India’s indigenous fighter aircraft program is progressing rapidly. In this episode, the 4.5 Generation Plus LCA Mark 2 fighter jet will start flying by March 2026. Also, their mass production will start by the year 2029. Apart from this, mass production of Indian Fifth-Generation Fighter Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft will start by 2035. Defense officials gave this information while talking to news agency ANI. A high-level meeting was held a few days ago under the chairmanship of DRDO Chairman Dr. Sameer V Kamat and Indian Air Force Deputy Chief Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit. During this, the timeline of indigenous fighter aircraft programs was discussed.
Dr. Kamat and Air Marshal Dixit took information about the LCA MK-II development program from the Aeronautical Development Agency at DRDO Bhawan. Directors General of all DRDO laboratories and clusters participated in it. During this, the flight testing of the prototype as well as the progress being made in the system and sub-systems were discussed. DRDO officials said that the possible risks related to these efforts were also taken into account. However, the LCA Mark 2 program was discussed in detail during the meeting.
Change in timeline due to delay in release of funds
At present, this program related to the defense sector has been delayed by about a year. However, its prototype is to be ready by early 2025. It is being told that the deadline had to be changed due to the delay in the release of funds, which was related to the signing of the engine deal for the next indigenous fighter aircraft. Let us tell you that all LCA aircraft will operate with American GE engines. LCA Mark 1 and Mark 1A will be powered by GE-404. LCA Mark 2 will be powered by GE-414, which will be manufactured in India by the US firm with indigenous material. It is known that the government is preparing to replace all the main fleet of the army including Mirage 2000, Jaguar and MiG-29 with LCA Mark 2. More than 250 of these aircraft will be included in the fleet in the next 10-15 years.
