EAM Jaishankar Holds Talks with Argentine Technology Minister on Atomic Energy and Space Cooperation
On Monday (6 February 2023), India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, met with Argentina’s Science and Technology Minister, Daniel Filmus, to discuss bilateral cooperation in fields such as atomic energy, space, digital technology, defence, and biotechnology. Jaishankar emphasized the potential for expanding trade, investment, and collaboration and serving as a model of South-South cooperation. In a tweet, Jaishankar expressed his pleasure at the meeting and highlighted the topics discussed.
In August of last year, Jaishankar also met with Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez, where they talked about enhancing bilateral cooperation and making trade levels more sustainable and ambitious. During this trip, Jaishankar also met with the Minister of Economy, Sergio Massa, and appreciated his positive outlook towards expanding economic cooperation between the two countries.
At that time, India acknowledged Argentina’s interest in acquiring the made-in-India Tejas fighter aircraft for the Argentine Air Force. Both countries explored ways to expand their partnership, including the conclusion of further MOUs and agreements. Several countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, have shown interest in the Tejas due to their superior flying ability, manoeuvrability, and ease of handling.
The Indian Air Force has recently equipped the Tejas with the French-origin Hammer air-to-ground missile and the indigenous Astra air-to-air missile. The Indian armed forces have been granted financial powers by the government to equip themselves for any potential conflict or aggression. The IAF is strongly supporting the Tejas program and has already operationalized two of its squadrons. A contract has been signed for 83 Mark1A aircraft, with delivery set to occur in a few years. The IAF also has its sights set on the LCA Mark 2 and the AMCA being developed by the DRDO.
What is Tejas Program?
The Tejas program is India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program, aimed at developing a supersonic, single-seat, single-engine multirole fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The aircraft has been designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Tejas program aims to reduce India’s dependence on foreign-made fighter jets and develop its own domestic aerospace industry. The Tejas has been equipped with various advanced technologies, including a fly-by-wire system, a digital cockpit, and an advanced electronic warfare suite, making it one of the most capable fighter aircraft in its class.
