Dr. Kota Harinarayana, Distinguished Scientist & Programme Director, LCA was born in Berhampur in 1943, graduated from BHU in Mechanical Engineering, and obtained graduation in Aero-Engineering from IISc, Bangalore. He did his PhD at IIT, Mumbai, and holds Bachelors degree in Law.

Dr. Harinarayana started his career in 1967 at HAL and was at DRDO Headquarter, during 1970-1982. He re-joined HAL in 1982 as Chief Designer, Nasik Division and was deputed to DRDO in 1985 as Director, ADE, Bangalore. He was appointed as Programme Director, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) in December 1985 and was concurrently holding the post of Director, ADE till June 1986. During 1995 he was elevated to Distinguished Scientist by DRDO.

He is the Fellow of Aeronautical Society of India (former President of the Society), National academy of sciences and Indian National Academy of Engineering. He was formerly Vice-Chancellor of University of Hyderabad till 15 July, 2005. He received distinguished alumnus award from Aerospace Department, IISc, Bangalore in 1993 and from IIT, Mumbai in 1995. He is recipient of the National Aeronautics Prize, FIE Foundation Award-1996 and SBI-Pragna Puraskar-2001. He received the Dr. Y. Nayudamma Memorial Award for 2001. He received the DRDO Technology Leadership Award for 2001. He was honoured with Padma Shri by Government of India in 2002. He received Gujar Mal Modi Science foundation award for the year 2006.Indian National Academy of Engineering conferred up on him ,the life time contribution award in engineering, for the year 2006. He was awarded Shri Om Prakash Bhasin award for Science & Technology for the year 2007 in the field of engineering including Energy & Aerospace. He received DRDO life time achievement award in 2008. Berhampur university conferred on him honorary doctorate in the year 2008.

Dr. Harinarayana played a key role in life extension and determination of components of MiG 21 aircraft, and indigenization of components, spares, consumables of aircraft during his tenure as Chief Resident Engineer, Nasik. New Aerodynamic Device Vortex Plate was flight-tested on a MiG 21 aircraft for the first time in the world. Under his guidance as Programme Di rector and Chief Designer of LCA, he successfully directed the project leading to flight testing and clearance for limited series production.