NEW DELHI — India is trying to “fast track” production of its Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, producing 20 of the single-seat fighters over the next three years, despite lingering delays with the program, according to an official with the Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO). After several delays, the first of the indigenous LCAs, being developed for the Indian air force (IAF), is expected to fly out by the end of this year or the beginning of 2014. “The LCA project has been put on [the] fast track,” DRDO chief Avinash Chander says.

NEW DELHI — India on July 1 lofted its first navigation and timing satellite meant to provide accurate position information services to both civilians and the military. IRNSS-1A, the first satellite of the seven-spacecraft Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), was launched on a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C22) from the spaceport at Sriharikota off the coast of the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, says an official at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

AirAsia Group is planning to add 10 Airbus aircraft each year to its recently approved Indian joint venture, which is expected to start operations by the end of the year. The joint venture, which includes Tata Group and Telestra Tradeplace as partners, already has permission from India’s Foreign Investment Promotion Board to invest 800 million rupees ($13.4 million) in the new airline, and is currently awaiting regulatory approval from the Ministry of Civil Aviation to begin operations.