Context: The first prototype of the country’s fifth-generation fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is expected to be rolled out by the end of 2026 or early 2027. The first prototype of the Light Combat Aircraft-Mk2 (LCA-Mk2) is expected by the end of 2025.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Basic understanding of India’s aircraft technological development.
India’s Aircraft Fleet
- Indian Air Force (IAF) has 31 fighter squadrons as against the sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons, significantly below the optimal readiness requirements.
- Of the current 31 squadrons, the phase out of two MIG-21 squadrons has been extended due to the delayed deliveries of LCA-Mk1A.
- LCA-Mk2 & AMCA are critical for IAF’s modernisation plans.
- IAF has acquired 36 Rafale (4.5 generation aircraft) from France through a government-to-government deal in 2016.
1. LCA-Mk2 (Tejas 2)
- LCA Mark 2 is a 4.5 generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, an improved version of LCA Tejas fighter jet.
- Indigenous development by: Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
- IAF plans to have about six squadrons of Tejas Mk2. Estimated induction: 2028-29
Key specifications of LCA-Mk2 (Tejas 2):
- Engine: Would be powered by GE-414 engine (a high-performance afterburning turbofan engine).
- Combat Range: 1500 kms
- Maximum Speed: 1.8 Mach
- With a weight of 17.5 tonnes, it can carry 6.5 tonnes of weapons. It has all indigenous weapons and about 11 weapon stations.
- Multirole aircraft: Designed to carry a range of air-to-air, air-to-surface and precision-guided weapons.
- It is capable of carrying 8 Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) missiles at once, in addition to incorporating modern armaments.
2. Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)
- AMCA is a 5th-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA). It is currently the only 5th generation fighter under development in India.
- Indigenous development:
- Designed by: Aeronautical Development Agency under the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
- Manufactured by: state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
- Full-stealth AMCA aircraft programme was sanctioned in 2024. Estimated induction: 2034
Key specifications of AMCA:
- AMCA is a 25-tonne twin-engine aircraft.
- Max speed: Nearly 2,600 kilometres per hour (Mach 2.15)
- Combat range: 1,620 km
- Designed for multi-role missions, including air-to-air and air-to-ground operations, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) and electronic warfare.
- Stealth aircraft (capable of avoiding enemy radars and air defence mechanisms). The stealth fighter uses:
- specialised paint coating and radar-absorbing material to reduce radar bounce-off
- exhaust nozzles that reduce infrared radiation emitted by the engine
- exhaust plume and fuselage technology that reduces the heat signature of the engine.
- First look, first kill: AMCA will be based on the ‘first look, first kill’ concept, where an AMCA pilot would see an enemy plane first, fire a missile and destroy it before the latter can react.
- Fuel and Weapons: AMCA will have a concealed internal fuel tank of 6.5-tonne capacity, and an internal weapons bay for a range of weapons, including indigenous weapons.
- Engine:
- AMCA Mk1 variant will have the US-built GE414 engine of the 90 kilonewton (kN) class.
- The more advanced AMCA Mk2 will have a more powerful 110kN engine, to be developed indigenously by DRDO’s Gas Turbine Research Establishment in collaboration with a foreign defence major.
- AMCA can carry armament weighing 6,500 kg (1.5 tonnes internal payload capacity).
- AMCA will carry:
- BrahMos-NG (next generation) air-to-ground missiles
- Astra air-to-air missiles
- Rudram air-to-ground anti-radiation missiles
- Anti-tank missiles, laser-guided bombs and precision munitions.