The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, flew in a LCA Tejas fighter jet during his visit to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facilities in Bengaluru on November 25th.
The Prime Minister’s experience in the Tejas was described as «enriching«, reinforcing his confidence in India’s defense technology. After the flight, Prime Minister was congratulated by Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, head of the Indian Air Force.
The country’s drive towards indigenous defense production is a key focus of Modi’s administration, with efforts also directed towards increasing exports.
Successfully completed a sortie on the Tejas. The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our country’s indigenous capabilities, and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential. pic.twitter.com/4aO6Wf9XYO
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 25, 2023
In terms of international interest, the Tejas light combat aircraft has attracted attention from several countries, including notable interest from Argentina. In 2022, during an official visit by Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to Argentina, a joint statement acknowledged Argentina’s interest in the Tejas for its Air Force.
This expression of interest was part of broader discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and exploring joint defense equipment production.
Argentina officially expresses interest in India’s HAL Tejas light fighter jet
The Tejas is a 4.5-generation light combat aircraft, representing India’s advances in defense technology. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh reported that India’s defense exports reached a record in the fiscal year 2022-2023, highlighting the country’s growing influence in the defense sector.
