India Achieves Major Milestone as Indigenous Tejas Mk1A Completes Maiden Flight
In a significant step towards defence self-reliance, India’s first indigenous fighter jet, Tejas Mk1A, successfully completed its maiden flight on October 17. The test flight marked a crucial achievement for India’s aerospace capabilities and bolstered the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) modernization plans.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was present in Nashik to witness the event. Speaking at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facility, Singh expressed immense pride. “Watching the Su-30, LCA Tejas, and HTT-40 aircraft fly today made my heart swell with pride. This is not just a flight – it’s a flight of self-reliant India,” he remarked.
Singh lauded HAL’s contribution to the defence manufacturing ecosystem, highlighting its role as a cornerstone of India’s military strength for over six decades.
Reflecting on India’s progress, the minister noted, “There was a time when nearly 70% of our defence needs were met through imports. Today, 65% of defence manufacturing happens domestically, and we are determined to take it to 100% in the near future.”
He also acknowledged the dedication of HAL engineers and technicians, referencing the successful ‘Operation Sindoor’, where HAL teams worked round-the-clock to repair and service a range of combat aircraft including the Sukhoi, Jaguar, Mirage, and Tejas jets, as well as helicopters.
“When it comes to national security, India not only builds its own equipment but is capable of defending itself with that very equipment,” Singh emphasized.
The Tejas Mk1A’s maiden flight underscores India’s growing expertise in advanced defence technologies and signals a powerful commitment to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) initiative.
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