Rajnath Singh is the first-ever Defence Minister to fly in Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday flew in a Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas which took-off from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) airport in Bengaluru. The aircraft has been indigenously developed by India.
68-year-old Rajnath Singh was seated in the rear seat behind the pilot (Air Vice-Marshal Tiwari) in the cockpit of the two-seater fighter jet.
Air Vice-Marshal Tiwari is the Project Director at the National Flight Test Centre in Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in Bengaluru.
Rajnath Singh is the first-ever Defence Minister to fly in an indigenous LCA.
#WATCH Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flies in Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, in Bengaluru. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/LTyJvP61bH
— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2019
1. 'Flying in Tejas was amazing': Rajnath Singh
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"Flying in 'Tejas', a homemade Light Combat Aircraft, from Bengaluru’s HAL Airport was an amazing and exhilarating experience," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Tweeted.
"Tejas is a multi-role fighter with several critical capabilities. It is meant to strengthen India’s air defence capabilities," Rajnath Singh said.
2. Defence Minister waved to onlookers
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The Defence Minister who donned a white helmet waved to onlookers after he took his seat in the back in the twin-seater version of the aircraft before it took off.
The Tejas is an Indian single-engine, delta wing, multirole light fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. (Photo: Rajnath Singh Twitter)
3. Rajnath Singh was briefed about functioning of Tejas
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Ahead of his flight, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was briefed about the functioning of 'Tejas' at the HAL Airport in Bengaluru.
Tejas aircraft was indigenously developed by India following Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme, which began in the 1980s to replace India's ageing MiG-21 fighters.
In 2003, the LCA was officially named 'Tejas'. (Photo: Rajnath Singh Twitter)
4. 'All set for the day': Tweets Rajnath Singh
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Earlier on Thursday morning, Rajnath Singh tweeted two pictures of him dressed in a green flight suit.
The Defence Minister wrote on Twitter, "All Set For The Day!"
All Set For The Day! pic.twitter.com/JUUdzafutq
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 19, 2019
He is the first-ever Defence Minister to fly in a homemade Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
