Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Nov 25 flew a sortie on Tejas Aircraft in Bengaluru. PM Modi took to X (formerly Twitter) and shared his experience. PM termed it an “incredibly enriching” experience and wrote that it left a renewed “sense of pride” with him. The first version of the Light Combat Aircraft was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2016. Currently, two squadrons of IAF, 45 Squadron and 18 Squadron, are fully operational with LCA Tejas. Under BJP-led NDA Govt, an order worth Rs 36,468 Cr for the delivery of 83 LCA Mk 1A aircraft has been placed with HAL. The delivery of these aircraft is scheduled to begin by February 2024. Also, over Rs 9000 Cr have been sanctioned for the development of LCA Mk 2, an updated and more lethal version of LCA Tejas. Transfer of Technology for manufacturing of the GE engine in India was negotiated with GE during PM’s visit to the US in June 2023