CHANDIGARH: The much-delayed, India-made Tejas Mk 2 light combat aircraft (LCA) could be ready for its maiden flight by 2025 with an American engine, according to Prabhulla Chandran VK, director of avionics and weapons systems at the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the nodal agency for the design of the indigenous fighter.Hope soared for the aircraft after GE Aerospace of the US said on June 22 that it has signed a deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force.

The announcement coincided with PM Narendra Modi's visit to the US.Prior to the US collaboration, engineers and scientists were looking at France and British Rolls Royce for an engine to power Indian fighter jets.

"It will take 18 months from now to roll out (the plane), and the first flight will take another six months.

Around 200 such fighters will be built," Prabhulla Chandran said on Tuesday in Chandigarh, where he attended a conference on avionics technologies organised by Central Scientific Instrumentation Organisation (CSIO).The Cabinet Committee on Security had cleared the LCA project in September last year.

"With this new pact, 90% of the components will be indigenous and the focus will be on state-of-the-art radar systems, weapons, and other capabilities (all made in India, barring the ejection seat and a few sensors).

The one-engine fighter will be better than Rafale," said Prabhulla Chandran.About 300 public and private institutions are working on the LCA.

"The design is totally different from Tejas Mk1.

It is 20% larger than Mk1, has greater capacity, state-of-the-art avionics and range as well as higher weapon carrying capacity, which we are yet to announce.

This fighter plane will have only one version.

We might go in for a trainer plane later," Prabhulla Chandran said.WatchTejas Mk 2 to be ready for first flight by 2025 after HAL-GE Aerospace deal