The Tejas/Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Fighter Aircraft – A Homegrown Marvel

1. The Tejas is a Lightweight Fighter Jet developed domestically by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Its design was spearheaded by the Defence Research Development Organisation ( DRDO ) and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).
2. The Tejas – Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme was envisioned to replace the Russian MiG-21 fighter aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force.
3. The Tejas is a single-engine multirole fighter aircraft, capable of performing a variety of roles.
4. In 2003, the LCA programme was officially named 'Tejas'.
5. As of 2020, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has two squadrons of Tejas Mk 1 Aircraft located at Sulur, Tamil Nadu.

Rafale Fighter Aircraft – A French Powerhouse

1. The Rafale is a twin-engine fighter aircraft manufactured by Dassault Aviation of France. It serves as the primary fighter jet of the French Air Force.
2. The Indian Air Force will soon operate Rafale fighter Jets. A deal was signed for 36 Rafale Fighter Jets in 2016. The deal includes a package of spares and weapons including the highly acclaimed Meteor Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile (BVRAAM). Other than the Indian Airforce, the Rafale is also operated by the Egyptian Air Force and the Qatar Air Force.
3. Rafale fighter jets have seen combat operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Mali.

Sukhoi 30 Fighter Aircraft – A Russian Masterpiece

1. The Sukhoi 30 is a twin-engine Fighter Jet manufactured by the Sukhoi Aviation Corporation of Russia.
2. The Sukhoi-30 has many variants, with the variant used by the Indian Air Force being the Sukhoi 30 MkI.
3. Apart from the Russian and Indian Air Force, the Sukhoi-30 aircraft is also operated by Algeria, China, Vietnam, Venezuela, and Malaysia.
4. The Sukhoi 30 MKI forms the backbone of the Indian Air Force. As of January 2020, India operates around 260 Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter jets. There are plans to purchase more Sukhoi 30 MKI aircraft to replace those lost in accidents.

Here are some key specifications of the Tejas, Rafale, and Sukhoi-30 Fighter Jets:

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