Start of 'Atmanirbharta' as country explores export of Tejas Mark 1 fighter

The central theme of the ongoing Aero India 2023 air show in Bengaluru is “atmanirbharta” or self-relian­ce in building India’s requirement of military equipment. Emblemising atmanirbharta is the Tejas Mark 1 fighter, which has placed India on the map of countries that can design, develop and manufacture advanced fighter aircraft.
 
This is already yielding results. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) CMD C B Ananthakrishnan revealed on Tuesday in Bengaluru that India is discussing the sale of 20 Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) with Egypt and 15 Tejas fighters with Argentina.
 
But for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the real value of the Tejas Mark 1 is the role it will now play in the development of India’s