The privately held "big four" may yet land safely, despite the presence of public sector giant HAL in the race
The new Tejas production line was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who also witnessed the maiden flight of the first Mk1A jet to roll out from it
The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A took its maiden flight today from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd’s (HAL) Nashik facility.
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said that the air force is actively monitoring global advancements in air power, which could inform updates to the roadmap over time
After 62 years of service, the MiG-21 has finally taken its last flight in the Indian Air Force. Once called the backbone of India’s air defence, this jet was fast, fierce, and battle-tested.
American defence major GE Aerospace has handed over another jet engine to state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for its Tejas light combat aircraft programme, officials said on Wednesday. The company had delivered one F404-IN20 engine to HAL around three weeks back. Another engine was delivered on September 30, the officials said. In the next couple of weeks, the HAL will deliver two Tejas MK1A jets to the IAF, they said. In February 2021, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000-crore deal with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets for the IAF. GE Aerospace had been missing several deadlines for the supply of its aero engines to power the jets. The IAF is looking at inducting the warplanes as the number of its fighter squadrons has gone down to 31 from the officially sanctioned strength of 42. Tejas is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments. It has been designed to undertake the air defence, .
While the final Amca prototype is expected to take to the skies by 2029, final induction is projected for 2035, by which at least 8 IAF squadrons will have been retired
The three firms will participate in the AMCA programme as a consortium, with Bharat Forge in the lead, the sources said, adding that a memorandum of understanding was signed on Friday
The Indian Air Force’s iconic MiG-21, the country's first supersonic fighter and interceptor aircraft, which was first inducted in the 1960s
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said MiG 21 is not only an aircraft or a machine but a testimony to the deep ties between India and Russia. Singh was addressing a gathering on the occasion of the decommissioning ceremony of the Russian-origin MiG-21 at the Chandigarh Air Force Station here. The iconic Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 fighter jets, which have been the backbone of Indian Air Force's combat fleet for over six decades, flew for the last time in Indian skies here on Friday, bringing the curtain down on a 62-year-long journey. The legendary MiG-21 fighter jets have been part of the IAF's combat fleet since the 1960s. Remembering the valour of the armed forces, Singh said the MiG 21 has a big contribution in their journey of bravery. "We gathered here for the final operational sortie of MiG 21. Being amongst you, I have emotions of pride and gratitude," Singh said. "When we are today giving a send-off to MiG 21 from its operational journey, I feel that we are giving a .
Since being inducted in 1963, the MiG-21 has seen action in every major conflict involving India
India has stated that it has a requirement for at least two to three squadrons of fifth-generation fighter jets and the Russian Su-57 along with the American F-35 is a contender for the project
The aircraft was also deployed in an 'operational' role earlier this year in Operation Sindoor, Wing Commander Jaideep Singh said
This will mark the second order for the Mk1A fighter jets, with an earlier contract already placed with HAL for 83 aircraft at a cost of Rs 36,400 crore
This will be the second order for the LCA Mark 1A fighters, as the government has already placed orders for 83 aircraft a few years ago for around Rs 48,000 crore
Three out of five jet types saw a decline in crashes over the past 15 years
Companies sign manufacturing licence agreement, completing the technical negotiation stage covering the transfer of 80% of engine technology
A Bangladesh Air Force jet crash has reignited questions about the safety of Chinese-made F-7 fighter aircraft. Is it time to retire these ageing jets? Watch!
The UK Royal Navy's F-35, grounded in Kerala for over a month, has taken off following technical repairs. Meanwhile, the Indian Army received three Apache attack helicopters
With the MiG-21's retirement, the Indian Air Force's combat strength will be reduced to 29 squadrons-its lowest since the 1960s