Rajnath: Tejas MK-1A better than its foreign equivalents

Countries like Sri Lanka and Egypt have already shown interest in indigenously-built Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. Anish Singh reports.

Asserting that Light Combat Aircraft Tejas was better than its foreign equivalents on various parameters, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that the HAL will get orders for the aircraft from several countries very soon.
 

Countries like Sri Lanka and Egypt have already shown interest in indigenously-built Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.
 

The defence minister is in Bengaluru to attend the Aero India show, starting February 3. He also inaugurated the second production line of LCA Tejas in the city.

After the inauguration, Rajnath said, "Tejas is not only indigenous, but it is also better than its foreign equivalents on several parameters including engine capacity, radar system, beyond visual range, air-to-air refuelling and maintenance, and is comparatively cheaper."
 

In order to reduce dependency on import, the government is promoting domestic industries to produce indigenous products for Indian armed forces. 
 

In its endeavour, the Union Cabinet has cleared a proposal worth Rs 48,000 to procure 73 Tejas Mk-1A variants and 10 LCA Tejas Mk-1 trainer aircraft from the HAL on January 13.

"We cannot remain dependent on other countries for the defence of our country," Singh said.
 

Speaking about defence manufacturing in the country, he said India will achieve the target of Rs 1.75 lakh crore in the next 3-4 years.
 

LCA Tejas Mk-1A
 

The Tejas Mk-1A is an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured state-of-the-art modern 4+ generation fighter aircraft.