Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Hindustan
Aeronautics Limited (HAL) after his maiden sortie on Light Combat Aircraft
‘Tejas’ twin-seater aircraft in Bengaluru, Karnataka on 25 November 2023. Mr. Narendra
Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister who took a sortie in the Tejas, an
indigenously designed and developed fighter aircraft. The Prime Minister had a
look at production facilities of LCA Tejas aircraft in Bengaluru and was
briefed about the technology intensive work being done at HAL towards realising
the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. He was apprised about the initiatives
being taken by HAL towards ramping capacities and capabilities.
The Prime Minister visited the LCA Tejas Final
Assembly and discussed capabilities of the aircraft. Tejas has been
operationally deployed with the Indian Air Force and will be the mainstay of
the fighter fleet in years to come. The aircraft is capable of undertaking
offensive air support role as well as ground attach roles and is quite superior
to its contemporaries.
The Prime Minister walked through the production
line of Tejas and interacted with the engineers on the various features of the
aircraft. It was explained that the aircraft is presently powered by GE
404 engine which will get upgraded to GE 414 Engine for LCA Mk II which will be
manufactured in India with 80% Transfer of Technology arrangement with GE Engines
for which the MoU has been signed with GE Engines. This will be the first time
that an engine of this class will be produced in India with 80% Transfer of Technology.
This ToT is likely to bridge the technology gap that exists currently in the
aero engine domain of the country.
The Prime Minister was briefed about the capacity
investments being done by HAL to produce LCA Tejas aircraft in greater numbers.
The HAL has established two production lines of LCA Tejas at Bengaluru, which
can produce up to 16 aircraft per year. Further, an additional production line
is being established at HAL, Nasik to take the production rate beyond 24
aircraft from 2024-25 onwards. HAL is planning to advance the deliveries of
current and future order of LCA Tejas to its customers.
The Prime Minister appreciated the capabilities
of indigenously developed LCA Tejas aircraft and production facilities
available at the HAL. He was also briefed about the progress on LCA Mk.1A
programme. The production of fighter aircraft against 83 Mk.1A order concurrent
with its design and development is under progress at HAL. Mk.1A variant will be
a more lethal aircraft with capabilities such as AESA radar, BVR missile
capability, EW suite, advance avionics and maintenance improvements. The
deliveries of Mk.1A aircraft are planned from February 2024 onwards to IAF.
Various indigenous helicopters such as Light
Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand, Advanced Light Helicopter-WSI Rudra and Light
Utility Helicopters were also showcased to the Prime Minister. CMD, HAL CB Ananthakrishnan was present during the Prime
Minister’s visit. He thanked the Prime Minister for his continuous support and
encouragement. He said that the Prime Minister’s visit “has motivated HAL to
work towards fulfilling the Aatmanirbhar goals in the aerospace and defence domain”.
PM
flies in Tejas
On
25 November 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a 30 minute sortie on
the Tejas twin seat aircraft from the IAF's Aircraft and Systems Testing
Establishment at Bengaluru. On behalf of the IAF, CAS Air Chief Marshal VR
Chaudhari felicitated the PM after the sortie.
