Of the 40 Tejas Mk-1 aircraft ordered—comprising 16 IOC single-seaters, 16 FOC single-seaters & 8 twin-seat trainers—IAF has received 38 with two trainers yet to be delivered.
India's HF-24 Marut was the first domestically designed and produced modern jet combat aircraft in Asia, and this was years before China exploded its first atomic weapon.
India’s fighter aircraft strength will be down to 31 squadrons by the end of the year, down from 42. It will further reduce when Mirage 2000, MiG-29, and Jaguar squadrons are phased out.
The delays have directly affected the delivery of Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets to the IAF, which is eager to operationalise its new aircraft amid dwindling squadron strength.
At a time when the spotlight is on state-run HAL due to its slow pace of manufacturing Tejas fighters, Air Chief Marshal Singh's candid remarks were recorded by a YouTube channel.
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd Chairman DK Sunil says talks are on with GE over technology transfer for F414 engines for Tejas Mk-2 & possibly Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.
India is in talks with Denmark over the engine charge amplifiers, while HAL has contracted a local firm to indigenise them, it is learnt. HAL was supposed to start the delivery in March.
The first Tejas will be delivered with Category B engines, reserve engines which may have been used before or came in and remained unused as part of earlier deal with GE for Tejas series.
Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound, starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, Janhvi Kapoor, has been shortlisted in the Best International Feature Film category for the 98th Academy Awards.
As Visakhapatnam readies a mega airport, the Andhra Pradesh government has revived its shelved Dagadarthi project, aiming to boost cargo and connectivity on the south coast.
Both the Russian and Ukrainian militaries are leaning on drones, but they’re also firing cruise and ballistic missiles, some of them relatively new and experimental.
UK, EFTA already in the bag and EU on the way, many members of RCEP except China signed up, and even restrictions on China being lifted, India has changed its mind on trade.
“soon”, have been hearing this for the last 2 years. When is soon? a week, a month or a year?