India to become self-reliant in fighter jet making in next few years: Ex-chief designer of LCA Tejas

Berhampur (Odisha) |India will become self-reliant in making fighter jets in the next few years, said Kota Harinarayana, the former programme director and chief designer of India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.

Harinarayana, the Padma Shri awardee, said the ecosystem of manufacturing of aircraft has been developed in the country.

The technology for the production of indigenous aircraft has also improved, and within a few years, India will make a series of fighter jets of all categories to address the need of the Indian Air Force (IAF), he said.

"I hope that in the next few years, India will make all fighter jets required for defence and will also start exporting these to our friendly countries," Harinarayana said.

The technology that the country had developed for Tejas has been carried forward from small- to medium-sized and unmanned aircraft, he said.

“Time will come, not very long, India will become the exporter of defence products...the country is now procuring some of these products from Russia and France," said the 82-year-old aviation scientist who was here to attend the convocation of a private university on Thursday.

The wider use of Tejas by the IAF has proven the significance and importance of the indigenously built aircraft, he said.

India has shown its capabilities in the defence sector by successfully countering Pakistani attacks following the 'Operation Sindoor' that was launched against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, he said.

The development and successful utilisation of defence products clearly showed the country's capabilities in the operation, which he termed as a first phase, said the former professor at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Harinarayana also hailed India's successful trial of 'Bhargavastra', an indigenous, budget-friendly counter-drone system, in Gopalpur in Odisha's Ganjam district on Wednesday.