As usual, this time too as Republic Day approaches, agenda-driven reports, social media posts against the indigenous Tejas fighter aircraft are flooding the news cycle. It is being said that this time apart from ALH Dhruv, ‘Tejas’ fighter aircraft will also not take part in the fly-past during the Republic Day show.
Based on reports, a kind of negative campaigning has surfaced by a certain section regarding the indigenous aircraft Tejas. Critics on social media allege that Tejas didn’t find a place in the flypast because the Indian Air Force or defence officials do not have enough confidence in this aircraft to include it in a very special event like Republic Day. People questioned the government over Tejas’ exclusion from Flypast, citing that the government has presented the aircraft as the trophy of ‘Make in India’. At the same time, technologically advanced Indigenous aircraft is also on the table in order to export to other countries of the world. Why was that aircraft not included in the most important flypast of our own country, whereas apart from aircraft like Rafale and Sukhoi, old aircraft like Jaguar are also taking part in the flypast?
Amidst these reports against Tejas, it becomes pertinent to highlight the specific reason behind questioning the government. Without knowing the truth behind the decision people can end up speculating and spreading fake news and misinformation, which may harm Indian technological interest in the defence sector worldwide. People should even use their common sense that if the aircraft is being considered for export to other countries, how the quality can be compromised?
Still, we are here to answer and keep you informed about the exact reason behind the exclusion. The decision was taken due to the special guideline made by the Indian Air Force regarding the Republic Day flypast.
In fact, the Indian Air Force had made a rule a long time ago and according to this rule, no single-engine fighter jet of any type can be included in the flypast for a very special event like Republic Day. Tejas is a single-engine fighter jet.
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This rule was made from the security point of view of the Republic Day celebrations. On special national occasions such as Republic Day, the VIPs are present at the venue. Generally, single-engine fighter jets are very useful during air combat due to their manoeuvrability and reliability. These fighter jets have a special usefulness and are manufactured for that purpose only. On occasions like Republic Day, where fighter jets are flown at a very low altitude to show strength and capability to civilians and guests, the single-engine fighter plane can be fatal. Even in a place like Delhi, flocks of birds also pose a big threat to these planes. Due to flying at low altitudes during flypast, the risk of bird hit is also many times higher.
On several occasions, cases of engine failure or ‘flame out’ due to birds hitting the aircraft or getting stuck in the engine have also been observed. If such an accident were to happen with a single-engine jet, it would be almost impossible for the pilot to handle such an aircraft flying at a very low altitude. Whereas if a similar accident occurs with a ‘double-engine’ fighter jet, its pilot will still have the possibility to control the aircraft and steer it away from the population. On an occasion like Republic Day, not only the three Indian Army Chiefs, Ministers, Prime Minister and President are present on the road of duty but also foreign heads of state are present, in such a situation obviously no risk can be taken regarding security.
Since Tejas is also a single-engine fighter jet, it is not included in the Republic Day fly-past from the security point of view. This does not at all mean that the Indian Air Force does not trust Tejas or that this aircraft is in any way inferior to other aircraft. The Indigenous Tejas is a light combat aircraft and is counted among the best fighter aircraft of its category. Not only this, the safety record of Tejas is also amazing and in the service period of 24 years till date, only one Tejas has faced an accident. In terms of safety, no fighter aircraft in the world comes close to this record of Tejas, whether it is a single-engine fighter aircraft or a double-engine fighter jet. Even America’s fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft F-35 has seen various accidents.
Still, if some people have doubts about the capability and reliability of Tejas, they should know that not only Tejas but even the French Mirages are not included in the Republic Day fly-past. Just like Tejas, Mirage is also a single-engine fighter aircraft. It is important to remember here that during the Balakot airstrike, the Indian Air Force had reposed trust in Mirage aircraft and this single-engine aircraft not only proved its capabilities but also returned safely after hitting the target, defying the entire air defence of Pakistan. This incident brought trust to the operability of single-engine aircraft in tactical warfare. In such a situation, whether it is Tejas or Mirage, the capability of these aircraft and their power to attack the enemy should not be judged based on the inclusion and exclusion of the aircraft to a simple show of fly-past.
However, those who are disappointed by not seeing Tejas over the Rajpath will soon get another chance to see this aircraft performing moves in the high sky at Bengaluru Airshow. Tejas is all set to participate at the Bengaluru Airshow next month (10-14 February) where it will be seen demonstrating its strength, capabilities and manoeuvring qualities.