Shift 97 Mk1A to Mk-2: Ex-IAF Chief’s Bold Call on LCA Orders

In a candid conversation on BharatShakti Dialogues with Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale, former Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal (Retd.) R.K.S. Bhadauria laid out a clear roadmap for India’s fighter aircraft programmes – urging the nation to double down on indigenous efforts through the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and the upcoming Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) projects.

AMCA: A National Endeavour, Not Just a Project

Bhadauria described the AMCA as the most ambitious leap India has ever attempted in combat aviation – a stealth-capable, multirole fifth-generation fighter designed with super-cruise capability and advanced avionics. Calling it a “top-end project”, he underlined the significance of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) entrusting India’s private sector with such a critical programme.

“This is an opportunity for the private sector to come up and demonstrate their ability to deliver. The AMCA has to be treated as a national project. The government, DRDO labs, DPSUs and private players must work hand-in-hand. It’s now up to the private sector to rise to the occasion,” he stressed.

Dismissing suggestions that India might need to import fifth-generation fighters—particularly as Pakistan eyes Chinese platforms like the J-20 or J-35 – Bhadauria was categorical:

“My answer is no. The government has put its faith in AMCA. As a nation, we must do everything possible to expedite it.”

He further emphasised that the timelines give industry “enough time to prepare” and that only a consortium-driven approach, anchored by private industry but guided by the state, can deliver on AMCA’s promise.

LCA: The Bedrock of Indigenous Capability

The former Air Chief has long been a staunch votary of the LCA Tejas programme, which he calls the “fundamental bedrock of indigenous technology.” During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in finalizing the landmark contract for 83 LCA Mk-1A jets, a move he saw as critical to strengthening the IAF’s combat fleet.

Today, the IAF is projected to field over 350 LCAs across the Mk-1, Mk-1A, and Mk-2 variants. The MoD has already issued a tender to HAL for an additional 97 Mk-1A aircraft, estimated at over Rs 65,000 crore.

Yet Bhadauria believes this procurement plan deserves a rethink. Drawing on his deep involvement with the programme, he suggested that the 97 follow-on aircraft could be better aligned with the LCA Mk-2, which offers greater payload, endurance, and compatibility with modern weaponry.

“Mark 2 is a stepping stone framework in many ways. I personally feel the 97 should shift to Mk-2. If we place the order quickly, concurrent production can start—this would make a huge difference to timelines and capability,” he said.

Fast-Tracking Indigenous Production

Pointing to past delays, Bhadauria underscored the need for innovative thinking and “fast-tracking at every stage” to ensure the IAF gets timely inductions. For him, the LCA and AMCA are not isolated projects but complementary pillars of India’s aviation roadmap.

“The experience of three decades with the LCA must now be leveraged. Everything -whether Mk-2 or AMCA – will be built on that foundation,” he concluded.

The Message: Faith in Indigenous Capability

Bhadauria’s central message was clear: India’s fighter aircraft future lies in trusting and empowering its indigenous ecosystem. The LCA provides the proven base, while the AMCA represents the bold leap forward. Together, they signal a decisive break from dependency on foreign fifth-generation platforms.

Team BharatShakti