New Delhi: Indian Air Force (IAF) expressed its frustration over the delays in the delivery of Tejas Mk1A fighter jets at Aero India show in Bengaluru this week. IAF ordered 83 of these advanced jets to address a critical shortfall in its fleet of fighter squadrons.
However, the delayed deliveries have raised concerns, particularly regarding the role of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the state-owned aerospace company responsible for producing the jets.
IAF chief expresses concern
While inspecting an aircraft at the air show on Monday, Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal (ACM) AP Singh, was heard expressing his dissatisfaction with HAL. He told officials from the company, “I can only tell you what our requirements and our worries are… At the moment, I am just not confident of HAL, which is a very wrong thing to happen.”
The chief’s frustration was evident as he added, “HAL is our own company, we all have worked there… I have also served there… I find that we are just not in mission mode… everything is ho jaayega (it will happen).”
The main issue highlighted by ACM Singh was the delay in the deliveries of the Tejas Mk1A fighter jets. “I was promised that when I come here in February, we will have 11 Mk1As ready minus the engine. And not a single is ready yet… mazaa nai aa raha hai yaar (not liking it),” ACM Singh said, showing his disappointment. Later, a HAL official responded, saying that the officer’s remarks had been “duly noted.”
ACM Singh indicated that his concerns went beyond just HAL’s shortcomings and pointed to a larger problem in the “system.” He emphasized that he wasn’t blaming individuals but rather calling for a “drastic change” in how things were being managed.
“I cannot point a finger because three fingers are pointing at me,” he said. “There are so many places where we have also gone wrong. Because as the product takes time, the [requirements] keep changing…”
Previous statements of IAF chief
This is not the first time ACM Singh raised concerns about the delays in the Tejas jet deliveries. Earlier in January, he had pointed out that the IAF had yet to receive all 40 Tejas Mk1 jets that were ordered back in 2010. As of now, Air Force operates only 36 Tejas Mk1 jets, with four remaining deliveries still pending.
IAF is also waiting for the delivery of 83 Tejas Mk1A jets, which are upgraded versions of the Tejas Mk1. These jets, ordered in 2021, are crucial to the IAF’s efforts to improve its fighter jet strength. However, the delay has been largely attributed to issues with the supply of engines from General Electric, a US manufacturer. The company has faced its own supply-chain challenges, which have slowed down the production.
