well first of all it is a wish.
i agree that AMCA and AURA are valuable which can happen parallely. but twin engined LCA is not an obstacle considering the realistic timelines for AMCA and AURA.
infact a twin engined LCA will help ADA in building the AMCA
which is also a twin engined project albeit with stealth features. besides the experience/lessons learnt and data acquired on the LCA will greatly help a faster, cost effective medium range class A/C with great RCS features due to the composite component of the design will equal if not outdo the 4.5 gen fighters of today. tiny LCA has to carry external pods like the LDP/SPJ on it's pylons which means one forgoes a missile or a bomb whereas a scaled up version can internalise both leaving the pylons free for ammunition. it can turn out into a DPSA with great range with a great payload carrying capability. the internal volume of fuel will allow it a great range besides with drop tanks/IFR.
in any case MMRCA fighter selected at a great cost will be in the process of being implemented which at the end will not arrest the falling numbers of IAF. a later simultaneous induction of scaled up LCA will peg the MMRCA numbers to 126 giving a great boost to the indian designers who will put their acquired knowledge to good use via 2 engined version, a step which would help AMCA and not the other way round.
sir i did not say it is easier. i said it is easier
compared to a whole new design because of all the empirical data obtained wrt to LCA design, production and tests.
obviously. that should and would be taken care of. CG is always a major factor in any design. 5 year time should be good enough IMO.
not speaking of tail heavy factor - FBW is meant for unstable platforms. the fact that Rahul brought to notice in one of his posts (#823) of assymetric loading (he was referring to the "drop tank" test of LCA) only emphasises the maturity of FBW and CLAW on the LCA.
it won't be as lengthy process as with a totally new design. for ex, Mirage 4000 was sanctioned in 1976 and flew in 1979.
this was possible as it was an upgrade of Mirage 2000.
http://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/passion/aircraft/military-dassault-aircraft/mirage-4000.html?L=1
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...a=X&ei=L6gRTd6xKIXtrQfYh6iGDA&ved=0CBsQ9QEwAg
even LCA mark 2 would have to go thro' that due to the high by pass F 414. so the expertise exists.
i would think the LCA developers who have created the baby and written the CLAW controlled by the FBW for it would be aware of it.
would it be greater than AMCA?? if ADA finds it ok to take up stealth aircraft which would be 5th gen, i guess it would be much easier for scaling up the LCA with 2 engines.
btw irrespective of whatever i said it is - as i said in the beginning
a wish which i think is doable for good.