Key Takeaways
- PM Modi became the first prime minister to pilot the Tejas fighter jet.
- The sortie launched from HAL Airport in Bengaluru, highlighting India’s aerospace infrastructure.
- The event underscores growing international interest, with GE Aerospace partnering for Mk‑II engine production.
Bengaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday successfully completed a sortie on IAF’s multirole fighter jet Tejas.
Sharing his experience on X, PM Modi said, “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.”
Modi became the first Prime Minister to fly Tejas along with an Indian Air Force pilot, and the sortie lasted a few minutes. The aircraft took off from HAL Airport in Bengaluru.
He is also scheduled to review and visit HAL’s manufacturing facility including the facility for Tejas jets.
Several countries have shown keen interest to purchase the Tejas, and during PM Modi’s visit to the US, America’s defence giant GE Aerospace signed an agreement with HAL to jointly manufacture engines for Mk-II-Tejas.
