyway. But when it came to the FBW, they didn't do anything. All they did is provide facilities for our use, and that's what we made use of.
LCA is most definitely late. But it's not a tier 1 aircraft for the IAF. The Mk1A, once ready, will far exceed the capabilities that the IAF originally wanted from the aircraft. Most importantly, it's given us an aerospace industry. We have now moved on to developing flying wing designs and a space shuttle.
The Arjun was a decade late and was more expensive, that's about it. The army wanted western tank capabilities in a tank that weighed below 55T. Unfortunately, DRDO couldn't keep to within the limits due to obvious problems. So there was a mismatch between the desired weight and the realistic weight achieved.
Even today, the army's FRCV program is unrealistic. They have asked for too many things in a 50T tank, and are expecting technologies that don't yet exist, like a full scope protection system and quantum stealth.
You really have to look up some available tests of the Akash and decide for yourself if it's a unicorn or not. You will be surprised how far DRDO has come.
When it comes to SAMs, it's likely that the S400 will be our last import. Most recently, the army's QRSAM tender was scrapped in exchange for an Astra based SAM for the army. Even the navy will be going for this new SAM instead of the Maitri that was planned with the French. A new long range SAM with a 250Km range is also in development. Not counting the 4 missiles coming in through the BMD program.
We recently scrapped the Spike contract with the Israelis in favour of a new DRDO MPATGM.
And don't worry, the Akash's radar is being upgraded to all digital AESAs.
I would have agreed with you 5 years ago. I used to have the same view then anyway. But now things have changed a lot.
http://corruptionindrdo.com/drdo-goes-young-with-modi/
A lot of NRIs have started coming into DRDO. DRDO has started attracting talent from the best colleges as well. There has been a massive change in how research is being conducted, by bringing in universities from the ground up in a project. You can say a lot of research is being conducted outside DRDO labs also.
DRDO has now been coming out with cutting edge technologies every year. They have actually started meeting their goals in the last 5 years.