Explained: How New Tejas Fighter Jet Variant Is Different From Its Predecessor

The LCA Tejas MK1A, the advanced version of the MK1, conducted its first successful test flight on March 28 this year, marking a historic moment in India's fighter jet development programme.

The upgraded version of the indigenous supersonic fighter aircraft, the Tejas MK1A, is expected to be delivered to the Indian Air Force by July, reports said. The LCA Tejas MK1A, the advanced version of the MK1, conducted its first successful test flight on March 28 this year, marking a historic moment in India's fighter jet development programme.

The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme was envisioned in the late 1980s to replace the MiG-21s and Su-7s fleet. The programme got a boost in the late 90s. On January 4, 2001, the Technology Demonstrator-1 (TD-1) version of the LCA was airborne and rechristened as 'Tejas', a significant moment in the Indian Air Force's history.

The Second Series Production (SP2) Tejas aircraft was given initial operational clearance in 2016. The Tejas MK1 version was inducted in the Air Force's No. 45 Squadron - 'The Flying Daggers'. Later, another Tejas squadron, No. 18 Squadron - 'The Flying Bullets' began operating the MK1 variant.