What is LCA MK2 New indigenous aircraft coming to replace Mig Jaguar First flight in 2026

LCA Mark 2 Fighter jet: India has definitely made a deal with France for Rafale aircraft, but work is also going on in the country on Made in India fighter aircraft. Defense officials have told news agency ANI that the 4.5 generation LCA Mark 2 fighter jet will start flying by March 2026. Their mass production is expected to start by the year 2029. Apart from this, production of fifth generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) can start by 2035. Let us know how advanced the LCA Mark 2 aircraft is.

According to the report, DRDO Chief Dr. Sameer V. Kamat and Air Force Deputy Chief Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit held an important meeting recently regarding LCA Mark 2. Other people who are associated with this program also participated in the meeting. Earlier it was expected that the first prototype of LCA Mark 2 would be ready by the year 2025. However, now it may take one more year. The reason for this is the delay in getting approval of funds.

Engine American, but material Indian

America’s GE engines are being installed in all LCA aircraft. According to the report, GE-404 engine is installed in LCA Mark 1 and 1A. GE-414 engine will be installed in LCA Mark 2. It took some time to finalize the deal related to this. The special thing is that even though the engine will be made by an American company, the material used in it will be Indian.

Mirage, Jaguar, MiG-29 will be replaced

According to the report, the government plans to replace all the main army aircraft like the old Mirage 2000, Jaguar and MiG-29 with the LCA Mark 2. More than 250 LCA Mark 2 aircraft will be inducted into service in the next 10-15 years. Along with this, Indian Air Force has ordered 180 LCA Mark 1A planes. Its production is likely to be completed by 2032.

LCA Mark 2 Features
According to media reports, it will be a fighter jet, in which maximum 2 people will be able to sit. LCA Mark 2 will be able to fly with weapons weighing 6500 kg, while its maximum takeoff load will be 17 thousand 500 kg. It is said that it will fly at a speed of 2385 kilometers per hour and will be able to reach a height of more than 56 thousand feet. Missiles and bombs can be installed in this aircraft. Some variants of air-to-ground BrahMos can also be added to it.