New Delhi (Sputnik) — Singapore's Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen has characterized India's locally designed and developed multi-role fighter jet Tejas as "excellent and very impressive." Hen became the first civilian foreign national to test the aircraft after flying it for more than half-an-hour at India's Kalaikunda airbase.
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After the flight, Hen told the media that it was now up to the technical team in Singapore to make the call on any intention to purchase the Tejas.
Privileged to be flown on the #Tejas, India's own designed and manufactured fighter aircraft. A very good plane. #fighteraircraft @IAF_MCC pic.twitter.com/pFrJEjwu5D
— Ng Eng Hen (@Ng_Eng_Hen) November 28, 2017
This has lent a much-needed boost to the image of Tejas as India's own air force has not displayed much keenness in inducting any more of the locally developed fighter jets. The Indian Air Force has inducted a stepped-down version of Tejas but only due to the delay in getting the MK2 project off the ground. India may receive the prototype of the most advanced version of Tejas in 2019 a decade after the project was sanctioned at a cost of $370 million in 2009.
Nevertheless, the Indian Defense Ministry is confident of being able to sell the fighter jets to friendly countries with the low budget for the modernization of their armed forces. Apart from Singapore, some Middle Eastern countries are believed to have expressed interest in the jet. But it is not known if re-export permissions are required from overseas suppliers of components. Its radar, helmet display and laser pod are of Israeli made while Russia has supplied the canons and missiles.
