India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation has completed 25 years of the Tejas light combat aircraft program. The focus now shifts to two advanced fighter jets that will form the backbone of the Indian Air Force in coming decades.
DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat announced Sunday that the Light Combat Aircraft Mark II and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft are now the priority programs. Both projects are on schedule and aim to reduce India’s dependence on foreign military hardware.
What is LCA-Mk2?
The LCA-Mk2 is an upgraded version of the existing Tejas fighter. It is classified as a 4.5-generation multirole combat aircraft designed to replace aging jets like the Jaguar, Mirage 2000, and MiG-29 in the Indian Air Force fleet.
The aircraft will be powered by the General Electric F414 engine, which provides significantly more thrust than the current Tejas. It will carry 11 weapon stations and can hold up to 6,500 kilograms of payload. The jet features the indigenous Uttam AESA radar, enhanced electronic warfare systems, and an infrared search and track system.
The first prototype is expected to fly by June 2026. The Indian Air Force plans to induct the aircraft between 2028 and 2029.
What is AMCA?
The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft represents India’s first indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter. It marks a major technological leap in the country’s defense manufacturing capabilities.
The aircraft is designed with low radar visibility through special airframe shaping and radar-absorbent materials. It features an internal weapons bay to hide armaments from enemy radar. The twin-engine fighter will have supercruise ability, allowing sustained supersonic flight without afterburners.
The AMCA will incorporate artificial intelligence, network-centric warfare systems, and potentially directed energy weapons. The government sanctioned the project in March 2024. The first prototype rollout is expected by late 2026 or early 2027, with the first flight planned for 2028. Full induction into service is anticipated around 2034-2035.
Where and When
The Aeronautical Development Agency in Bengaluru is leading development of both aircraft. The agency organized a two-day seminar this weekend to mark 25 years of Tejas operations and discuss future aviation programs.
Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh inaugurated the event and praised the Tejas program for revolutionizing India’s defense aviation capabilities. He stressed the importance of meeting delivery deadlines to keep the air force operationally ready.
So far, 38 Tejas aircraft have been inducted into two Indian Air Force squadrons. The program has enabled India to develop critical technologies including carbon composites, fly-by-wire flight control systems, and glass cockpit architecture.
The LCA-Mk2 and AMCA programs are crucial for addressing the air force’s dwindling squadron strength and advancing the vision of a self-reliant India by 2047.
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