A HAL Tejas fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed during a rehearsal at the Dubai Airshow, raising questions about the future of India’s indigenous combat aircraft programme.
The incident occurred during a high-speed maneuver, a hallmark of the Tejas’s agility and a key feature showcased to potential foreign buyers.
The Tejas is designed, owned, and operated solely by India, developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. India remains its exclusive operator, though the jet has been widely promoted for export.
Which countries have it?
India has offered to sell 18 trainer variant of light-combat aircraft (LCA) 'Tejas' to Malaysia, the defence ministry said in a statement , adding that Argentina, Australia, Egypt, the United States, Indonesia, and the Philippines were also interested in the single-engine jet.
These nations have also expressed interest in acquiring the aircraft, attracted by its modern avionics and competitive pricing.
However, no country has yet finalized a purchase, partly due to complex approval processes and competition from rival light fighter platforms.
