Speaking at the naming ceremony of India's ambitious Light Combat Aircraft "Tejas" (Brilliance), Vajpayee also defended the drawn out project which took more than two decades before its inaugural flight two years ago.

"India has adopted a most responsible policy on missile, nuclear and dual use technologies taking utmost care to avoid their proliferation," Vajpayee said.

"It is as much of concern to us as it is to any other country that such technologies should not fall into the wrong hands, whether they are of state actors or non-state actors.

"Inspite of this we have continued technology denial regimes, which not only try to impede our weapons development programmes but also affect some of our developmental programmes," he told scientists at the ceremony in the southern city of Bangalore.

The United States, along with many other countries, imposed sanctions against India and Pakistan in 1998 when they both carried out nuclear tests. Most have been lifted, but some remain relating to the nuclear field.

Vajpayee said India's scientists and technologists had responded "splendidly" to the challenge and developed technologies of indigenous design.

He said India would follow a vigorous policy of aviation growth in both the military and civilian sectors.

"At the same time, we welcome collaboration with international partners in design, development and co-production," Vajpayee said adding India's co-development with a Russian company for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was an example.

"I am sure that other potential international partners will eventually wake up to the tremendous commercial potential of such joint collaborations with India, not only for markets in our country, but also in third countries," he said.

Vajpayee said the Light Combat Aircraft had taken a long time from the drawing board to its first flight.

"Sceptics have written off the project many times over. The doubters thought it made better sense to import a similar aircraft, even though under existing technology denial regimes we would have to settle for a less sophisticated model," he said.

"Today we can say that the delay was worth the wait," Vajpayee said.

The multi-role combat aircraft -- in development since 1983 -- has been a long-cherished dream of India's air force chiefs who want to reduce the country's dependency on foreign imports.

The fighter, whose development was partly delayed by the US sanctions imposed after the nuclear tests, can carry seven weapon systems and has provision for inflight refueling.

The aircraft is expected to be inducted into Indian air force this decade.

SPACE.WIRE