The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark 1A will be inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) very soon. The LCA Tejas Mark 1A has been developed under the LCA program, and the LCA Tejas series has been developed to replace India’s aging MiG-21 fighters.
Currently, the LCA Tejas has 3 production variants, namely the Mark 1, Mark 1A, and a trainer version. In addition to that, the production of the Mark 2 version of the aircraft is likely to start by 2026. However, the Mark 1A is a new soul in the old body, as it will carry a similar airframe to that of its previous variant, the Mark 1.
The Air Chief Marshal, VR Chaudhari, said that the delivery of 83 Mark 1A aircraft is likely to begin next month. Moreover, this will pave the way for the induction of a new squadron with these highly advanced fighter aircraft in the months of March and April 2024.
According to the Indian Air Force, the new version of Tejas Mark 1 will also be equipped with an upgraded identification friend or foe plus (IFF+) system that allows air traffic control management systems to identify aircraft.