The Indian Air Force’s growing frustration with delays in the deliveries of the Tejas Mk1A fighter jets was on full display at the Aero India show in Bengaluru, where Air Chief Marshal AP Singh openly expressed his lack of confidence in Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). The IAF, which has been facing a critical shortfall in its fighter squadrons, has placed an order for 83 Tejas Mk1A jets, expecting them to bridge the gap left by the gradual phasing out of older aircraft. However, with production setbacks continuing, the Air Force Chief's remarks underscored the gravity of the situation, raising concerns about India's indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities and their impact on national security.
While inspecting an aircraft at the event, ACM Singh was caught on video voicing his dissatisfaction directly to HAL officials, telling them bluntly that he had "no confidence" in the state-owned aerospace company. The remarks, captured by defence news channel NationalDefence, quickly went viral, bringing public attention to the delays that have been plaguing the Tejas program. The Air Chief stated that HAL was failing to operate in "mission mode" and lamented what he perceived as a lack of urgency in delivering the jets on time. He further remarked that while HAL is India's own aerospace giant, one that many in the defence sector, including himself, had worked with in the past, it was now displaying a concerning level of complacency. "I was promised that when I come here in February, we will have 11 Mk1As ready minus the engine. And not a single one is ready yet... Mazza nahi aa raha hai yaar [not enjoying this]," he said in exasperation.
The Indian Air Force had been relying on the Tejas Mk1A to fill the void left by aging MiG-21 jets, but delays in its production have forced the IAF to repeatedly push back the planned phasing out of these older aircraft. The IAF currently has only 31 operational fighter squadrons, significantly below the sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons required to effectively handle potential conflicts on both the western and eastern fronts. The delivery of the Tejas Mk1A was supposed to be a crucial step in bolstering India’s aerial combat capabilities, yet continued manufacturing delays have left the force struggling to maintain its operational readiness.
This is not the first time ACM Singh has voiced his concerns about the sluggish pace of deliveries. In a lecture earlier in January, he pointed out that the IAF had yet to receive all 40 Tejas Mk1 jets that were ordered way back in 2010. Currently, the Air Force operates only 36 of these jets, with four still pending, further highlighting the production inefficiencies that have hampered the program. The 83 Tejas Mk1A jets ordered in 2021 were expected to bring significant advancements over the Mk1 variant, including superior avionics, better radar systems, and improved operational capabilities. However, with HAL failing to meet its commitments, questions are now being raised about whether the deadlines for their induction can be met at all.
To address the delays, Secretary of Defence Production Sanjeev Kumar recently stated that efforts are being made to streamline the supply of engines in collaboration with American partners, with expectations that production will stabilize by 2025-26. While this may bring some relief in the long term, ACM Singh’s comments at Aero India serve as a stark reminder that the crisis is ongoing. The Air Force Chief, while acknowledging that systemic issues within the larger defense manufacturing ecosystem were partly to blame, emphasized the need for urgent corrective measures. “I cannot point a finger because three fingers are pointing at me,” he remarked, suggesting that multiple stakeholders, including the IAF itself, bore some responsibility for the current situation.
However, the core issue remains—India's indigenous defence production must rise to the challenge of meeting the country’s security needs in a timely manner. While the Tejas Mk1A program is a symbol of India's push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing, its repeated delays raise questions about whether HAL can deliver on future commitments, including the more advanced Tejas Mk2 and the AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) program. Unless swift action is taken to resolve these issues, the IAF may find itself in an increasingly vulnerable position, reliant on outdated aircraft while waiting for its homegrown fighter jets to materialize.
As things stand, the IAF’s ability to modernize its fleet remains in limbo. The delays in Tejas Mk1A production have forced it to explore alternative options, including acquiring additional foreign fighter jets such as the Rafale and upgrading its existing fleet of Su-30MKIs. However, long-term dependence on foreign fighters contradicts India's goal of achieving self-reliance in defence technology. The government and HAL must now ensure that production bottlenecks are addressed, manufacturing timelines are met, and the IAF receives its much-needed reinforcements on schedule. Failure to do so could not only weaken India's air power but also undermine confidence in the country's ability to sustain large-scale defence projects.
