India's Ambitious Leap: Self-Reliance in Fighter Jet Production on the Horizon

A Vision for Indigenous Fighter Jets

Berhampur: Kota Harinarayana, the former chief designer and program director of India's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, has expressed confidence that India will achieve self-sufficiency in fighter jet manufacturing within the next few years.

The Padma Shri awardee emphasized that the country has successfully established a robust aircraft manufacturing ecosystem.

He noted that advancements in technology for producing indigenous aircraft have significantly progressed, enabling India to manufacture a diverse range of fighter jets to meet the requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Harinarayana stated, “I am optimistic that in the coming years, India will produce all necessary fighter jets for defense and will also begin exporting them to allied nations.”

He highlighted that the technological advancements made for the Tejas have been adapted for various aircraft, including small, medium, and unmanned types.

The 82-year-old aviation expert, who attended a private university's convocation, remarked, “Soon, India will emerge as a defense product exporter... Currently, we are sourcing some of these products from Russia and France.”

The increasing deployment of Tejas by the IAF underscores the significance of domestically manufactured aircraft, he added.

Harinarayana pointed out that India has demonstrated its defense capabilities by effectively responding to Pakistani incursions following 'Operation Sindoor', which targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

He described the development and successful use of defense products as a testament to the nation's operational capabilities, referring to it as the initial phase of progress.

Additionally, he praised India's successful trial of 'Bhargavastra', an affordable indigenous counter-drone system, conducted in Gopalpur, Ganjam district, Odisha, on Wednesday.