If all goes well, we may just get to see the Tejas Light Combat fighter at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) next year.
LIMA 2023 is to be held from May 23 to 27, 2023.
This is following reports that the Tejas aircraft has emerged as top choice for Malaysia’s fighter jet programme as Malaysia is looking to replace its ageing fleet of fighter jets MIG-29 fighter jets.
Among the other competitors are the China’s JF-17 jet, South Korea’s FA-50 and Russia’s Mig-35 as well as Yak-130 according to the chairman and managing director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, R Madhavan, who told PTI in an interview.
“As part of the package, India has offered to set up an MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) facility in Malaysia for its Russian-origin Su-30 fighter fleet as it is facing difficulties in procuring spares for the aircraft from Russia in view of western sanctions against Moscow.
“I am very confident about it unless some political shift takes place,” Madhavan said when asked whether the deal would be closed soon.
The top executive of the state-run aerospace behemoth said if the deal is sealed, it will give a “very good signal” to other prospective buyers of the aircraft and boost its overall export potential.
“It (the negotiation) is almost in the final stages. We are the only country which is offering them the support for their Su-30 aircraft other than Russia, we are the only one who can support them to the extent that they require for the Sukhoi fleet,” Madhavan said.
He also added that Tejas is a much superior aircraft compared to JF-17 and FA-50 and that the selection of the Indian aircraft would provide Malaysia with the option to go in for future upgrades of the fleet.
“We actually are the only ones who covered everything that they require and we met their budget requirements as well,” Madhavan said.
Source – Next Generation Weapons Technology