India’s indigenous LCA Tejas lands in UAE to take part in its first-ever foreign air exercise

India's indigenously built light combat aircraft, LCA Tejas, is set to take part in its first-ever foreign air exercise, Exercise Desert Flag VIII, hosted by the UAE. A contingent of the Indian Air Force, consisting of 110 Air Warriors, five LCA Tejas, and two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft have arrived at Al Dahfra airbase. The participating countries in the exercise include the UAE, France, Kuwait, Australia, the UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, South Korea, and the US. This event highlights India's efforts to exhibit LCA Tejas over a global platform.

Important points to remember:

  1. Exercise Desert Flag is a multinational air exercise hosted by the UAE.
  2. This is the first time India's LCA Tejas is participating in a foreign air exercise.
  3. The Indian contingent includes 110 Air Warriors and seven aircraft.
  4. LCA Tejas is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft manufactured by HAL.
  5. In February 2021, the Indian defence ministry sealed a ₹48,000-crore deal with HAL for 83 Tejas LCAs.
  6. The participating countries include the UAE, France, Kuwait, Australia, the UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, Republic of Korea and the US.
  7. HAL is in talks with multiple countries for LCA Tejas exports.