TEJAS light combat jet landing at Langkawi during the LIMA-19 Aerospace exhibition

Coimbatore: Light combat aircraft Tejas built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which was displayed recently in Malaysia, garnered a very good response form the government of Malaysia, director general of life sciences, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Ajay Kumar Singh said here on Wednesday.

“A lot of carbon composites have been used in the aircraft. Most of the flying clothing and gears were indigenous,” he said while speaking at the inaugural session of the ‘National Investors Conclave on Technical Textiles’ in the city.

Malaysian President Mahatir Mohamad showed keen interest in the Indian fighter

Though there is a vast scope for use of technical textiles in the defence sector, the country still imports the raw materials, Singh said. “We still have no alternative for the materials. We also import materials for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear resistant suits,” he said.

Singh said the lack of research and development, not only in the industry, but also in major research labs, was the reason for this scenario. “The industry should come out of the profit-only mindset and involve in research and development.” 

To illustrate it, Singh referred to the example of the NBC Suit Mark V, which the DRDO developed by working along with the industry. “The suit was made on par with the world market but for half the price,” he said.