Commodore C.D.Balaji (Retd), Outstanding Scientist, on Friday took charge as the Director of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Programme Director of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), according to an official announcement.
ADA, based in Bengaluru, is the premier multi-agency body spearheading the development of combat aircraft for the Air Force and the Navy - among them the LCA and the proposed Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft AMCA.
Prior to his elevation, Cmde Balaji was Project Director of the LCA’s naval version. He succeeds P.S. Subramanyam, Distinguished Scientist, who superannuated on June 30.
Cmde Balaji holds a BE in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. Commissioned into the Indian Navy's engineering branch in September 1978, Cmde Balaji has specialised in the Naval Aviation Arm. He has served as Air Engineer Officer of INAS 310 (Alize aircraft) for about 3 years embarking the Aircraft Carrier Vikrant.
He joined ADA on deputation in 2002 to work on the development of a naval version of the light fighter. In December 2006, he left the Navy and fully moved to ADA.
The plane's first prototype, LCA (NP1), made its historic maiden flight on April 27, 2012, followed by the first crucial ski jump launch on December 20, 2014. He is credited with playing a key role in conceiving and building the Air Force trainer prototypes and the Shore-Based Test Facility (SBTF) at Dabolim naval station in Goa. The SBTF is built to replicate an aircraft carrier and provides the test platform equipped with a ski jump for take-off and arresting gear to stop the aircraft while landing.
