Rajnath Singh, the defense minister wore a G-suite buckled himself into the Tejas, a combat aircraft in Bengaluru this morning, becoming the first Defence Minister to take off in the made-in-India fighter jet. The aircraft flew from the HAL airfield in Bengaluru.
Mr Rajnath who is, 68, made to the aircraft along with the pilot, Air Vice Marshal N Tiwari, also walked up the steps and strapped himself in the backseat, behind the pilot. Covered with a white helmet and an oxygen mask, the Defence Minister was seen waving before the Tejas took off for a 30-minute sortie. He was said by the pilot and other top Indian Air Force officials.
“I was thrilled. It was a very smooth and contented flight. I was enjoying the flight. I am proud of the scientists of the country as well as the organizations who have worked on developing the Tejas aircraft. Today, there is an order for Tejas in several other countries. We have reached a position in which we can not only export fighter aircraft but also other defense equipment to other countries,” Mr Rajnath Singh briefed after the sortie.
“It is constitutional developed” When asked about his decision to fly in the Tejas aircraft, the Minister answered.
“The Defence Minister controlled the aircraft for some time”, said Dr G Sathish Reddy, chief of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) which has designed the Tejas jet.
After getting off the jet, Mr Singh his helmet under his arms and posed for photographs with the pilot, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa and others.
Mr Singh will also attend a display of products of the DRDO today in Bengaluru.
primarily, the IAF had placed an order with the HAL for 40 Tejas aircraft. Last year, the IAF issued the appeal for proposal to HAL for the procurement of another set of 83 Tejas at a cost of over Rs. 50,000 crore.
