BANGALORE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a sortie on Tejas aircraft in Bangalore, Karnataka today, November 25

In Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) site in Bangalore yesterday. He reviewed the manufacturing facility, including the facility for Tejas jets. The visit came at a crucial time as the Indian Air Force had recently issued a tender to HAL for the purchase of 12 advanced Su-30MKI fighter jets. 

DRDO Chief Dr. Samir V Kamat had said in a significant boost to India's Defence sector, the engines for the LCA Mark 2 and the first two squadrons of the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) would be domestically produced. The HAL and GE from the US were to produce these engines jointly in a facility in India.

मैं आज तेजस में उड़ान भरते हुए अत्यंत गर्व के साथ कह सकता हूं कि हमारी मेहनत और लगन के कारण हम आत्मनिर्भरता के क्षेत्र में विश्व में किसी से कम नहीं हैं। भारतीय वायुसेना, DRDO और HAL के साथ ही समस्त भारतवासियों को हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं। pic.twitter.com/xWJc2QVlWV

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 25, 2023

The HAL and US defense company GE Aerospace agreed to make engines together for the MK-II Tejas. They signed the deal while PM Modi was in the US.

Recently, HAL presented the first twin-seater LCA Tejas to the IAF in Bengaluru. The IAF has ordered 18 of these twin-seater planes. HAL plans to deliver eight next year and the rest by 2026-27.

IAF intends to buy upgraded Tejas versions, MK-IA and MK-II, which will be crucial for India's air defense. Two Tejas squadrons are based at Sulur Air Force Base.

Besides the IAF, other countries are interested in purchasing LCA Tejas. HAL is discussing potential exports of these advanced aircraft with various nations.

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