In a major boost to indigenous fighter aircraft development initiatives, the Cabinet Committee on Security on Wednesday cleared the development of LCA Mark 2 fighter aircraft which would be a replacement for the Mirage 2000, Jaguar and MiG-29 combat aircraft in the Indian Air Force.
Indian Air Force Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari said the LCA Mark 2 fighter aircraft will fill a critical capability void besides giving a
tremendous boost to the indigenous design and development of country’s next-generation fighter aircraft.
Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said it’s essential that all stakeholders work in tandem to ensure the timely induction of the next-generation aircraft into IAF. He said LCA Mark 2 fighter aircraft will further the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative in the domain of aircraft manufacturing.
“The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has approved the LCA Mark 2 fighter aircraft. This decision will give a tremendous boost to the indigenous design and development of our next-generation fighter aircraft. It will definitely further the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative in the domain of aircraft manufacturing,” he said.
“In the view of rapidly depleting strength of fighter squadrons of IAF and phasing out of the MiG 21 aircraft in coming years, it is essential that laid down timelines for the projects have to be strictly adhered to.
“Tejas Mark 2 will fill a critical capability void. Therefore, it’s essential that all stakeholders should need to work in tandem to ensure the timely induction of this aircraft into IAF,” he added.
The DRDO feels that the aircraft would be in the category of the Rafale class aircraft in terms of avionics and capabilities but lighter in weight.
The government has also cleared that the engines to be used in the aircraft should be Made-in-India after the initial development phase.
The DRDO would be developing the aircraft with a GE-414 engine which is the advanced version of the GE-404s that power the existing LCAs in service and the 83 LCA Mark 1As which would start getting inducted into IAF in the next couple of years.
At present, 30 LCAs are in service with the IAF and two are being used by the HAL to develop the Mark 1As. The AMCA aircraft development proposal is also with the government and is expected to be approved in near future but with a lot of Indigenisation inputs from the government.