Roadmap for 200 LCA ( MK-1, LCA-1P, MK-II) (Update 2)
Published August 21, 2015 | By
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SOURCE: IDRW NEWS NETWORK (INN)
Former Defence Minister AK Antony Speaking at handing over Ceremony of Initial Operational Clearance-II (IOC-II) for ‘Tejas’ earlier last year had declared that 200 Tejas fighters would eventually enter combat service.
IAF with commitment of inducting only two squadrons of the current Tejas Mark I (40), and four squadrons of the improved Tejas Mark II (80) in near future it seemed like that Statement made by then Defence Minister AK Antony was more of a pep talk to encourage IAF to accept more Indigenous aircrafts in its fleet but now it seems there is some merit into that also.
IAF which plans to retire close to 14 combat squadrons consisting of MiG-21 and MiG-27 aircrafts by 2020 is left with slower Induction rate of replacement aircrafts which will only lead to further rapid fall in squadron strength due to retirement and attrition which has forced IAF to seriously consider now possibility of Inducting more than 200 LCA Tejas Type eventually .
Sources close to idrw.org now believe that Indian air force is finally exploring the possibility of eventually operating over 200 LCA aircrafts due to recent debacle over MMRCA tender and delays in procurement of Indo-Russian 5th generation fighter jets, to increase falling numbers at Light fighter category fleet due to retirements of Mig-21s.
IAF has placed orders for 20 IOC-II Certified Tejas MK-1 and 20 FOC Certified Tejas MK-1 and recently IAF also Cleared HAL proposal to develop a new variant dubbed LCA-I P, Which will use current Tejas MK-1 air frame but will be equipped with modern AESA Radar along with electro-optic Electronic Warfare (EW) sensor suite.
HAL plans to field first LCA-I P by 2017 and plans are in place to improve aircraft’s weight by shaving off 800 kilograms and reduce dead weight in the aircraft. HAL also has promised to reduce downtime on the serviceability of the aircraft by making them much more maintenance friendly at the depot level.
LCA-I P will bridge performance deficit found in the MK-1 variant and Powerful MK-II variant which ADE plans to develop by 2019 which eventually enter production by 2022. HAL has argued that due to integration of powerful General Electric F-414INS6 engine in MK-2 aircrafts which will improve performance deficit but since Air-frame which more or less will be same would also lead to higher consumption of fuel and the aircraft which will also get heavier will lead to aircrafts effective range more or less be same as LCA-I P.
HAL already has demanded IAF place orders for 80 LCA-I P but IAF after much-heated debate has asked HAL to prove aircraft first and if performance is found satisfactory is willing to commit order for 20-40 aircrafts if HAL is also able to stick to delivery schedule of MK-1 and effectively use idle Production line to produce LCA-I P aircrafts.
HAL at present has produced only one Series production (SP) aircraft from its current production line and is gearing up to deliver the second aircraft by next month. HAL also has committed to delivering 4 more aircraft by end of FY2015-16 and 8 more aircrafts by FY2016-17, Now IAF has challenged HAL to fast track delivery schedule of MK-1 and produce and deliver 16 aircrafts for FY2017-18 so that it can consider its demands to place orders for Aesa equipped LCA-I P aircrafts.
With all the recent development activities on LCA Project , IAF has clearly indicated that it will commit more than 200 LCA only if Production agency along with other developing agencies can commit to delivery schedule along with capability assurance of the aircrafts which meets Air staff requirements laid out by IAF .
