Today was a special day as the United States of America’s Chief of Staff of Airforce flew indigenously made light combat aircraft, Tejas. General David L Goldfein made the flight from Indian Air Force station at Jodhpur. The flight was a signal to strengthen the ties between United States Air force and Indian Air Force.
Tejas is a light combat aircraft designed and made indigenously under the banner of “Made in India”. In the wake of worsening relationship between USA and Pakistan with President Trump denying aid, this event is seen as USA’s attempt to strengthen the relationship with India. The Indian Air Force took to the social media site Twitter to spread the message among citizens. The tweet by IAF announced that the US Chief of Staff of Air Force, General David L Goldfien was an official visit to India. He flew Tejas, an indigenous light combat aircraft, from the Air Force Station from Jodhpur.
During the sortie, Indian Air Force Vice Marshal AP Singh accompanied General David L Goldfien as co-pilot. According to the defense ministry, General Terrence O’Shaughnessy accompanied General Goldfien in this official visit. General Terrence is the Commander of the United States Pacific Air Force. To welcome the officials at New Delhi, a Guard of Honour was organized at the Indian headquarters. In the capital, the guest officials also interacted with their India counterpart, Air Force Chief B S Dhanoa.
General Goldfien and General Terrence were quite happy with the warm welcome in India. United States acknowledges the fact that Indian Army operates the second largest C-17 fleet. He said in a tweet that they were overwhelmed by the welcome reception at Indian Air Force headquarters in Delhi and showed their gratitude. In the tweet, e hinted that the main reason for his visit was to strengthen the relationship between two great Air Forces in the world.
General Goldfien said that they were feeling proud in having helped Indian Air Force in strengthening their air mobility. He twitted “I’m also very proud of the strong ongoing relationship forged between the @IAF_MCC & the Rhode Island Air National Guard’s 143rd Airlift Wing”.
Indian Air Force have C-17 Globemaster transport Aircraft which can transport heavy weights, even tanks to as far as borders of Pakistan and China. General Goldfien recognised Indian Strength. For the Tejas that is being inducted in the Air Force, it is also seen as the biggest endorsement of the fighter that has been in the making for more than three decades.
Last year, the Defence Minister of Singapore had attended a sortie from the Kakakunda airbase. Mr Mg Eng Hen, while on a sortie from airbase in West Bengal had said that he is not a pilot but the flight felt really smooth.
Under development for over 3 years, the indigenous Tejas, previous called the Light Combat Aircraft or LCA is actually the original fighter jet to be made in India since the HF 24 Marut designed a couple of years earlier.
Severely criticised for delays in the development of its design, the Tejas fighter has belatedly shown promise as a jet far much more capable compared to the MiG-21 and the MiG-27 legacy fighters which the Indian Air Force is actually in the process of retiring.
