Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Friday underscored the urgent need to accelerate the induction of advanced indigenous fighter jets to fill the service’s rapidly depleting squadron strength, hinting that orders for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A could shift toward the more capable Tejas Mk2.

Speaking at his annual press conference ahead of the 93rd Air Force Day, the Air Chief described the Tejas Mk2 as “an extension of the Mk1A,” but with a clear leap in capability. “It’s a bigger platform, same generation, but able to carry more and bigger weapons, with superior range and endurance,” he said, stressing that the Mk2 “fits very much in the IAF’s long-term force structure.”

He added that had the Mk2 program stayed fully on schedule, “the next lot of LCA Mk1

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