Ajit Karn
The Indian Air Force (IAF) announced on Saturday that the indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas jets will make its debut in a multilateral air exercise in the United Arab Emirates. The IAF contributes five LCAs and two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to the exercise.
Saturday, 110 air warriors from the IAF arrived at the Al Dhafra air base in the UAE to participate in Exercise Desert Flag VIII, according to the IAF.
The scheduled date range is from February 27 to March 17.
Air forces from the United Arab Emirates, France, Kuwait, Australia, the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, the Republic of Korea, and the United States would participate in the multilateral air exercise Desert Flag.
“This will be the first time the LCA Tejas jets participates in an international flying exercise outside of India. The IAF stated in a statement that the purpose of the exercise is to participate in a variety of fighter engagements and learn from the best practises of other air forces.
LCA Tejas was to make its debut in a foreign air exercise last year. Due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, participation in the multinational air exercise Cobra Warrior 22 at Waddington in the United Kingdom was cancelled. The LCA has participated in several air shows abroad, but has never participated in a foreign combat exercise.
India believes that the aircraft’s export potential is favourable.
In addition, India is in negotiations with Egypt and Argentina for the possible sale of the fighter aircraft to their air forces, as the nation focuses on gaining a foothold in foreign markets and increasing its defence exports. India has set a goal of achieving $5 billion in defence exports by 2025.
IAF has inducted a number of the 40 earlier variants of LCA, ordered 83 improved Mk-1A variants in 2021, and is now considering ordering the aircraft’s newest variant, LCA Mk-2.
In 2021, the union defence ministry awarded Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) a 48,000-crore contract for 83 LCA Mk-1A jets for the IAF. The first Mk-1A aircraft is scheduled to be delivered to the air force in February 2024, with the remainder joining the combat fleet by 2029.
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The government approved the development of the LCA Mk-2 last year, a platform that will play a crucial role in future air combat.
