Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Mk2 | 24 Feb 2023

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.

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.

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.