The indigenously-built single-engine jet Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) first crash happened on Tuesday, a day when all three armed services—the Army, Navy, and Indian Air Force—were engaged in the joint tri-services wargame, the “Bharat Shakti” exercise in the deserts of Rajasthan. The jet was on its way back after participating in a military drill at the Pokhran firing ranges; during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in attendance when the incident took place around 100 km from the Pokhran range.
It was the first such incident reported from this fleet, which was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2016, in over seven years of operation. A bunch of two Tejas jets fired flares during the exercise launched from the Jaisalmer air base. The pilot managed to eject to safety, and the plane crashed into civilian structures on the ground, but no injuries have been reported. It is learnt that prior to the crash, the pilot indicated an engine failure in a distress message. A court of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident, the IAF said in a brief statement.
Currently, the Indian Air Force operates 40 Tejas MK-1 aircraft. In October 2023, it ordered 83 Tejas MK-1A fighters and is strategising the procurement of an additional 97 jets from the state-run Tejas manufacturer, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Tejas LCA is undoubtedly the flagship platform of India’s burgeoning defence manufacturing sector. However, the crash could undermine its export prospects, given the considerable interest expressed by numerous countries in purchasing the Tejas from India. Although military aviation entails inherent risks, experts highlighted that the indigenous combat jet transitioned from prototype to series production without encountering any losses, underscoring its exceptional safety track record. This achievement is particularly noteworthy considering that it has been twenty-three years since it first took to the skies in 2001 without mishap.
Ravi Shankar
