Aero India 2019 Day 2: General Bipin Rawat flies HAL's Tejas, other highlights

Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Thursday flew in the home-grown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas at the Aero India air show here and hailed the fighter.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has joined hands with Defence Ministry to host Aero India 2019, the expo that showcases latest technologies and products in country's aerospace engineering. (Photo | Nagaraja Gadekal/EPS) 

French Air Force, US Air Force, Dassault Aviation, Dassault Systemes, Airbus are also participating in the exhibition. (Photo | Nagaraja Gadekal/EPS)

Visitors watching various aircrafts displayed at the 12th edition of Aero India 2019 at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru on Thursday. (Photo | Nagaraja Gadekal/EPS)

A Rafale fighter plane of the Indian Air Force take off during the Aero India 2019 at Yelahanka in Bengaluru on Thursday. (Photo | Nagaraja Gadekal/EPS)

Signalling its combat readiness, India's Light Combat Aircraft Tejas MK I was Wednesday given the Final Operational Clearance (FOC). The formal declaration of FOC of the aircraft was made by the Secretary Defence R&D and Chairman, Defence Research and Development Organisation, G Satheesh Reddy. (Photo | Nagaraja Gadekal/EPS)

A light-weight HAL helicopter during the Aero India 2019 at Yelahanka. (Photo | Nagaraja Gadekal/EPS)

Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Thursday flew in the home-grown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas at the Aero India air show here and hailed the fighter. (Photo | Nagaraja Gadekal/EPS)

The combat jet was piloted by Air Vice Marshal N. Tiwari while the Army chief was the co-pilot in the tandem-seater cockpit. (Photo | Nagaraja Gadekal/EPS)

Buoyed by the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) issued to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas-Mk1 by Indian Air Force, HAL officials announced that the development of Mk1A and Mk2 has been taken up. Arup Bannerjee, Director, Engineering Research and Development, said Aeronautical Development Agency has taken up the same and Mk1A version of LCA will have its first flight in 2022. (Photo | Nagaraja Gadekal/EPS)

A US Air Force aircraft during 12th edition of Aero India 2019 at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru on Thursday. (Photo | Nagaraja Gadekal/EPS)