Now, Tejas all set for air show at Bahrain

Bengaluru: Call it India’s first baby steps towards marking its presence in the multi-billion dollar global military market, but the Ministry of Defence (MoD) 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 to showcase the military jet 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, sources in MoD told Deccan Chronicle.

‘Tejas’ would fly at an air show overseas exactly a year after its entry into the fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in a move described as daring by experts as the jet’s performance would be analyzed 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. Technocrats of MoD and HAL would attend the show to answer queries about the cost of these jets.