Modi becomes first Prime Minister to fly LCA Tejas  

PM Modi co-pilots Tejas, 1st PM to do so. Attired in G-suit, he flew for a few mins. Tejas designed & developed by ADA & HAL, part of IAF fleet for 7 yrs. IAF has ordered 83 LCA Mk-1A with updated avionics & BVR missile capability. Foreign dignitaries have flown Tejas. IAF has showcased it at int'l events. Tejas participated in Ex-Desert Flag in UAE in Mar 2023, 1st foreign exercise.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi got a first-hand feel of the indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas when he co-piloted a trainer version on Saturday.

Mr. Modi became the first Prime Minister to fly the Tejas as he went on sortie which lasted a few minutes.

Attired in a G-suite, Mr. Modi was accompanied by an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot as the aircraft took off from the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Airport) in Bengaluru.

“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,” Mr. Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The Tejas designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and HAL has been part of the Indian Air Force (IAF) fleet for over seven years. Currently the IAF operates two squadrons of the aircraft which are No 45 Squadron, the ‘Flying Daggers’ and No 18 Squadron, the ‘Flying Bullets’.

Christened Tejas in 2003, the aircraft is a multi-role platform that ranks amongst the best in its class. It has been designed to undertake the Air Defence, Maritime Reconnaissance and Strike roles.

IAF has already placed an order for 83 LCA Mk-1A which will have updated avionics, as well as an Active Electronically Steered Radar, updated Electronic Warfare suite and a Beyond Visual Range missile capability.