Thrilled after 30 min Tejas sortie, Rajnath Singh gapes sharp LCA's trainer as smooth, comfortable

Bengaluru, September 19: Wearing a G-suit and buckling himself into the light combat aircraft in Bengaluru this morning, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh embraced his name first to fly in 'Tejas' fighter jet, the made in India aircraft that took off from the HAL airport in Bengaluru.

 

 

Singh, walking up to the aircraft along with the pilot, climbed up the steps and strapped himself in the backseat, behind the pilot. Wearing a white helmet and an oxygen mask, the Defence Minister waved before the twin seater version of Tejas took off for a sortie.

 

"It was very smooth and comfortable. I was enjoying. I want to congratulate HAL, DRDO and several concerned agencies. We have reached a level where we can export fighter planes across the world", said the Defence Minister. 

 

Earlier an hour, the Defence Minister had tweeted the news saying that he was all set for the day sharing two photos. It is on last Friday that Tejas became the first aircraft in India to successfully perform an arrested landing in Goa, in what is being billed as a major step in the programme to make the jet ready for service with the Navy.

The Indian Air Force has already inducted a batch of Tejas aircraft. The naval version of the LCA is in development stage. Singh further is slated to attend an exhibition of products of the Defence Research and Development Organisation in Bengaluru.

 

Initially, the IAF had placed an order with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 40 Tejas aircraft. Last year, the IAF issued the request for proposal to HAL for the procurement of another batch of 83 Tejas at a cost of over Rs. 50,000 crore.