HAL has pitched the Tejas Mark 1A to the US Navy, which is looking for a replacement for its existing trainer planes. Even if it doesn’t win the contract, being shortlisted for the next stage will provide a huge leg up for India’s ambitions of becoming a major defence exporter.

In a major reversal of traditional roles, India has, for the first time, made a sales pitch for a large defence US contract. A report in The Economic Times, a leading financial daily, said New Delhi has offered the Lead in Fighter Trainer (LIFT) version of its light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas to the US Navy, which has launched a global search for Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) to replace its ageing Boeing T-45 Goshawk fleet.

The US looking for a non-developmental, land-based jet trainer suitable for field carrier landing practice and nuclear aircraft carrier touch-and-go landings.

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The offered aircraft is based on the LCA MK1A, developed by the public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) that is on order by the Indian Air Force.

“India has sent in a detailed project plan of the aircraft, including advanced avionics that enable the LIFT LCA to mimic almost all types of fighter jets, from cockpit display layout to control performances,” the newspaper reported.

Indian officials believe the offered plan meets all the requirements specified in the US Navy’s Request for Information (RFI). The offer is being evaluated by the US Navy. If the latter shortlists the Indian aircraft, HAL will produce a demonstrator version.

Stiff competition from large defence multinationals

It will, however, face stiff competition from entrenched global players such as Boeing, SAAB, Lockheed Martin and Leonardo, each of which is vying for this prestigious and lucrative contract. The aircraft should be available by 2028 or sooner, the US Navy has specified.

HAL is confident that the LCA Mark 1 has a good chance of success in getting shortlisted as there is no other aircraft of this type currently in existence.

Massive boost for India’s defence export ambitions

Whether or not the Tejas ultimately flies in US colours or not will be known in the years ahead. But even being shortlisted for the next step – known as Request for Proposal – will be a huge shot in the arm for India’s fledgling defence sector and its ambitions of emerging as a defence equipment exporter.

Demonstration effect can lift image of Indian defence equipment

The demonstration effect of the world’s most powerful navy shortlisting and testing the capabilities of the Tejas alongside rival offerings from the world’s biggest defence contractors, can become a big selling point for HAL, which is pitching the LCA as well as other aircraft such as the Light Combat Helicopter, attack helicopter Rudra and advanced light helicopter Dhruv to countries in South East Asia, West Asia and elsewhere.

The Tejas has already been shortlisted by the Malaysian Air Force and countries such as the United Arab Emirates and a few others have reportedly made enquiries about it.

India is currently the world’s second-largest arms importer, after Saudi Arabia. This is clearly not in sync with the country’s ambitions of emerging as a major power, first in the Indo-Pacific region and then across the world.

Not having its own armaments development and manufacturing capacity is a major strategic drawback that the Modi government is determined to overcome.

Modi sets $5-billion target for defence exports

It is with this in mind that India has set a target of exporting $5 billion worth of defence equipment a year in five years. Addressing the Defence Expo held in India earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi set the target, saying: “Our mantra is Make in India, for India and for the world. In 2014 (when he was first elected Prime Minister), the export of defence equipment from India was about Rs 2,000 crore ($310 million at the then prevailing exchange rate). In the last two years, it has gone up to Rs 17,000 crore ($2.25 billion). In the next five years our target is export of $5 billion…”

India exports mostly to countries such as Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Mauritius.

HAL and Indian defence manufacturers are, thus, keeping their fingers crossed as a shortlisting for the RFP stage could be the first step towards India developing an indigenous and viable defence-industrial complex in the country.