LCA Tejas jets in UAE to take part in its maiden foreign air exercise

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Saturday said that the indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas will make its debut in a multi-lateral air exercise in the United Arab Emirates.

Five Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) of the Indian Air Force will participate in the multilateral exercise in the United Arab Emirates in the first participation of the indigenously developed jets in a military wargame in a foreign country.

An IAF contingent comprising of 110 air warriors has arrived at Al Dahfra air base of United Arab Emirates for participating in the exercise Desert Flag, officials said.

The IAF would be participating with five Tejas and two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. "This is the first occasion when the LCA Tejas shall participate in an international flying exercise outside India. The aim of the exercise is to participate in diverse fighter engagements and learn from the best practices of various air forces," the IAF said in a statement.

Exercise Desert Flag is a multilateral air exercise in which air forces from the UAE, France, Kuwait, Australia, the UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, Republic of Korea, and the US would also be participating. The exercise is scheduled from February 27 to March 17.

"The aim of the exercise is to participate in diverse fighter engagements and learn from the best practices of various air forces," the official said. Tejas, manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, is a single-engine and highly agile multi-role supersonic fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments.

LCA Tejas, which has taken part in many air shows, was scheduled to make its debut in the multi-national air exercise Cobra Warrior 22 at Waddington in the UK in 2022, but it got cancelled after war broke out between Russia and Ukraine.