The Indian Air Force will use the home-made Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar on the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark-2, which is 15 years behind schedule.

The Mark-2 prototype is expected to be inducted into service by 2014, following which the Indian Air Force plans to order 200 aircraft.

The Indian content of the LCA Mark-2 will be about 70 percent and the aircraft will be powered by the General Electric F414 engine and has added two tons to the LCA’s original weight of eight tons.

AESA is capable of performing multiple simultaneous beams and radar detection and improve on the older passive electronically scanned radars by spreading their signal emissions out across a band of frequencies, which makes it difficult to detect over background noise. It also allows ships and aircraft to broadcast powerful radar signals.

The single-seat, single-engine LCA is an advanced technology supersonic, multirole, air-superiority fighter designed for air-to-air, air-to-ground and air-to-sea combat.

ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency) had to look overseas for a suitable engine for the Mark-2 because of technical snags in the development of the Indian-made Kaveri engine.

 

Source: DefenseWorld