Not sure where the ‘decades’ creeped in from.If the engines come by on time , all the ordered LCA Mk1A aircraft can be delivered within 48 months.

As a stop gap some of the LCA Mk1As will get delivered with category B , F404 engines.But that comes with a downside … it brings down the availability rate of the operational Mk1 aircraft at Naliya/Sulur.

As far as creating competition goes , it is unviable unless the IAF places an order for a couple of hundred aircraft with deliveries spread out over a 6-7 year period.That is when a privately set up LCA/AMCA FAL would make economic sense.