Sunday, May 14, 2023

No Funding Crunch, India’s LCA Tejas MK2 ‘In A Limbo’ Over ToT Approval; PM Modi’s US Visit Could Seal The Deal

The development of India’s indigenous LCA Mk2 fighter jets will begin after ToT (transfer of technology) is signed with the US engine manufacturing company GE Aviation.

Next month’s visit of Prime Narendra Modi to the White House is likely to churn the momentum of the deal, EurAsian Times has learned.

India’s medium-weight fighter (MWF), LCA Mk2, is an advanced version of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A, which is being used by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The LCA Tejas series has been designed and developed by India’s government subsidiary Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), in active participation with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). LCA jets are manufactured in the Bengaluru facility of HAL.

Last year in September (2022), Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved a sum of Rs 10,000 crore ($1.2B) for the development of the LCA Tejas MK2 project, which included prototype development and flight testing.

“This sum for the LCA MK2 project was sanctioned from the Defence Budget of the Ministry of Defence (MoD)”, said a top functionary involved in the project. “So there has been no crunch of funds, but the issue which has stalled the project is 100 percent Transfer of Technology (TOT) of the GE 414 engines from the US”, a top source linked to Tejas MK2 program told EurAsian Times.

LCA Mk2 is pitched to be 4.5 generation aircraft with a weight heavier than the LCA Mk1A. With a weight of 7.8 tons, LCA Mk2 is slated to carry a payload (weapons) of 6.5 tonnes.

14/05/2023 EurAsiaTimes

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