The Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, expressed dissatisfaction over the protracted delay in the delivery of Tejas fighter jets, warning that technological delays are tantamount to technological denial.
He voiced concerns as China demonstrated its sixth-generation stealth aircraft, a milestone no other nation has reached.
Speaking at the 21st Subroto Mukerjee Seminar, Singh criticised the sluggish production pace, lamenting that the IAF has not yet received the first batch of 40 Tejas jets ordered in 2009-2010.
“We should go back to 1984, when we conceived that aircraft. The first aircraft flew in 2001, 17 years later. The induction started another 15 years later, in 2016. Today, we are in 2024. I do not have the first 40 aircraft also, so this is the production capability,” he said, stressing, “Technology delayed is technology denied.”
The Tejas, a light combat aircraft developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), is intended to replace the ageing Mig-21 fleet, often dubbed the "flying coffin" due to its high crash rate.
China’s military advances
The Air Chief Marshal’s concerns were heightened by China’s unveiling of two sixth-generation stealth combat aircraft. “As far as China is concerned, it is not just the numbers; even the technology is growing at a very rapid pace. We just saw the recent flight of the new generation fighter that they have pulled out,” Singh remarked.
India, meanwhile, is yet to finalise its fifth-generation fighter jet, which remains in the design and development phase. The Cabinet approved the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme only in March last year.
China’s advancements come as the IAF grapples with a significant shortfall in fighter squadrons. Against a sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons, the IAF currently operates only 30, with each squadron consisting of 18 aircraft.
Call for production overhaul
Highlighting the urgency to ramp up production, Singh cited the need to involve private players to inject competition and efficiency into the manufacturing process.
“I am very convinced that we need to get some private players in. We need to have competition. We need to have multiple sources available so that people are wary of losing their orders. Otherwise, things will not change,” he asserted.
Singh called upon production agencies to adopt advanced manufacturing processes, emphasising that the existing system is incapable of meeting the IAF’s demands.
Modernisation imperative
The IAF Chief’s remarks resonate amid a critical phase of modernisation for India’s defence forces. The delay in Tejas deliveries hampers the IAF’s preparedness, especially against the backdrop of adversaries like China investing heavily in air power.
India’s defence experts have often pointed to HAL’s limited capacity as a bottleneck in the production of indigenous fighter jets. Despite the Tejas programme’s initial success, its prolonged timelines have drawn criticism from multiple quarters.
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