Bengaluru: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Thursday flew in the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas from the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd’s (HAL) Bengaluru airport. Singh became the first Indian defence minister ever to fly in the fighter jet.
He was accompanied by Air Vice Marshal N Tiwari, who is also the Project Director, National Flight Test Centre, ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency) in Bengaluru.
“Flying on ‘Tejas’, an Indigenous Light Combat Aircraft from Bengaluru’s HAL Airport was an amazing and exhilarating experience. Tejas is a multi-role fighter with several critical capabilities. It is meant to strengthen India’s air defence capabilities,” Rajnath Singh tweeted after his sortie.
Flying on ‘Tejas’, an Indigenous Light Combat Aircraft from Bengaluru’s HAL Airport was an amazing and exhilarating experience.
Tejas is a multi-role fighter with several critical capabilities. It is meant to strengthen India’s air defence capabilities. pic.twitter.com/jT95afb0O7
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 19, 2019
Before taking off for a 30-minute sortie, Rajnath Singh was acquainted with the air prowess of LCA Tejas by the pilots of the 45 Squadron Flying Daggers. For his part, the defence minister also tried to familiarise himself with the formidable fighter jet developed completely in India.
The Tejas is an indigenous light weight, multi role supersonic aircraft developed in both fighter and trainer versions.Advanced materials like composites are used in the manufacture of the Tejas to reduce weight and increase the component life. The Tejas is designed to carry a veritable plethora of air-to-air, air-to- surface, precision guided and standoff weaponry.
