India to offer a make-in-Egypt proposal for 70 Tejas planes?

The Indian Tejas is roaring high in capacity and power, and now HAL is attempting to offer a Tejas fighter aircraft deal to Egypt. It also intends to establish production facilities in Egypt for the manufacture of light combat aircraft (LCA) and helicopters as it seeks export prospects in the Middle East and North Africa region. Egypt is looking for a fleet of 70 aircraft in the LIFT category.

According to reports, the Egyptian Air Force head is scheduled to visit India in the coming days to inspect manufacturing and maintenance facilities.

Egypt is primarily interested in being the first to market with a fighter training aircraft variant based on the Tejas trainer airframe. The airframe will be stripped of high-end sensors and avionics but will incorporate training-specific cockpit equipment like as a Wide Area Display (WAD) to be utilized as an Advance Jet Trainer for inexperienced pilots before they move to Squadrons. The LIFT category aircraft assists pilots in becoming qualified before flying other fighters such as the Sukhoi 30 MKI, Rafale, or F16 fighter aircraft. The LIFT category aircraft is used for both training and combat purposes.

It boasts the most powerful air force fleet among emerging countries. Egypt’s air force has a mixed fleet of aircraft from China, Russia, the United States, and Europe, and it has recently placed orders for French Rafael fighters and Russian 35 fighters. It currently has approximately 220 f 16 fighters, 24 rafale, 15 mriage, and 46 mig 29 fighters.

HAL has the option of pushing the HTT 40 Hindustan Turbo Trainer aircraft, although this is still in the works. However, it will be advantageous to obtain a starting level trainer aircraft. HAL is contemplating an initial programme similar to the US Air Force’s T-X programme for a new-generation trainer aircraft produced by the SAAB-Boeing collaboration.

HAL is working hard to increase the number of export orders for TEJAS, and it confidently displayed the aircraft flying display in the Dubai and Singapore airshows. The aircraft is built on a sturdy airframe that has undergone extensive testing and has good avionics support. Tejas is now being upgraded to the Mark2 level for the Indian Air Force, which includes the latest avionics and weapon deployment capabilities.

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is the most promising potential customer, having bid for 18 light fighters with an option for another 18. This would be a welcome first export order for the Tejas.

HAL has provided the RMAF with the advanced Tejas Mark 1A fighter, which includes mid-air refueling, an AESA radar, electronic warfare (EW) capability, and the capacity to shoot BVR missiles. HAL is undergoing testing for the Malaysian-specified on-board oxygen generating system (OBOGS).

There is a considerable possibility that Tejas will outperform the other fighter capabilities and win the contract from Malaysia, but its government purchasing agency has yet to make a decision.