Which is the Best Fighter Jet Made in India?
When talking about fighting capabilities, nothing can beat the Indian Air Force unit, all thanks to the best fighter jet made in India. These planes are made as a shield to protect vital airspace by killing opponents' planes in combat. This is because opponents may carry defensive armaments, having the same capability to fight.
When it comes to the IAF- Indian Air Force, it is the 4th largest air force in the world with over 140,000 reserve personnel, 1,850 aircraft and 139,576 active personnel. Being a highly technical fighting force, it has played a major role in aviation history. Furthermore, here are some of the made-in-India fighter jet lists.
HAL Tejas LCA
One of the best fighter jets made in India is the HAL Tejas LCA. It is the most remarkable achievement manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. This Indian single-engine multirole light fighter was developed and designed by the ADA- Aeronautical Development Agency of the Indian Department.
The aircraft can carry a wide range of equipment such as anti-ship missiles, air-to-ground, air-to-air, rockets, bombs, precision guided munitions, etc. In addition to these, it can also carry electronic warfare, surveillance, training pods, reconnaissance, targeting, as well as drop tanks. The Tejas Delta-winged structure is the most advanced jet of India.
Related Topics:
How Many Tejas Fighter Jets Does India Have?
Sukhoi Su-30MKI
Another advanced Indian-made fighter jet is the Sukhoi Su-30MKI. It is made by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and is used by the Indian Air Force. This multi-role combat fighter aircraft was built in 1995 for the IAF. Today, there are about 300 units of 30MKI.
This made-in-India fighter plane has the capability to carry a wide range of armaments and equipment. This includes medium-range guided air-to-air missiles to infrared-homing close-range missiles. Besides, having a max speed of 2500 km/hr, it is the fastest aircraft.
3. Mirage 2000
Known as the Balakot Strike, the Indian Air Force undertook a risky attempt to invade the POK and eliminate terrorist organisations in the year 2019. The IAF used its Dassault Aviation Mirage-2000, Indian-made fighter jets, for the operation. Not just in 2019, but also in the 1999 Kargil War, the Mirage-2000, known by the IAF as Vajra (meaning lightning thunderbolt in Sanskrit), played a crucial role in the entire operation.
Even though the aircraft's maximum and approach speeds are 259 and 2,530 km/h, it can rise up to 285 metres per second. However, the ferry's range is 3,335 km. It has served many countries for years, such as France, Greece, Egypt, India, Taiwan, Peru, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, etc.
4. MiG- 21
The MiG-21 is a highly productive and another fighter aircraft made in India. In other words, it is the most exceptionally manufactured supersonic jet fighter ever. To build the aircraft, India got full technology transfer and rights to license. Despite its age, it has allowed skilled pilots to outperform more advanced aircraft in the past few decades. It is the first supersonic jet aircraft in the history of aviation.
It took its first flight in 1955 and started its service in 1959. Not only in India, but this fighter plane has served over 60 nations for more than 60 years. Besides, it is featured as a single-seat cockpit with a maximum speed of 1300 kmph. Even though Russia stopped its production, India continued operating the aircraft and its upgraded variants.
5. Dassault Rafale
Rafale is another fighter aircraft made in India. It is a twin-jet combat aircraft that is made to perform both short and long-range missions. It comes with semi-stealth capabilities and can carry out nuclear attacks. It can also be used for nuclear strike deterrence, high precision strikes, maritime attacks and more.
The aircraft is based on a twin-generation engine and delta-wing architecture. Besides, it can carry advanced equipment along with the latest mechanicals and gen avionics.
IAF and its Never-Forgetting Contribution
As the name implies, IAF- Indian Air Force, it follows the motto- Nabha Sparsham Deeptham, which means Touch the Sky with Glory. It was established in the year 1932; it had a strength of 25 soldiers.
Besides, undergoing extreme modernisation and expansion, it has come out to be stronger, both in terms of technology and manpower. However, these best fighter jets have played a major role, be it keeping enemy invasions away from Indian skies or during conflicts.
