Bengaluru: Army Chief General Bipin Rawat took a ride in the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, sitting behind the pilot in a two-seater trainer variant at the ongoing Aero India 2019 show in the outskirts of Bengaluru on Thursday. General Rawat took a few rounds in the fighter jet, known for its agility. Later on, PS Raghavan, Principal Scientific Advisor to the government, will also fly in the home-made fighter jet aircraft.
The LCA Tejas, designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), was introduced in 2016. The aircraft can carry the same range of modern weapons that bigger warplanes take on, from precision-guided and standoff weaponry to long-range 'beyond visual range' missiles.
"I think it's a wonderful aircraft. I would like to thank Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa for making this happen. We did some normal manoeuvres and the experience was great. The LCA's targeting systems are very good," General Rawat told reporters after the 30-minute journey.
Thousands of civilians, along with defence investors, government officials and military officers, are expected to attend the five-day event ending on February 25.