Time For Indian Aircraft Makers Like HAL to Export Instead of Importing Fighter Jets, Says Father of LCA Project
India has just placed its largest order for buying fighter jets, and it's none other than the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, or LCA. From a country that has bought Rafales, Sukhois and MiGs from foreign powers, to be able to rely on its own homebuilt aircraft is a big leap. But Indian manufacturers must not rest easy now, feels Kota Harinarayana, the father of the LCA project, as India is poised for greater heights. It is time for Indian aircraft makers like HAL to look at exporting their home-built jets to other countries as well, now that their prowess is proven, he says in an interview with News18. Excerpts: It must be a proud moment for you, with the defence services' biggest order. Shows a lot more trust in India's indigenous prowess. I'm very happy because it's a major order and the largest order HAL has so far had in its history. And it's an order not on a licensed aircraft but an indigenously designed and developed aircraft. So it's an impor...