The Indian Air Force’s first-ever domestically built fighter jet crashed on Tuesday in the western state of Rajasthan. The aircraft had been in service for almost eight years.
According to an Indian Air Force statement, the pilot made a safe ejection.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been promoting domestic manufacture in an effort to dispel India’s standing as one of the largest importers of defense hardware worldwide.
In 2016, the light combat jet, named Tejas (Sanskrit for “fire” or “brilliance”), was finally added to the Indian fleet after a protracted period of time as part of the country’s efforts to update its mostly Soviet-era aircraft.
An Indian Air Force officer told Reuters that Tuesday’s disaster broke the jet’s safety record since its maiden test flight more than 20 years ago.
Modi announced his ambitious goals last year, including more than tripling the value of defense exports current 2023 levels to $5 billion by 2025. His administration has also been pursuing diplomatic measures to export the Tejas.
In 2021, the Indian government opened a new account for 83 Tejas planes by awarding state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited a $6 billion deal.
The Indian Navy previously rejected the Tejas because it was too heavy, and it has had numerous design and other difficulties.
