The LCA Mk2, a 4.5-generation fighter aircraft, was being develop with funding of Rs 9,000 crore approved. By the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in September.
According to a senior official from the Aeronautical Development Agency, which is part of the Defence Research and Development Organization, the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk2 is not only able to carry eight Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) missiles at once but can also integrate all indigenous weapons as well as a number of advanced weapons from other nations.
“Eight BVR missiles can carried concurrently by no other single-engine aircraft of its type in the world. The LCA Mk2 project director, V Madhusudana Rao, spoke to The Indian Express on the sidelines of Aero India 2023, the nation’s largest aviation exhibition, which ended on February 17 in Bengaluru. “These distinctive features will make it stand out among aircraft manufactured by global firms, increasing its export potential.”
Stating that “the future is BVR combat and we are ready for that”, the official said the aircraft will integrated with heavy standoff weapons. Such as SCALP, an air-to-ground, long-range deep strike missile. “We considered the integration of advanced French and Russian weapons, weapons from other Western countries and indigenous weapons like ASTRA [a BVR air-to-air missile] while designing this aircraft [LCA Mk 2]. Unlike other aircraft, LCA Mk2 will be able to integrate unique weapons from various countries,” he explained.
According to him, the LCA Mk2 has significantly enhanced range over the LCA Tejas Mk1 in terms of technology. “LCA Tejas Mk1’s mission endurance for waging a battle was 57 minutes, whereas LCA Tejas Mk2’s is 120 minutes.” There will 11 hardpoints on the Mk2 [an airframe weapon station intended to hold external weight]. According to him, the LCA Mk2 will be able to carry 6.5 tonnes of weapons. The LCA Mk2 will powered by a GE-414 engine from General Electric.
The senior official’s comments come as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a government-owned aircraft manufacturer, is negotiating the sale of LCA Tejas Mk-1A to Malaysia, Argentina, Egypt, and Botswana, among other nations.
C B Ananthakrishnan, chairwoman and managing director of HAL, had previously told the media that Malaysia’s decision to choose the Korean KAI FA-50 over the LCA had caused a “slight impediment” in the sale of 16 lightweight fighter planes to that nation.
The LCA Mk2 is a 4.5-generation fighter aircraft that given Rs 9,000 crore in funding in September. By the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
Rao said that there had been some delay in the transfer of government money despite. The fact that the essential design assessment of the aircraft was complete and manufacture had begun. He stated that the plane should released by the following year.
As the Jaguars, MiG-29s, and Mirage 2000s start to retire in ten years. LCA Mk2 and the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). AMCA will promoted to fill the gap in the Indian Air Force’s dwindling fighter units.
He said that 16 nations have so far expressed interest in the fighter jet. “Our first goal is to satisfy the need of the [defence] forces. After which we will honour requests from foreign countries.”
There is a push from the government to increase the aircraft’s production rate and efforts are on to narrow down. The list of private production agencies that can help do that.