11 Facts India Completely Forgot About Its First Jet Fighter

India’s premier home-built fighter jet Tejas is finally in the Indian Air Force service, although it still hasn’t received the FOC (Final Operational Clearance). The long drawn, and frankly excruciating development process, has been the butt of many jokes and doesn’t really bode well for the future of jet fighter production in the country. But did you know that the Tejas isn’t India’s first jet fighter? It was the single-seat twin-engined HF-24 Marut, which first flew back in 1961. Here are some more amazing facts about the fighter jet you didn’t even know existed.

1. The HF designation in HF-24 Marut stands for Hindustan-Fighter. While the name Marut means ‘Spirit of the Tempest’.

Indian Air Force

2. Its first flight took place on 17 June 1961, within six years of the specifications for the fighter being drawn up. Things moved quite fast back then.

Indian Air Force

3. A total of 147 examples were produced, including 18 two-seat trainers.

Indian Air Force

4. The plane was designed by German aeronautical engineer Kurt Tank. After the Second World War, he moved to Argentina and then came to India to help with the Marut design.

Indian Air Force

5. Although originally intended to have a top speed of Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound), the Marut could not even manage to do half that. It wasn’t for the lack of trying, but the lack of a suitable engine and also the sanctions after India’s first nuclear test.

Indian Air Force

6. Since its speed was limited, it was mainly used in a ground attack role.

Simon Watson

7. It took part in the 1971 war and though none were lost in dogfights, a few were lost on the ground. The Marut even had a kill to its name. Sqd. Ldr. K K Bakshi recorded the only known aerial victory when he shot down a Pakistani F-86 Sabre on 7 December 1971.

Pushpindar Singh Chopra

8. After the war was over, three Marut pilots were awarded the Vir Chakra for bravery.

Pushpindar Singh Chopra

9. Although it never got a powerful enough engine for itself, the Marut was used as a testbed by Egypt for its own engine development programme.

Indian Air Force

10. The Marut served with three squadrons of the Air Force, the No. 10 squadron, No. 31 squadron and the No. 220 squadron. Unlike today, where the Air Force is short of aircraft, each Marut squadron had more than the sanctioned strength of the aircraft.

HAL

11. The last Marut was retired from active service in 1990.

Bharat Rakshak