NEW DELHI: Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh has voiced serious concerns over Hindustan Aeronautics Limitedโs (HAL) delays in delivering the Tejas Mk1A fighter jets, signaling frustration over the public sector unitโs production efficiency.
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh expressed his concerns to HAL Chairman D.K. Sunil, stating,โI can only tell you what our requirements and our worries are. You have to alleviate those worries and make us more confident. At the moment I am just not confident of HAL, which is a very wrong thing to happen,โ
Singh made these remarks while seated in the cockpit of an HJT-36 Yashas aircraft.
Missed Deadlines and Performance Concerns
The IAF Chief is dissatisfied with the repeated delays in Tejas Mk1A jet production. While supply chain issues, such as delayed GE F404 engine deliveries from the U.S., are a factor, he also highlighted inefficiencies within HAL, which have worsened the situation.
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โHAL is our company, we have all worked there. But I find that HAL is just not in mission mode,โ Singh stated. โI was promised that when I come here in February, 11 Tejas Mk1As would be ready. And not a single one is ready.โ
Adding to the concerns, Singh highlighted that the aircraft showcased at the Aero India 2025 airshow were not true Mk1A jets.
โThe aircraft that you flew, calling it Mk1A. It is not an Mk1A. It cannot happen just by change of one software or by looks. When the weapons come and the capability comes, then itโs a Mk1A,โ he remarked.
Governmentโs Support Versus HALโs Execution
His criticism comes just a day after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh publicly endorsed HALโs Tejas Mk1A production at their facility, where four Mk1A jets were showcased in flight at Aero India. Despite the governmentโs support, the IAF Chiefโs remarks highlight persistent concerns about HALโs ability to meet delivery expectations.
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โMazaa nahi aa raha hai,โ Singh sighed, shaking his head in apparent disappointment.
When HALโs leadership acknowledged his concerns, saying they were โduly notedโ and promising to address the issues, Singh remained unconvinced. He responded, โI will be the happiest person if Iโm proved wrong. I feel that only a few are putting in any effort. Or maybe everyone is putting in effort in their own silos without looking at the overall picture. Something has to change. Some drastic change. This needs a magic wand so everything gets aligned. Itโs high time!โ
Indiaโs Defence Manufacturing
The IAF Chief also addressed media reactions to his earlier remarks on balancing indigenization with import dependence.
โI find it ridiculous how when I say something, the media takes the negative part. I am trying to put across a point. I cannot point a finger, because three fingers are pointing back at me,โ he said.
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His comments highlight the complex and often strained relationship between HAL and its key customer, the IAF. Over the years, HAL has been both criticized and defended, with ongoing debates about its efficiency and monopoly in Indiaโs defense sector.
The IAF Chiefโs remarks underscore the urgent need for better coordination among all stakeholders in Indiaโs defense manufacturing ecosystem. With delays in Tejas Mk1A production and concerns over HALโs efficiency, he stressed that alignment is essentialโfailure is simply not an option.
