Defence News
Visiting Singapore Defence Minister takes ride on LCA-Tejas Trainer
Visiting Singapore Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen took a flight in indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft Trainer aircraft (PV-6) from Kalaikunda airbase in West Bengal earlier today.
According to media, the flight lasted for nearly 35 minutes which was chased by IAF’s Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer.
Post-flight Dr Ng Eng Hen took to Twitter and posted in this Account a selfie along with following message ” Privileged to be flown on the Tejas, India’s own designed and manufactured fighter aircraft. A very good plane “.
According to the bilateral agreement between India and Singapore, Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) with their F-16s can train at Kalaikunda Air Force Station with their Indian Air Force counterparts and the IAF’s Su-30s.
RSAF F-16s are positioned in India along with the crew from 2007 onwards and earlier this year bilateral agreement was renewed for five more years.
It is not Clear if Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has shown any interest in the purchase of LCA-Tejas from India but HAL has been keen on marketing LCA-Tejas Trainer Variant has a Lead-in fighter training (LIFT) aircraft to provide Supersonic training in combat scenarios with reduced training costs.
This is the first time such a High profile visiting Dignitary has been flown in the indigenous LCA-Tejas aircraft and it also underlines reliability of the aircraft towards potential buyers.
