India’s Tejas in bid to sell its combat jets to Malaysia

The Indian light combat aircraft, Tejas. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Putrajaya has expressed interest in buying India’s Tejas multi-role combat aircraft, Nikkei Asian Review reported today.

It said state-run Hindustan Aeronautics, manufacturer of the single-engine jet,, touted as the world’s lightest supersonic fighter, appeared keen to submit a bid early next year.

It wants to supply up to 36 of the aircraft to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), the news agency reported, quoting unidentified defence-related sources.

The report comes amid tension between India and Malaysia after Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s speech at the UN General Assembly in September where he said India had “invaded and occupied” Kashmir. The Indian government had slammed his remarks as “unacceptable.”

This reportedly affected Malaysian palm oil imports by India.

Nikkei quoted Pankaj Jha, former deputy director of India’s National Security Council Secretariat, as saying that the bilateral tensions are “momentary” and will ease in the future.

“Moreover, Mahathir won’t be at the helm for more than two or three years, after which India-Malaysia relations will be back on track,” it quoted him as saying.

Tejas had taken part in the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition in Langkawi last March.

Nikkei said Mahathir and Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu had inspected the aircraft and met members of the Indian air force.

RMAF chief Affendi Buang had previously said that 40% of his fleet needs to be upgraded.

Malaysia is also said to be considering the JF-17 fighter, co-developed by China and Pakistan, and South Korea’s FA-50, Nikkei added. - FMT