New Delhi, October 19 (HS): The indigenous Tejas MK-2, a 4.5-generation medium-weight fighter jet powered by the French fighter Rafale, will be delivered to the Air Force after six years. The deal for GE-414 engines from the US is expected to be finalised in a year, and the first 'Made in India' aircraft will be rolled out three years after the contract is signed. After the GE-414 engine is manufactured in India, the indigenous content in the Tejas MK-2 will increase from 60 percent to 75 percent.

The Government of India has approved the manufacturing of six prototype aircraft of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark-2. Till now, the construction of the prototype was stuck due to the non-availability of the engine, but during the last US visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the way for the construction of the LCA Tejas Mark-2 was cleared after the agreement to develop the GE-414 aircraft engine in India.

The contract with the USA company to manufacture GE-414 engines in India is expected to be signed within a year. The deal is expected to be approved by both the US Senate and the House of Representatives, thought Congress has yet to clear it.

On this, HAL CMD has said that the first 'Made in India' aircraft will be rolled out three years after the signing of the contract. He said that after the first aircraft is rolled out, various types of tests will be conducted; hence, it will take six years for the Tejas Mark-2 to be produced and inducted into the Air Force.

The Indian Air Force approved the design of the indigenous powerful fighter aircraft Tejas Mark-2 about two years ago. The Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved this much-awaited project on August 31 last year. After this, it was expected that the prototype of the indigenous multi-role fighter aircraft Tejas Mark-2 would be launched by the end of this year, but the development of the prototype was stuck in limbo due to the engine not being finalised.

Defence Ministry sources say Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will manufacture about 230 LCA Mark-2 aircraft over a period of 15 years or more. The LCA Mark-2 programme will boost India's indigenous aerospace capabilities and also strengthen the Air Force's air fleet. The Indian Air Force can initially order 108 aircraft. Later, their final count maybe 230, after which fighter aircraft will be included in India's air fleet by 2030.

Hindusthan Samachar/Indrani Sarkar/Manoj