NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force’s Tejas fighter plane, which was built in the country, crashed on Tuesday in the western state of Rajasthan, stated a statement released by the air force.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, there has been a significant push for indigenous production, aimed at reducing India’s reliance on imported defense equipment. The Tejas, a light combat jet symbolizing “flame” or “brilliance” in Sanskrit, was officially inducted into the force in 2016, following extensive efforts to modernize India’s predominantly Soviet-era fleet.
The crash on Tuesday marks a deviation from the jet’s previous safety record since its maiden test flight over two decades ago, as reported by an Air Force official to Reuters.
Despite its significance, the Tejas project has encountered various challenges, including design issues, and was previously deemed unsuitable for use by the Indian Navy due to its weight.
One Tejas aircraft of the Indian Air Force met with an accident at Jaisalmer, today during an operational training sortie. The pilot ejected safely.
A Court of Inquiry has been constituted to find out the cause of the accident.— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) March 12, 2024
