Indian Prime Minister flies on domestic fighter jet

Bloomberg News reported that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the facility of Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) that produces Tejas fighter jets in Bengaluru city, Karnataka state on November 25.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stands in front of a Tejas fighter jet in Bengaluru on November 25.

The leader posted photos and videos on social network X (formerly known as Twitter) showing him wearing a flight suit and aviator goggles, saying he felt a "new sense of pride and optimism about the nation's potential".

After climbing into the back seat of the fighter jet, the Tejas carrying Mr. Modi took off. As he flew, the leader waved to the pilot of one of the planes escorting him.

The plane carrying Mr. Modi took off

"A memorable flight. Tejas is the pride of India, a manifestation of the strength and skill of 1.4 billion Indians," the Indian Prime Minister wrote on X.

The pictures have attracted attention on social media as voting in Rajasthan state is being held, an event seen as a test of Prime Minister Modi's popularity ahead of national elections in 2024.

Prime Minister Modi sat in the back seat of the Tejas, flanked by escort planes.

The Tejas is a light combat aircraft developed by an Indian company. In June, during Modi's first state visit to the US, HAL and General Electric (USA) agreed to jointly produce engines for this fighter jet. An Indian public sector unit has ordered 123 Tejas after the country cancelled plans to buy foreign fighters in 2020.

Prime Minister Modi (right) calls Tejas the pride of India

The leader gave a thumbs up after the flight.

India’s Ministry of Defence has set a target of $26 billion in defence and aerospace production by 2025, a fifth of which would come from exports. That would be double the defence production in the last fiscal year that ended in March.

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