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 for Rafale aircraft from France, 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 (LCA Mark 2) fighter jets will start flying by March 2026. Their mass production is expected to start by the year 2029. Apart from this, the production of the fifth generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) can start by 2035. Let’s know how advanced are the LCA Mark 2 aircraft.

According to the report, DRDO chief Dr. Sameer V. Kamat and Air Force Deputy Chief Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit held an important meeting regarding LCA Mark 2 recently. Other people who are associated with this program also attended 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 is American but material is Indian

All LCA aircraft are being fitted with American GE engines. According to the report, GE-404 engines have been fitted in LCA Mark 1 and 1A. GE-414 engines will be fitted in LCA Mark 2. It took some time to finalise 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 aircraft of the army like old Mirage 2000, Jaguar and MiG-29 with LCA Mark 2. More than 250 LCA Mark 2 aircraft will be inducted into service in the next 10-15 years. Along with this, the 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, this will be a fighter jet in which a maximum of 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 the air-to-ground Brahmos can also be added to it.