As the euphoria over the sanction of Rs 10,000 crores for the development of LCA Mk-II ebbs, it’s time we went down in the annals of India’s most ambitious defence project, paving the way for future generations to indulge in nostalgic reminiscence of the glorious past.
LCA-early development phase
In the quest to become self reliant on combat aircraft technology, India has initiated multiple projects since independence. It was in 70s when a replacement for older variants of MiG-21 and other old platforms was realised. Initially a light platform with much simple configuration was sought. The Air Staff Target (AST) 201 was issued in 1982 and next year the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) was formally approved. Following the formal air staff requirement (ASR) of 1985, the project definition was completed by 1987. At that time the series production was envisioned in 1994! In 1991 the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs approved execution of the LCA project in two Full Scale Engineering Development (FSED) phases.
Why did the IAF request for Mk-II?
What was initiated as a simple, rugged project soon emerged as an ambitious one featuring cutting-edge technologies. Limitations in indigenous capability was a major constraint. Successful development required time, inadvertently dragging if not delaying the project significantly longer. The prolonged time also witnessed the rapid rise of new generation technologies critical for future combat environments. Even long before that, the Project Definition Phase (PDP) document of LCA, prepared by ADA and reviewed by Air HQ in 1989, was found deficient in the crucial parameters of aerodynamic configuration, volume and weight as set in ASR. The FSED was persuaded in stages. The LCA IOC will fail to meet the ASR in terms of increased weight, reduced internal fuel capacity, noncompliance of all-weather operations, nonachievement of single point refueling, failure to meet required sustained turn rate (STR), transonic acceleration and climb rate, lack of Self Protection Jammer (SPJ), Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), and Counter Measure Dispensing System (CMDS), leading to a deficiency in electronic warfare (EW). Thus, an initial 53 shortcomings were noted. It was precisely with this forethought that the Empowered Committee headed by the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) recommended in October 2007 the building of LCA Mk-II under FSED Phase-III in order to meet the ASR parameters. The project for design and development was sanctioned in November 2009 at a cost of Rs. 2431.55 crore with a Probable Date of Completion (PDC) of December 2018.
Mk-II in initial days
In 2009, for the first time, an official statement about Mk-II was made by Ashok Baweja, the Chairman of HAL at Aero India 2009, confirming work on a bigger platform with a more powerful engine. Later, under P.S. Subramanyam, Director of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), five squadrons of the same was envisaged with indigenous content of 70% and first flight in 2014. A Request For Proposal (RFP) for the required engine was issued to two contenders—General Electric (GE) F414 and Eurojet EJ200. In 2010, General Electric bagged the contract to supply F414-GE-INS6 to power the future platform. But the deal worth Rs. 3,000 crore could be finalised only by 2013 with an option to procure 100 more. Under this contract, an initial batch of engines will be supplied by GE and the rest will be manufactured in India under the transfer of technology. However, the current status of the deal couldn’t be assessed by the author. In 2021, HAL signed another contract of Rs. 5,375 crore ($716 million) with GE to procure 99 F404-GE-IN20 engines to power LCA Mk-I and Mk-IA variants. In February 2011, Defence Minister A.K. Antony mentioned 2015 as envisioned induction time of Mk-II. But the next year, ADA pushed the timeline to 2018 subject to successful flight-testing. However, the course of the development was to be changed very soon!
Days of work on two projects
Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne in 2013 officially stated Tejas as a replacement for the MiG-21, allowing induction of the Mk-II version at a later stage. “The LCA Tejas Mk 2 will have a better engine with higher thrust and an improved radar system,” he stated. According to those reports, the IAF would contemplate acquiring four squadrons of Mk-II. ACM Arup Raha initially explained the expansion of the IAF fleet strength with four squadrons of improved Mk- II. But later, the number for Mk-I with some improvements was increased to 120 from just 40. It was done as an interim measure to slow down the diminishing squadron strength as well as to provide the necessary time for the development of the desired variant. That year, by September, a “Standard of Preparation-2018” (SoP-18) was envisaged by the four stakeholders of the LCA programmes—the IAF, HAL, ADA, and MoD. There were four major and several minor improvements. This improved version would later result in Mk-IA. The work for Mk-II continued on the parallel track. The Director General, Missile and Strategic Systems (MSS), DRDO, Satish Kumar, during Defexpo 2016, predicted the timeline for the completion of the design by 2018. Next year, H Siddesha, project director and technology director of LCA (ADA) mentioned 2021 when the Mk-II would be readied. That time all 123 Mk-I would have been inducted by 2024! However, none has been a reality in 2022. ACM B.S. Dhanoa in 2018 mentioned procurement of a large fleet of LCA. According to reports, “We’re looking at 12 squadrons of the Light Combat Aircraft Mk- II,” he stated. Though many were skeptical of this statement, later, in another statement, he said, “The process of induction of 231 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is in pipeline... There was a proposal to induct LCA in big numbers and with this the total number of LCA squadrons will go up to 12.” The number envisaged hasn’t been changed much since then. In the same year, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar confirmed that the Mk-II would address the shortcomings of the Mk-I. Dr. Girish Deodhar, programme director of ADA, confirmed Mk.2 was being developed to replace the Mirage-2000.
The MK-II in its final avatar
On 22 February 2019, at the grand of Aero India, the Chairman of DRDO, Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, handed over the FOC of Tejas Mk. 1 to the CAS ACM B.S.Dhanoa. It was also the first event where a scaled model concept of the Mk. 2, rechristened as the as the Medium Weight Fighter (MWF), highlighting all the new features was unveiled. At that time, the aim was to take the first aircraft into the air by 2023. ACM RKS Bhadauria in 2020 stated, “In the long run, the IAF will have 40+83 Tejas Mk-I/IA and around six squadrons of Tejas Mk-II.” This echoed what the former chief had stated. In January 2021, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the procurement of 73 LCA Tejas Mk-IA fighters and 10 LCA Tejas Mk-I trainers at a cost of Rs. 45,696 crore along with Design and Development of Infrastructure sanctions worth Rs. 1,202. The Mk-IA conducted the first flight in May 2022.
Now - 2022
The CAS reiterated the commitment to the procurement of six squadrons of the improved variant. In the same year, the Govt. gave the gave the nod for the development of Mk-II and the CCS gave clearance for another Rs. 6,500 crore. Thus, a total of total of Rs. 10,000 crore is sanctioned for the design, development, and flight certification. The mega sanction will be followed by TEDBF and AMCA.
Design Evolution
The Mk-II has gone through several design modifications in the past eight years. The first Preliminary Design Review (PDR) came in 2014. The fuselage was just 500mm longer than the than the Mk-I. The internal fuel capability was limited to 2,672 kg and a payload capacity of 4,500 kg. It was envisaged for an all-up weight (AUW) of 15T. It was changed again in 2017. For the first time, a pair of canards were attached and were made 1,000mm longer (interestingly, LiveFist back in 2011 shared a fan-art image by Ranjan Saha featuring canards). The payload was increased to 5,500kg with an internal fuel capability of 3,300kg. As a result, it was converted into a 16.5T AUW platform. However, the requirement for future challenges steered elaborated changes. The 2019 design made the platform 1350mm longer and 300mm wider. The internal fuel capacity was increased to 3,300 kg. With 6.5T of payload the AUW increased to 17.5T.
Latest Status
As of 2022 the detailed design drawing is ready and critical design review has been completed. The configuration has been frozen along with system architecture being finalised. The first flight is expectedby 2024/2025 and expected production by 2027/2030. New updates are expected at Defexpo 2022.
The features
The evolution of LCA Mk-II from LCA Mk-I is being envisaged in two steps. The first Tejas Mk-IA integrates 43 improvements. Some of these are: Open Architecture Mission Systems, Active Electron Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Digital Wideband Radar Warning Receiver, podded Self Protection Jammer (SPJ), New Generation Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS), etc. The LCA Mk-II further evolves to meet the rest of the requirements. It will have a longer fuselage equipped with a more powerful GE F414-INS6 engine with a maximum thrust of 98 Kn, enhancing the MTOW up to 17.5 T and the ferry range of 3,500 km. The low RCS platform will feature Smart Large Area Display (LAD), Head Up Display (HUD), upgraded Fly by Wire (FBW) controls with advanced Digital Flight Control Computer (DFCC), indigenous actuators, new smart cockpit, Internal Unified Electronic Warfare Suite (UEWS), On Board Oxygen Generated System (OBOGS), Infrared Search and Track (IRST), Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS), and many more. A much more detailed piece has already been published in the Aero India Issue of 2021. The entire LCA programme has witnessed vicissitudes. It had to progress braving unimaginable odds and tribulations. The original requirements of 220 platforms once was about to cut down to just 120. But now it has a confirmed order of 123 and commitment of further six squadrons, which according to many reports might touch even ten! As India struggles for the acquisition of advanced multi-role fighter through the infamous MMRCA programme, the dwindling IAF squadron strength has got a new hope in shape of an indigenous option. At the end only one sentence can be said in its honour- the past of it might be lackluster the future will be glorious!
Article by Sankalan Chattopadhyay (Twitter@vinoddx9) All photos: Vayu