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Sources close to lca-tejas.org , have informed that Work on first air frame of Mark-2 variant of Tejas fighter aircraft , will start soon and aircraft will be ready for its first flight by 2015 . we have been also been informed that first Naval LCA MK-2 will also be ready at same time which has been dubbed has NP-3 , while NP-1 which is based on MK-1 design characters just had it first flight in month of April this year and another LCA NP-2 which will be a Single seat variant will also be ready by year end , both Naval LCA aircrafts will then be transferred and will be based in Goa Shore based testing facility some time in 2013 onwards .
Mark-2 will be powered by more powerful GE F414-IN6 with 98 kN of thrust and refined aerodynamics, and already have placed orders for 99 in first batch and second batch will be ordered once Tejas MK-2 and Naval LCA MK-2 clears first flight . The IAF is committed to procuring an initial 83 Tejas Mk2s and the Indian Navy has expressed its firm requirement for 46 LCA Mk2 (Navy).
LSP-8 and SP-1 will also have it first flight by end of this year and SP-2 will have first flight in 2013 , and it likely that LSP-7 and LSP-8 , along with SP-1 and SP-2 will be handed over to Indian air force for user trails by mid of 2013 . Navy will also order some MK-1 , which might be used as Induction fighters for pilot training , before moving to LCA MK-2 .
Tejas MK-2 will fly in 2015 | idrw.org