Which one of the following is an indigenously built light combat aircraft?

Aakash
Tejas
Vikrant
Arjun

The correct answer is (b) Tejas.

Tejas is a single-engine, lightweight multirole combat aircraft developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of India. It is the first indigenously developed fourth-generation fighter aircraft of India. The aircraft is named after the word “Tejas” which means “radiance” or “glow” in Sanskrit.

The Tejas was designed to meet the operational requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy (IN). It is capable of undertaking a variety of missions, including air superiority, ground attack, and reconnaissance. The aircraft is also equipped with a variety of weapons, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, and bombs.

The Tejas has been in service with the IAF since 2016. The IN is expected to receive its first Tejas aircraft in 2022.

The other options are incorrect because:

  • Aakash is a surface-to-air missile system developed by India.
  • Vikrant is an aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy.
  • Arjun is a main battle tank of the Indian Army.