IAF chief calls for ramping up LCA production to meet growing needs

“The issue is matching production capacity with our requirements,” Chaudhari said at a media briefing at the conclusion of Tarang Shakti 2024, the largest multilateral air combat exercise to be hosted by India, at the Jodhpur airbase.

His comments come at a time when the LCA Mk-1A programme is moving at a sluggish pace and IAF is concerned about the possible risks a delay in the induction of new fighter planes could pose to its combat effectiveness. It has flagged the hot-button issue to the manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), calling for timely execution of the ₹48,000-crore contract for 83 fighters.

“We could diversify and have multiple production lines for the aircraft. How to go about it is a challenge that the industry needs to address and come up with a solution. It could be some kind of public-private partnership, a joint venture or any model currently available with the industry, and HAL needs to take the lead on this,” the IAF chief said.

Also Read:Deal for 97 more LCA Mk-1As by year-end, say officials

To be sure, HAL has set up a new production line in Nashik for LCA Mk-1As to meet IAF’s growing needs. The state-run firm says it can build 16 LCA Mk-1As every year in Bengaluru, and the Nashik line will help it ramp up production to 24 jets.

The defence ministry could award HAL a contract for 97 more LCA Mk-1As worth ₹67,000 crore by the year-end to strengthen the air force’s capabilities.

LCA is set to emerge as the cornerstone of IAF’s combat power in the coming decade and beyond, as previously reported by HT.

IAF, the world’s fourth largest air force, is expected to operate around 350 LCAs (Mk-1, Mk-1A and the future Mk-2), with a third of those already ordered, some inducted, and the rest figuring prominently on the air force’s modernisation roadmap and expected to be contracted in the coming years.

The performance of LCA Mk-1 (the first variant) at Tarang Shakti was exemplary, he said. The first phase of the exercise was held at the Sulur airbase in Tamil Nadu in August. Chaudhari had then said LCA, the smallest fighter in the Tarang Shakti drills, showed size does not matter as it executed a variety of ‘blue force and red force’ (friendly and hostile) missions along with bigger and modern global fighter jets.

The second and final leg of Tarang Shakti began in Jodhpur on August 30. Seven global air forces, including those from the US, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Greece, deployed their air assets for the exercise.

IAF has already inducted 36 of the 40 LCA Mk-1s ordered earlier. These are in the initial operational clearance (IOC) and the more advanced final operational clearance (FOC) configurations — the first variants of LCA.

The LCA Mk-1A on order is an advanced variant.

A question mark hangs over HAL’s ability to meet the delivery timeline of the 83 LCA Mk-1As on order. Many in the air force are sceptical about the LCA Mk-1A deadlines being met, and one of the main reasons for that is the lingering delay in the supply of the F404 engines to HAL by US firm GE Aerospace.

However, there is a sliver of hope for HAL.

GE Aerospace has conveyed to HAL that it will start delivering two engines per month for the LCA Mk-1A project, officials aware of the matter said. The single-engine Mk-1A will be a replacement for the IAF’s Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 fighter.

HAL plans to create a new vertical to push exports as it pursues opportunities to sell LCA and helicopters to several countries. It has proposed setting up the vertical under a CEO-ranked officer who will report directly to the chairman of the company.

Get Current Updates on…

See more