India Willing To Export Tejas, Akash, BrahMos: Manohar Parrikar

India is willing to export Tejas fighter jets, Akash missile system and even the BrahMos missile, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Monday, but added that it will happen only after the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) requirements are met. On defence exports, the minister said: “Once IAF requirements are taken care of, we can export Tejas, Akash, BrahMos.” Tejas is an indigenously developed light combat aircraft.
The Akash missile system is a mid-range surface-to-air missile developed by DRDO, and BrahMos is a short range supersonic missile, jointly developed by Russia’s NPO Mashinostroeyenia and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Mr Parrikar said clearance can be given for exporting up to 10 percent of what is manufactured.
 On the Tejas aircraft, the minister said it was likely to be inducted into the Indian Air Force by the end of 2016 or early 2017. He said the fly-by-wire system — an electronic control system that replaces conventional mechanical flight — of Tejas was one of the best. “Its manoeuverability is superior,” he said.

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