Five IAF LCA Tejas in UAE for Multilateral Exercise Desert Flag VIII

Abu Dhabi. Indian Air Force is fielding five HAL-made Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas to take part in the multilateral Desert Flag VIII exercise being held February 27 to March 17.

While the Tejas has taken part in the Dubai Airshow previously, this is the first time that the aircraft will be in the Gulf skies in a near realistic but simulated combat exercise with air forces from the host UAE, US, Kuwait, Australia, France, UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain and South Korea. Other aircraft likely to take part are F 35, F 16, Rafale, Mirage 2005 and Eurofighter, adding to the complexity of the exercise but imparting valuable lessons to the participants in network centric warfare (NCW) environment.

The IAF contingent of the Tejas, along with two C 17s and 110 pilots and other staff landed at UAE’s Al Dhafra airbase on Feb 25.

IAF’s Su 30 MKIs have taken part in Desert Flag VI earlier in the annual exercise series but this time, significantly, IAF is fielding the Tejas, whose variants are set to replace the Soviet era Mig 21s, inducted first in the late 1960s. Variants of the 4^th Gen Tejas, including Tejas Mk II, will eventually form nearly half the strength of IAF’s 30 to 40 Squadrons.

Powered by US GE 404 engine, Tejas costs much less than other competing fighter jets in the category, and the Indian Ministry of Defence has an ambitious target to export them to friendly nations.

Tejas has come out in flying colours at various air shows in Bahrain, Malyasia, Singapore and other countries.

HAL-made Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) has also enthralled the public with their daring aerobatics at air shows in the UAE.