Tejas is far better than China, Pakistan’s JF-17 fighter jets: Air Force chief

Air Force chief RKS Bhadauria on Thursday said that the latest Indian jet, Tejas, would be better than the Chinese-Pakistani JF-17 fighter jets, as per an ANI report. He added that the aircraft will be well equipped to carry out airstrikes like Balakot. 

RKS Bhadauria believes that the 83 indigenous fighter jets to be inducted into the Indian Air Force would be equipped with homegrown weapons such as the Astra beyond visual range air to air missiles and other standoff weapons, ANI reports. 

On Wednesday, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the largest indigenous defence procurement deal worth about Rs 48,000 crores to buy 83 LCA Tejas Mark1A fighter jets.

Also Read| India to buy 83 Tejas aircraft in ‘largest indigenous defence procurement deal’ worth Rs 48,000 crore

“Indian aircraft Tejas is far better and advanced than the Chinese and Pakistan joint venture JF-17 fighter,” Bhadauria said when asked to compare the Indian fighter with the JF-17.

Talking about the Tejas fighter aircraft’s ability to deliver Balakot-type airstrikes, Bhaduria said, “In terms of strike capability, it will have the capability of a standoff weapon which will be even beyond the capability we used that time.”

The procurement deal to buy 83 LCA Tejas jets is the largest indigenous one of its kind. The Air Force chief added that the deal is a huge step for IAF capability building, adding that the current strength of the two squadron plan of LCA will now increase to six.

“Order of 83 aircraft is huge. When this kind of order takes shape in the next 8-9 years, the entire ecosystem will get set up. For military aviation, it will be a big step. It will make a big base for fighter aircraft production, maintenance and support,” IAF Chief told ANI.

“It is a huge step for IAF capability building. It is also a big boost to our indigenous industry. It is also a big recognition of our designers. It is a huge step for Indian Air Force and for the country,” he added.

On the possible deployment of the newly procured aircraft, he said, “The 83 aircraft will look after four squadrons. The current strength of the two squadron plan of LCA will now increase to six. Essentially the deployment will be frontline.”

The deal to be signed in the next few days with HAL would strengthen the Indian Air Force’s fleet of homegrown fighter jet ‘LCA-Tejas’ and overall combat capability.

“The CCS chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi today approved the largest indigenous defence procurement deal worth about Rs 48,000 crores to strengthen IAF’s fleet of homegrown fighter jet ‘LCA-Tejas’. This deal will be a game-changer for self-reliance in the Indian defence manufacturing,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted.

Light Combat Aircraft Mk-1A variant is an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured state-of-the-art modern 4+ generation fighter aircraft.

It is the first “Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured)” category procurement of combat aircraft with an indigenous content of 50 per cent which will progressively reach 60 per cent by the end of the programme.