ByRahul Singh, New Delhi
Mar 25, 2024 02:38 AM IST
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IAF ordered 83 Mk-1A fighters for ?48,000 crore in February 2021, and plans to buy 97 more Mk-1As at a cost of around ? 67,000 crore.
“HAL is trying its level best to carry out the first flight as early as possible. But
there are some software iterations that need to get cleared. Sticking to the March 31 deadline seems a
bit difficult right now, though efforts are still on,” said one of the officials cited above, asking not to be named.
LCA Mk-1A is an advanced variant of the LCA Mk-1, which has already been inducted by IAF. The Mk-1A will come with
digital radar warning receivers, external self-protection jammer pods, superior radar, advanced beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missiles and significantly improved maintainability.
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IAF could order more than 100 Mk-2s, and the aircraft will be ready for production in five years. The world’s leading aircraft engine maker GE Aerospace and HAL signed a memorandum of understanding in Washington in June 2023 to produce
F-414 engines in the country for LCA Mk-2, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first state visit to the US.
F-414 has evolved from the F-404 engine that powers the existing LCA variants.
The production of the engines in India will result in the new fighter jet having an indigenous content of around
75% compared to 55%-60% in LCA Mk-1A and 50% in the existing Mk-1 variant.
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The LCA Mk-2 fighter will be equipped with the more powerful GE-414 engine, better avionics and electronics, and will be capable of carrying a higher weapons payload. It will have improved range, enhanced survivability, better situational awareness for pilots, network centric capabilities, and the ability to quickly switch from one role to another.
The
17.5-tonne Mk-2 fighter will have a maximum speed of 1.8 Mach, compared to the
13.5-tonne Mk-1A that has a top speed of 1.6 Mach. The new aircraft will come with a payload capacity of 6.5 tonne (compared to 3.5 tonne for the Mk-1A) and it will carry a mix of weapons including BVR air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, heavy precision guided weapons and conventional bombs.
The other features of the LCA Mk-2 include
enhanced fuel capacity, unified electronic warfare suite, indigenous flight control actuators, improved digital flight control computer, better cockpit displays, infrared search and track capability to detect threats at long ranges, missile approach warning systems and countermeasure dispensing systems for self-protection.
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