The Mk 2 will have double the range of its predecessor and fitted with Astra II BVR air-to-air missiles with a range of at least 150 km. While Tejas MK I is for combat air patrol within the Indian territory, MK II will have the capacity to conduct Balakot-like surgical strikes in enemy territory as it will carry heavy standoff weapons like Crystal Maze and Spice missiles.

For the Mk 2, ADA in collaboration with its parent DRDO is developing the indigenous active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, which is not only difficult to detect but also has high resistance to jamming by the enemy during engagement.

While work on Mk 2 is proceeding apace, ADA, in consultation with IAF will also freeze the design of its twin-engine advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA) by July. In November 2019, the IAF gave a written commitment to DRDO that it would buy the fifth-generation AMCA to strengthen its strike capabilities.

AMCA is expected to roll out in 2024 and take to the skies the following year. The Tejas Mk 2, fitted with heavier GE 414 engine, will be a 4.5 generation aircraft. It will roll out in 2022 and take to the skies in 2023 to join IAF by 2026.

India will soon be taking up Artificial intelligence (AI) driven unmanned LCA-Tejas Concept shortly so that technology can be developed for the development of the next-generation fighter jets in the future. Development of the Unmanned LCA-Tejas for proposed wingman concept was considered to be taken up after the development of Tejas Mk1 as a low-cost option to be deployed alongside a manned aircraft to either act as a complementary asset or as a decoy to protect the crewed system from offensive air defences.

There will be two phases of the program if approved by the Government. In the first phase, network-enabled Unmanned LCA-Tejas will be developed so that it can act as a force multiplier to the manned aircraft and be used as a wing man in dangerous missions with inputs from ground controller and the crew of the manned aircraft. The second phase is more AI-driven where inputs from the human crew will be minimal and can be used.