A parliamentary panel report, tabled in Parliament recently, stated that the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk2, which is under design and development, will be a day and night capable, all-weather multi-role combat aircraft with adequate self-defence capability to operate in a dense and hostile AD environment.
"The aircraft would be a potent platform designed around a higher thrust engine, better performance metrics featuring an integral Unified Electronic Warfare Suite (UEWS) for survivability, new Digital Flight Control Computer (DFCC) and improved maintainability compared to the LCA Mk1/1A. LCA Mk2 is intended to replace Mirage-2000, MiG-29 and Jaguar aircraft of the IAF," the panel said.
On its predecessor, the report said IAF has received and operationalised two squadrons of Tejas Mk1 ac and these are being employed for operational roles and participated in the recently concluded international exercise Tarang Shakti.
The IAF contracted for procurement of 83 LCA Mk1A and deliveries were planned to commence from February 2024. However, the programme faced delays due to design and development issues.
"The IAF has also progressed as case for procurement of additional 97 LCA Mk1A aircraft for which AoN was accorded and RFP was issued," the report said, quoting the defence ministry. With these acquisitions, IAF will have 220 LCA Mk1 & Mk1A ac, it added.
The report also said the number of IAF fighter squadrons has reduced in recent years due to the phasing out of ageing variants of the MiG-21, the MiG-23 and the MiG-27 aircraft. According to the panel, the shortage is being addressed through "multi-pronged" approaches to minimise the impact.
Tejas Mk2, which is under design and development, will replace Mirage-2000, MiG-29 and Jaguar aircraft of the Indian Air Force
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