Tejas all set for air show in Bahrain

Call it India’s first baby steps towards marking its presence in the multi-billion dollar global military market, but the ministry of defence has decided to stir up excitement at the Bahrain International Air Show by flaunting the prowess of home-produced fighter jet Tejas at the event next month.

And, it’s not just a shot at the international market, but also showcases the military jets as the best example of the Make in India initiative. Two Tejas fighter jets will demonstrate their agility and other attributes at BIAS 2016, Sakhir Airbase, commencing on January 21, 2016 — the first by any made-in-India aircraft. In the run-up to the aerobatics display, IAF pilots have been rehearsing stunning maneuvers over HAL airport in Bengaluru. They would head to Bahrain in January after refueling stops at Jamnagar and Muscat.

Tejas would fly at an air show overseas exactly a year after its entry into the fleet of the IAF in a move described as daring by experts as the jet’s performance would be analysed by aerospace professionals from across the world. The fighter jet could make its debut in subsequent air shows at other venues across the world in order to enhance its export potential.

The decision comes at a time when defence minister Manohar Parrikar presaged that defence equipment could be exported to countries which cannot afford the most expensive ones. Tejas, which has completed more than 3,000 sorties, was originally meant to replace MiG 21 fleet of IAF, but could be an inexpensive yet advanced alternative for ageing fighter jets in several countries, sources said, adding that with certain European aerospace companies offering to co-produce Tejas, these aircraft could even be acquired by some European countries.

Sources said top technocrats of MoD and HAL would attend the air show to answer queries about the cost of these jets and delivery schedule.