LCA AF Mk2 (Medium Weight Fighter) - News and discussions

RationalGuy said:
I am talking about 1990s also where Taiwanese air force was more advanced than PLAAF and had the support of the US Navy, as I said in 1996 when China threatened Taiwan US Navy sailed 2 aircraft carriers with FA18 hornets which outclassed any PLAAF jet barely 70 km off of Chinese coastline. Other than 1971 such an incident never happened with India.

As for Taiwanese air defence, they don't have integrated air defencd network???? Wtf that means they are absolutely cooked because PLARF will launch hundreds of BMs at them in a very short span?!? How exactly do these guys think they can beat back China without an integrated air defence system and long range ballistic missiles 😂. Man they're even more cooked than I thought.
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Off topic but.
Taiwan's defense budget was 1.9% of its gdp in 2020.
A small island nation threatened by a magnitudes superior enemy had less than 2% of its gdp as a defense budget.
Nato baseline recommend is 2% "during peacetime".


Though taiwan claims to increase defense spending above 3% gdp in 2026.
But that's after Trump pressured them to.

A small island nation threatened by a magnitudes superior enemy only decided to increase defense spending after a foreign nation pressured them to spend on their defense.


How they neglected their military till now, honestly makes me think they deserve to be invaded.
One of the Most retarded behaviour I have ever seen.
 
babablacksheep said:
Off topic but.
Taiwan's defense budget was 1.9% of its gdp in 2020.
A small island nation threatened by a magnitudes superior enemy had less than 2% of its gdp as a defense budget.
Nato baseline recommend is 2% "during peacetime".


Though taiwan claims to increase defense spending above 3% gdp in 2026.
But that's after Trump pressured them to.

A small island nation threatened by a magnitudes superior enemy only decided to increase defense spending after a foreign nation pressured them to spend on their defense.


How they neglected their military till now, honestly makes me think they deserve to be invaded.
One of the Most retarded behaviour I have ever seen.
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A bit more complex then it seems.

Any indigenous capability buildup will alert China leading to swift decapitation. USA won't like it either since that will mean lesser leverage in Pacific and a readymade military industrial complex on island for China in case they have a successful invasion. Even now it's speculated that Taiwan has self destruction mechanisms in it's semicon fabs to not let China get it's hands on readymade fab technology during invasion. And China is eyeing that tech. Covert espionage are frequent concern for taiwan.

Then comes the case for buying weapons.. which in pre Trump era was considered easier to rely on US security guarantees and weapon support in crisis time. Now even after Trump has changed somethings, it's for increasing trade income for USA.
Even if taiwan spends every dollar in their coffers.. they won't have any chance against China without substantial US protection.

So, why not spend that on making cutting edge fabs that will basically run the future.
 
Subgradewalker said:
Any indigenous capability buildup will alert China leading to swift decapitation.
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China in early 2000s, even in 2010s possessed none such capability.

Right now in 2025, they are finally willing to increase defense spending, when china does posses the capability.




Subgradewalker said:
USA won't like it either since that will mean lesser leverage in Pacific and a readymade military industrial complex on island for China in case they have a successful invasion
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Less leverage how?


As for Ready made mic, china won't even look at those Taiwanese ones.
 
babablacksheep said:
China in early 2000s, even in 2010s possessed none such capability.

Right now in 2025, they are finally willing to increase defense spending, when china does posses the capability.





Less leverage how?


As for Ready made mic, china won't even look at those Taiwanese ones.
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Hmmm... I do get your point and I agree that there was lack of foresight.
But then again.. 2000s-2010s were era of US hegemony. I doubt they would've even thought that one day a leader like Trump will emerge that will leave their US security cover in doubt.

It was same with NATO nations, EU nations too. Even India in 2000-2015 lagged when it came to military strengthening and advancements. Only imports, corruption and chillaxing.

Only US, China and Russia to an extent spent anything of worth on their military capabilities.
Even USA was sleeping in early 2000s vis a vis China..
 
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Interested said:
If sanctions are put on the F404 and F414 then the best option would be abandon the LCA and go full throttle on the AMCA with Safran collab.

But I don't think there will sanctions however I don't think the ToT deal will happen . We will jsut have to buy the engines outright .
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It wouldn't be prudent fiscally and from a sustainment point of view. There's a reason why LWF's like LCA/MWF, Gripen, J-10, F-16 remain relevant in the ever evolving battlespace in that as single engined, relatively maintenance friendly aircraft, they provide the necessary cost advantage relative to larger, heavier jets while being able to generate sorties at an rate that'd be eye-watering for larger jets to even achieve on a good day. LCA/MWF in our context is also essential to replace multiple current aircraft types such as Mig-29, M2K, Jaguar and erstwhile types such as the Mig-21/23/27. It'll be a transformative aircraft for the IAF in this context.
 
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babablacksheep said:
Off topic but.
Taiwan's defense budget was 1.9% of its gdp in 2020.
A small island nation threatened by a magnitudes superior enemy had less than 2% of its gdp as a defense budget.
Nato baseline recommend is 2% "during peacetime".


Though taiwan claims to increase defense spending above 3% gdp in 2026.
But that's after Trump pressured them to.

A small island nation threatened by a magnitudes superior enemy only decided to increase defense spending after a foreign nation pressured them to spend on their defense.


How they neglected their military till now, honestly makes me think they deserve to be invaded.
One of the Most retarded behaviour I have ever seen.
Click to expand...
I think Taiwan is just arrogant, they produce like 90% of the world's most advanced semiconductors, so I think they figured "well the entire world needs us so they wont let China take us over". Even Chinese companies relied a lot on TSMC chips and Taiwanese semiconductor because it took a long time for the Chinese equivalent SMIC and CXMT to become mature and capable of mass producing relatively advanced chips. So the Taiwanese for a long time seem to have thought theyre a skinny 5 foot 3 midget in an area of 7 foot wrestlers but they have something everyone needs, so obviously the wrestlers wont attack them.

But with the TSMC plants in the US, their unique capability is eroding. Considering unkills behaviour, as soon as unkill starts producing large quantities of advanced node chips via their TSMC factories in Arizona, they will abandon Taiwan to its fate. Before this happens, we need fo glean as much semiconductor tech as we can from Taiwan through more JVs as the Tata PSMC especially for more advanced nodes such as 14 nm.
 
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Amid the tensions between the US and India over tariffs, the defence partnership between the two countries continues. ThePrint has learnt that a delegation of state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will be going to America later month to hold the fifth round of talks for the joint production plan of the GE F414-INS6 engines in India.

And it continues to crawl forward. No pressure though, its just the fifth round. The roll out is already delayed I believe.
 
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TARGET said:
Not sure what they're actually offering? They don't have an engine on hand that matches the thrust of the GE 414, it seems like they're just giving a idea for the M88-4 joint development.
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The article does not provide the details as well. This is perhaps one of those 'leaks' that has found its way to a newsroom.
 
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Current Development Status​

  • Prototyping Underway: The aircraft has moved from the design phase to the physical prototyping stage. Key structural components are already being manufactured. As Dr. Sunil stated, "The prototyping has already started. We have the centrifuge large is already done. The wings already are buried in our, R and D center."
  • A New Aircraft Class: The HAL CMD emphasized that the Mk2 is not merely a variant of the Mk1A. It is a completely new aircraft in the 18-ton category, comparable to the Mirage 2000 or the Jaguar, whereas the Tejas Mk1A is in the 12-13 ton class.

Projected Timelines​

  • Rollout: HAL aims to roll out the first prototype by the end of the current financial year (i.e., by March 2026).
  • First Flight: The first flight is targeted for late 2026 or early 2027. Prototyping a new aircraft involves extensive ground testing (what he refers to as RFTs) after rollout, which typically takes several months before it can be cleared for its maiden flight.
  • Certification: The certification period after the first flight is estimated to take 3 to 4 years, involving multiple prototypes. This would place the final operational clearance around 2030-2031.
  • Series Production: Production could begin even before full certification is complete. HAL anticipates a Limited Series Production (LSP) order from the Indian Air Force about a year before certification is finished, potentially starting the manufacturing process around 2029-2030.
 
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He also mentioned this part, almost 80% of MK1A version surface area is composite made and for MK2 or AMCA it is going to be all composite ?
So the metallic Al alloy frames & brackets, shims rings etc are to be replaced ? at 11:55 min mark

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Won't a suspected order of Rafales have massive impact on mark Two

Surely Induction of 100 more Rafales at 30 billion dollars between 2029/2036
And the arrival of 2032 onwards of 100 Tejas mark 2 at another 15 billion is overlap and better spent on su57 a fifth generation option

The world will be inducting fifth generation fighters is korea japan turkey Israel and NATO of course china and USA in hundreds and we are wasting 45 billion of fourth generation fighters

That's a worry it's too late
 
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Harpy1 said:
Won't a suspected order of Rafales have massive impact on mark Two

Surely Induction of 100 more Rafales at 30 billion dollars between 2029/2036
And the arrival of 2032 onwards of 100 Tejas mark 2 at another 15 billion is overlap and better spent on su57 a fifth generation option

The world will be inducting fifth generation fighters is korea japan turkey Israel and NATO of course china and USA in hundreds and we are wasting 45 billion of fourth generation fighters

That's a worry it's too late
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Our entire fleet of Medium Multirole fighters has to be replaced in next 12-15 years in addition to the already retired Mig-23/27s. We are going to need both 4++ and 5th generation fighters to fill in the gap.
 
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Harpy1 said:
Won't a suspected order of Rafales have massive impact on mark Two

Surely Induction of 100 more Rafales at 30 billion dollars between 2029/2036
And the arrival of 2032 onwards of 100 Tejas mark 2 at another 15 billion is overlap and better spent on su57 a fifth generation option

The world will be inducting fifth generation fighters is korea japan turkey Israel and NATO of course china and USA in hundreds and we are wasting 45 billion of fourth generation fighters

That's a worry it's too late
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Majority of the FAs in the fleet of any major power are either 4th gen or 4++. The Mk2 hinges on the availability of the 414. Mk1A is already facing a dismal engine availability.
 
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Shan said:
Majority of the FAs in the fleet of any major power are either 4th gen or 4++. The Mk2 hinges on the availability of the 414. Mk1A is already facing a dismal engine availability.
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IMO availability of 414 will be much better as SOKO or sweden has no problem getting them. until recently Boeing used to produce 100+ FA18s a year which means 200+ 414 engines a year.
if GE puts mind they can deliver All 414 in just 2 years.

the real issue is Co-producing 414, US will never allow even a tiny bit of tech transfer or co-producing of the engine.
which puts Mk2 and AMCA mk1 at very high risk.

which puts us in back in the Indo - french engine. Since we need to convince the french we need to buy 114 rafale to seal the engine deal. else they could walk of the engine deal.

also i think MK2 is irrelevant , and should go for a single engine stealth air frame. with M88 4 or New indo - french engine.
An engine change will push the Mk2 at least 4-5 year away. why not use that to time to make a stealth air frame?
 
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