Bloomberg reported that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) facility that manufactures the Tejas fighter jet in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on November 25.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stands in front of a Tejas fighter jet in Bengaluru on November 25.
The leader posted photos and videos on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) showing him in a flight suit and aviator goggles, along with a caption stating that he felt "a new sense of pride and optimism about the nation's potential."
After climbing into the back seat of the fighter jet, the Tejas carrying Mr. Modi took off. While in flight, the leader waved to the pilot of an escort aircraft.
The plane carrying Mr. Modi took off.
"A memorable flight. Tejas is the pride of India, a manifestation of the strength and skill of 1.4 billion Indians," the Indian Prime Minister wrote on X.
The photos attracted attention on social media at a time when voting was taking place in Rajasthan state, an event seen as a test of support for Prime Minister Modi ahead of the national elections in 2024.
Prime Minister Modi sat in the back seat of the Tejas, with an escort aircraft beside him.
The Tejas is a light fighter jet developed by an Indian company. In June, during Modi's first state visit to the US, HAL and General Electric (US) agreed to cooperate in manufacturing engines for this fighter jet. An Indian government unit ordered 123 Tejas after the country canceled plans to purchase foreign fighter jets in 2020.
Prime Minister Modi (right) calls Tejas the pride of India.
The leader gave a thumbs-up after the flight.
India's Ministry of Defence has set a target of achieving $26 billion in defense and aerospace production revenue by 2025, with one-fifth of that coming from exports. This figure is double the defense production level of the most recent fiscal year, which ended in March.
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