Former Prime Minister of India - Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee

PM gives the name `Tejas' to LCA at a ceremony held at Bangalore

~Honourable Governor, Uppradhan Mantriji, Raksha Mantriji, Chief Minister, Shri S. M. Krishna, My other colleagues in the Council of Ministers, Representatives of the Armed Forces, Scientists, engineers and other friends,

It is a great pleasure for me to be in Bangalore. People tell me that I come here more often than I visit other cities. This may be true. I have always found in this city a unique blend of the many splendours of our country. Nature has been kind to it. It also has the sophistication of a cosmopolitan city. It is home to many spiritual traditions, a cultural diversity and a scientific temper.

It is the last characteristic – the scientific temper – which brings me here today. A few decades ago, Bangalore was already acknowledged as the cradle of aeronautics development in India. It went on to become the Space capital of the country. It then claimed the title of India’s Silicon Valley. The flights we have seen today of the Advanced Light Helicopter, the Intermediate Jet Trainer, and the Light Combat Aircraft have demonstrated that the scientific establishments of this city retain their original strengths in aircraft design and development.

We all know that the LCA has taken a long time from the drawing board to its first flight two years ago. Sceptics have written off the project many times over. The doubters thought it made better sense to import a similar aircraft, even though under existing technology denial regimes we would have to settle for less sophisticated models.

Today, we can say that the delay was worth the waiting. Our scientists and engineers had to re-invent the wheel in many areas, but they have designed, tested and produced a world-class machine, which our Air Force can fly with pride and confidence.

The Light Combat Aircraft, which flew today, have American engines. Soon our own Kaveri engines will power these aircraft, which would then be 75 to 80 per cent indigenous. The nation salutes the dedicated teams of the Aeronautical Development Agency, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, National Aerospace Laboratories, other laboratories of the Defence Research and Development Organization and associated industrial units. We express our warm appreciation to them for their motivation, innovation and dedication.

They have more mountains to climb. The ongoing projects for DHRUV – the Advanced Light Helicopter, SARAS – the light Transport Aircraft, and HANSA – the two-seater trainer require similar commitment, to meet the urgent requirement of the Armed Forces. A naval version of the LCA has to be developed to respond to the Indian Navy’s requirement of carrier based operations. We have to look even further ahead and develop technologies for future generations of aircraft.

Even in this era of globalization where free movement of goods, technologies and services has become a recurring mantra, our defence modernization programme continues to strive for maximum technological autonomy. India has adopted a most responsible policy on missile, nuclear and dual use technologies, taking the utmost care to avoid their proliferation. It is as much of concern to us as it is to any other country that such technologies should not fall into wrong hands – whether they are of state actors or non-state actors. In spite of this we have continued to face technology denial regimes, which not only try to impede our weapons development programmes, but also affect some of our developmental programmes.

Our scientists and technologists have responded splendidly to this challenge and developed world-class technologies of indigenous design. Our cutting edge skills in information technology have added further strength to this process.

The government will continue to support this indigenous development. We shall follow a vigorous policy of aviation growth in both the military and civilian sectors. At the same time, we welcome collaboration with international partners in design, development and co-production. A shining example is our co-development with a Russian company of the BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile. I am sure that other potential international partners will eventually wake up to the tremendous commercial potential of such joint collaborations with India not only for markets in our country, but also in third countries.

The Light Combat Aircraft, which you have demonstrated to us should now be inducted into Indian Air Force squadrons. We need to make the necessary investments for commercial production of the LCA. We should also explore its export potential.

I am confident that this world-class fighting machine will make a glorious contribution to the nation’s defence. I am happy to give to it the name ~Tejas~. May it bring glory to our aerospace industry.

Thank you.~