4 Tejas Mark-2 prototypes by 2027

Yesterday, we have shared the update on AMCA by ADA project director. Today there are few updates coming for LCA Mark-2. Speaking to Asianetnews, the LCA Mark-2 Project director informed that the roll out of the fighter jet is expected by December 2023 and, worst case, by March 2024. The fighter jet will take its first flight in next one year i.e., by December 2024. DRDO has planned to build 4 prototypes by the end of year 2027. The fighter jet is expected to join the services by end of the decade which coincides with the timeline informed by CAS VR Chaudhary which by 2030. The Rs 9000 crore has already been approved by government for the development of prototype of Tejas Mark-2. The funding will be used for development of 4 prototypes, their testing and certification.

LCA Mark-2

The LCA-Mk2 as we all know is a heavier and much more capable aircraft than the LCA Mark-1 and Mark-1 Alpha variants. The Mk-2 fighter will be equipped with a more powerful engine (GE-414), superior radar, better avionics and electronics, and will be capable of carrying a higher weapons payload. The Mk2 is 1350 mm longer, featuring canards with empty weight of 7.7 tonnes, weapons-load of 6.5 tonnes, internal fuel capacity of 3.3 tonnes and MTOW of 17.5 tonnes. The wings of LCA Mark-2 has been widened to carry Scalp bomb like heavier bombs which weighs 1350kg. The fighter jet has 11 hard points. As per ADA Project Director – "There is no single engine fighter aircraft on the earth that can carry 8-10 Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles simultaneously. It has been developed keeping in mind the future BVR combat war “. Tejas MK2 is going to have a versatile weapons package.

Upto 90% Indigenous content

Another point mentioned by the ADA Project Director for LCA Mark-2 is that the engine will be made in India. The LCA Mark-2 will have more indigenous content than Mark-1 & Mark-1A. Initially the fighter jet will 75% indigenous and will eventually reach 82%.

The ADA Project Directory further added “The engine will be manufactured in India. In this regard, we had MoU with GE for its manufacturing with 100 per cent transfer of technology. With that, we will be touching over 90 per cent indigenous content”

This news sounds too good to believe as GE always had reservations in regard to ToT. However, this coming straight from ADA project director. It's also possible some critical tech might not be shared, and ToT could be limited to enable 100% production and sourcing of parts from India. Still, this is big news as it will cut the dependency of foreign OEM for supplies of parts and further flourish the metallurgy and ecosystem for engines in India.

We did little more analysis of the GE and HAL deal. Back in August 2021, HAL had signed Rs 5,375-crore contract with GE Aviation for supply of 99 F404-GE-IN20 for LCA Tejas. The then HAL CMD R Madhavan has informed that the co-operation will be further enhanced with the manufacturing of GE F414 engines in India for the upcoming LCA MkII program. So, we can for sure confirm that the GE F414 engine that will power LCA Mark-II will be made in India.

This will be good news for AMCA program as well because it also uses the same engine. The combined requirement for engine is going to be huge as IAF will induct at least 6 squadrons of LCA Mark-2 and 2 Squadrons of AMCA Mark-1 which feature the GE engine.

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