The indigenously developed Tejas Light Combat Aircraft is a world class fighter jet and can effectively play its “defined” role in securing Indian skies, its manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) said on Sunday as the Indian Air Force looked at acquiring a fleet of foreign single-engine jets.
HAL chairman and managing director T. Suvarna Raju said most of the 42 modifications in Tejas sought by the IAF, including weaponisation of the aircraft, had been carried out and asserted that the production of the jet could be stepped up depending on the requirement.
“Tejas is a four-and-half generation world class fighter jet. There is no doubt about it. We can improve its various parameters. We are proud of Tejas. We will ensure enhancement in its quality and performance,” Raju said in an interview.
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His remarks came amid views in the IAF that the aircraft was not enough to maintain its combat readiness and it needed to quickly procure a fleet of foreign single engine fighters to deal with any possible security challenges,in the backdrop of the dwindling size of its fighter fleet.