Argentina to buy indigenous Tejas Mark-1A and LCH Prachanda for 8675 crores

After Malaysia, Argentina, Australia, Egypt, America, Indonesia, and the Philippines have also shown interest in buying Tejas. Malaysia has decided to buy the Tejas MK-1A for its fighter jet programme to compete with the Chinese JF-17.

Argentina’s Defence Minister Jorge Tayna is on a visit to India. He is going to hold a bilateral meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today (Tuesday). The two sides are expected to discuss ways to strengthen defence and cooperation. There is also a possibility of a Rs 8675 crore deal with India for the fourth-generation fighter aircraft Tejas Mark-1A and LCH Prachanda during this visit of the Defence Minister of Argentina, reported Hindusthan Samachar.

Defence officials said Argentine Defence Minister Jorge Tayna is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh in Delhi. During the meeting, the two countries are expected to discuss ways to strengthen defence and cooperation. The South American nation had expressed interest in the indigenous light combat aircraft Tejas for the Argentine Air Force by 2022. Earlier this June, Indian Ambassador to Argentina Dinesh Bhatia discussed cooperation in Tejas fighter jets with Argentine Air Force Chief Brigadier General Javier Isaacs. Argentina is eyeing different types of helicopters manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The Indian Embassy in Argentina tweeted that Ambassador Dinesh Bhatia would be accompanied by Brigadier General Javier Isaacs, Chief of the Argentine Air Force, in a delegation meeting the technical team of HAL to discuss Tejas fighter jets and various helicopters manufactured at HAL. Could Actually, Argentina needs 12 light combat aircraft, for which it has received letters of intent from China and HAL. Initially, this deal was also believed to become a Chinese JF-17 vs. Tejas contest, but HAL has moved fast on this matter.

HAL will need to replace over 50 systems and sub-systems of the Tejas, which are supplied by UK firms such as BAE Systems, Cobham, and Martin-Baker. A Rs 8675 crore deal with HAL for 15 Tejas Mark-1A and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachanda is likely to be signed in a bilateral meeting between Argentine Defence Minister Jorge Tayna and his counterpart Rajnath Singh. Earlier, Argentina’s Defence Minister and Air Force Chief had expressed their desire to buy this aircraft by flying in Tejas in Aero India 2023.

Made in India The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is fast becoming the first choice of many countries. After Malaysia, Argentina, Australia, Egypt, America, Indonesia, and the Philippines have also shown interest in buying Tejas. Malaysia has decided to buy the Tejas MK-1A for its fighter jet programme to compete with the Chinese JF-17. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has also responded to the RFI from the Royal Malaysian Air Force. After this, HAL may soon get the first export order for Tejas.