Important Facts For Prelims
Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Mk2
- 24 Feb 2023
- 2 min read
Why in News?
According to a senior official from the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the Indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk2 will be integrated with heavy standoff weapons like SCALP, an air-to-ground, long-range deep strike missile.
- Unlike other aircraft, the LCA Mk2 will be able to integrate unique weapons from various countries.
What is LCA Tejas Mk2?
- The Indigenous LCATejas Mk2 is a fighter aircraft developed in India that can carry eight Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) missiles simultaneously, along with integrating all native weapons and advanced weapons from other countries.
- The LCA Mk2 is an upgraded version of the LCA Tejas Mk1, which has improved range and mission endurance.
- The mission endurance for fighting a war was 57 minutes for LCA Tejas Mk1, but it is 120 minutes for LCA Tejas Mk2.
- The LCA Mk2 will be pitched as a replacement for the Jaguars, MiG-29s, and Mirage 2000s when they start retiring in a decade.
- The critical design review of the aircraft is ready and the manufacturing initiated, and the aircraft should be rolled out by 2024.
- LCA Mk2 will have a weapon carrying capacity of 6.5 tonnes. The General Electric GE-414 engine will power the LCA Mk2.
What is Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)?
- About:
- The LCA programme was started by the Government of India in 1984 when they established the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) to manage the LCA programme.
- Features:
- Designed to carry a range of air-to-air, air-to-surface, precision-guided, weapons.
- Air to air refueling capability.
- Other Variants of Tejas:
- Tejas Trainer: 2-seater operational conversion trainer for training air force pilots.
- LCA Navy: Twin- and single-seat carrier-capable for the Indian Navy.
