Image source: topwar.ru
The Indian Air Force lost a HAL Tejas Mk1 fighter jet, the plane crashed on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. The fighter pilot ejected and survived. The Indian press writes about it.
An Indian-made HAL Tejas Mk1 (LCA) fighter jet, part of the 18th Flying Bullets Squadron at Sulur Air Base in Coimbatore, crashed in Rajasthan. The cause of the fall has not been established, the pilot remained alive, having managed to eject. The plane crashed to the ground and completely burned down after the fire started. But this is not the most important thing. As noted by the world media covering this incident, this is the first incident of this kind with this aircraft since its operation began.
The Tejas multi-purpose single-engine supersonic fighter was adopted by the Indian Air Force in 2016. Its development began in 1983 and has been going on for more than 30 years. The fighter made its first flight back in 2001. The aircraft is 60% self-developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Indian Ministry of Defense. Tejas fighters were developed to replace the Russian MiG-21 in the Indian Air Force.
Image source: topwar.ru
New Delhi is implementing a long-term program of decommissioning Soviet MiG-21 fighters, gradually withdrawing them from the Air Force and replacing them with fighters of its own production. According to available data from open sources, 52 HAL Tejas Mk1 aircraft have been assembled in India to date. Two squadrons of these fighters have been formed at Sulur Air Base in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, responsible for protecting the Indian marine area. We are talking about the 45th squadron "Flying Daggers" and the 18th "Flying Bullets".