Preparing to buy 105 more aircraft, expert: How many J-20s have been built?

Recently, the Indian military industry has received great news. The 8th mass-produced LCA successfully made its first flight! You must know that the LCA fighter project proposed a conceptual drawing in 1988, and the first verification aircraft was launched in 1995. It has been a super project that has taken 30 years. At the beginning of the design of the LCA fighter, the most advanced fighter of the Chinese Air Force was still the J-8, and now all the J-20 fighters have entered mass service in the Air Force.

Military experts said that the LCA fighter jet, as a domestic third-generation aircraft plan proposed by India at the end of the last century, was still relatively mid-range among the international mainstream at the beginning of its design. However, today the fate of the LCA appears to be very different. Awkward.

According to an Indian media publication, the 8th mass-produced LCA manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics has successfully made its first flight recently, and it has been 4 years since the mass production of this aircraft began. It is expected to be delivered to the 45th Knife Squadron of the Indian Air Force after the final part of the production work is completed. According to previous reports from the Indian media, the Indian Air Force has purchased 83 LCA fighters at a price of more than 7 billion US dollars. If this rate is followed, all deliveries may be achieved around 2040.

Indian media stated that some time ago, the Indian government canceled a light fighter procurement project worth a total of US$25 billion. At that time, the US F16 fighter jet and the Swedish Gripen fighter jet were considered the most likely candidates. . However, the subsequent statement of Indian Defense Minister Sitharaman poured cold water on the arms dealers of the two countries. According to Sitharaman, the Indian government may choose to support the further upgrade of LCA fighters and thus purchase 105 LCA MK2s instead of choosing to purchase them from abroad. Introduced, the price of this order may be close to 150 million U.S. dollars, thus reducing the price of imported products by approximately 10 billion U.S. dollars.

According to information, Hindustan Aeronautics is preparing to import Western engines, phased array radars and electronic equipment to upgrade the existing LCA MK1 fighter aircraft so that the fighter can achieve the performance of the later version of the F16. This has been It is believed that it will significantly enhance the strength of the Indian military aviation industry.

Military experts said that the Indian LCA fighter project has now become a joke. In the same period of time, China has achieved a leap from the J-8 to the J-20. Now the number of J-20s in service exceeds 10, and The MK1 version of the LCA fighter has just made its 8th maiden flight. If India wants to defeat China with its LCA fighter, it might as well build more public toilets in the country.