Several countries have keen interest in obtaining Tejas aircraft, says HAL chairman Madhavan

The delivery of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) with an estimated deal of Rs 48,000 crore deal for the Indian Air Force which will commence from March 2024 and as many as 16 aircrafts were rolled out on a yearly basis till the total count of 83 jets have been supplied, revealed the Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited R Madhavan on Sunday.

In conversation with PTI, Madhavan stated that several countries have displayed interest in obtaining Tejas Aircraft and the first export order is supposedly to come in the upcoming years.

Madhavan stated that Tejas Mark 1A jet would have a better performance when compared with China’s JF-17 combat aircraft as it has better engine, radar system, and electronic warfare suit, besides an edge in the total technology.

He said, “The biggest difference, of course, is the air-to-air refuelling which is non-existent in the competitor’s plane.”

The HAL chairman stated the price of each fighter version of the aircraft would be Rs 309 crore and Rs 280 crore for the trainer. Madhavan saaid, “The price is tight but we are fine with it.”

A formal contract is anticipated for the deal to be formalized between HAL and IAF on February 5 which is happened at the Aero India exhibition under the presence of President Ram Nath Kovind.

“Three years is the strategic timeline for developing infrastructure as well as delivery of the aircraft. We will meet the timeline. The first aircraft is expected to be delivered by March 2024.”

In the last year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman invoked various reform measures for the defence sector which makes an individual budgetary outlay to obtain Indian-made military hardware, and enhancing the FDI limit from 49 per cent to 74 per cent.

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