India to become self-reliant in fighter jets in next few yrs: Expert

Berhampur: India is on track to achieve self-reliance in indigenously built fighter aircraft within the next few years, aviation scientist and Padma Shri award winner Kota Harinarayana said on Thursday in Berhampur.Addressing the media, the former programme director and chief designer of Tejas, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) said a robust manufacturing ecosystem has been developed and production technology significantly improved, enabling India to soon meet the Indian Air Force's requirements across all fighter categories."In the not-too-distant future, India will become an exporter of defence products to other countries," said Harinarayana, who was in Berhampur to attend the convocation of a private university.He said the wider use of Tejas by the IAF has proven the importance of indigenous aircraft. Harinarayana, a former professor at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), also noted that the IAF plans to replace its ageing MiG-series fleet — including MiG-21, 23 and 27 — in a phased manner, a move that would further boost the country's indigenous aerospace industry.According to him, India demonstrated its defence capabilities by repelling Pakistan's recent attack following Operation Sindoor, which was launched in the aftermath of the terror attack in Pahalgam. The development and successful use of indigenous defence products during the operation, he said, reflected India's growing strength in the sector.Harinarayana also hailed the successful test of Bhargavastra, a low-cost counter-drone system developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SADAL), conducted on Wednesday at the seaward firing range in Gopalpur, Ganjam district. The system is designed to neutralise hostile drone swarms. The 82-year-old scientist was conferred the Padma Shri in 2002 and named a distinguished scientist by the DRDO in 2007. He currently serves as chairman of the board of governors at IIT (BHU), Varanasi.