India tests first fighter plane

India has successfully carried out a test flight of a prototype of a new light combat aircraft.

Defence officials watching the flight in the southern city of Bangalore hailed it as a great achievement.

But the development of the aircraft has been dogged by problems and delays and it's expected to take another ten years before it will see active service.

Officials say they hope eventually to sell the aircraft on the international market.

But critics say the technology may be obsolete by then.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service