Aviation

India acknowledges Argentina’s interest in Tejas fighter aircraft

Argentina has shown interest in purchasing TEJAS fighter planes made in India for the Argentine Air Force.

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Argentina has shown interest in purchasing TEJAS fighter planes made in India for the Argentine Air Force. The Argentine interest in the TEJAS fighter plane was noted by External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar, who also emphasized the proposal’s significance in raising the strategic level of bilateral relations.

In the meeting both parties covered topics like economic cooperation, yoga, nuclear energy, space programs, pharmaceuticals, research, and technology. Both expressed delight with the two-way trade, which totaled 5.7 billion US dollars in 2021 and made India Argentina’s fourth-largest trading partner.

The fighter aircraft discussions come as interest in the Made in India jet has been shown by several nations, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Due to its better flying ability, maneuverability, and ease of handling, India’s indigenous aircraft have attracted the interest of several other countries in the defense sector.

Does Malaysia choose the Tejas fighter jet from India?(Opens in a new browser tab)

The French-made Hammer air-to-ground stand-off missile and indigenous Astra air-to-air missiles were recently added to the Tejas by the Indian Air Force.

India offered collaborations in the manufacturing of vaccines, highlighting its know-how and enormous production capabilities, making Argentina a regional hub.

India plans to build HAL Tejas fighter jet manufacturing line in Egypt.(Opens in a new browser tab)

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Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.