India’s Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh has voiced serious concerns over persistent delays in major defence procurement projects, particularly those involving indigenous systems.
Speaking candidly at an official event, the Air Chief criticised the systemic issues plaguing defence manufacturing timelines, stating, “Many times, we know while signing contracts that those systems will never come. Timelines are a big issue. Not a single project I can think of is completed on time. Why should we promise something that cannot be achieved?”
He specifically cited the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme, noting that despite the Indian Air Force signing a ₹48,000 crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in February 2021 for 83 Tejas Mk1A fighter jets, not a single aircraft has been delivered. According to the original plan, deliveries were to begin in March 2024, but the project remains stalled. Singh added that the delays are not limited to the Mk1A variant.
“Deliveries of Tejas Mk1 are delayed. The prototype of Tejas Mk2 is yet to roll out. There is no prototype yet of the stealth AMCA fighter,” he said while addressing the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Business Summit, an event also attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
His comments reflect growing frustration within the Indian Air Force over missed deadlines and unmet promises, even as the country emphasises the importance of domestic defence production under the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative. Singh argued that India must move beyond slogans and embrace genuine capability-building.
“We cannot just talk about producing in India, we need to talk about designing. We need to have trust between the forces and industry. We need to be very open. Once we have committed to something, we should deliver. Air Force is trying to do its best to make in India.”
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He underscored the urgency of improving readiness, warning that future security depends on present-day capabilities. “We have to be now-ready to be future-ready. In 10 years, we will have more output from industry, but what we need today, we need today. We need to quickly get our act together. Wars are won by empowering our forces.”
His remarks come just days after the conclusion of Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7 in response to the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed 26 lives. Indian intelligence has attributed the attack to Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba and linked its execution to elements within Pakistan’s military establishment. Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory military campaign, resulted in the elimination of over 100 terrorists and drew global attention for its speed and precision.
Referring to the operation, Air Chief Marshal Singh stressed the importance of adapting to emerging challenges and technologies. He noted how the nature of warfare is changing rapidly. “Operation Sindoor, as it was told by the Chief of Naval Staff, the character of war is changing. Every day, we are finding new technologies coming in. Operation Sindoor has given us a clear idea of where we are headed and what we need in future. So a lot of work needs to be done in realigning our own thought processes also, which is already going on.”
He also highlighted a major policy shift involving the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. “In future, we will be able to deliver the goods as a nation, and we will be able to achieve our objectives. AMCA—Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft—has been cleared for even participation by private industry, which is a very big step, and that is the kind of confidence that the nation has in private industry today, and I’m sure this is going to pave the way to bigger things coming in the future.”
This is not the first time Singh has spoken out about the challenges facing India’s defence production ecosystem. Shortly after assuming office in October last year, he publicly remarked that India had once been ahead of China in military technology but had since fallen behind. “As far as production rates are concerned, we are way behind. We need to catch up,” he said.
More controversy followed in February this year, when an accidental microphone recording captured him expressing dissatisfaction with HAL’s performance. Seated inside a HJT-36 Yashas aircraft, he was heard saying, “I can tell you what our requirements and worries are. I was promised that when I come here in February, 11 Tejas Mk1As would be ready. And not a single one is ready. We all have worked there (in HAL). But I find that HAL is just not in mission mode.”
Singh’s continued candour has spotlighted the growing urgency within India’s defence leadership to see faster, more reliable delivery of systems essential to national security. His remarks reflect not only the operational needs of the Indian Air Force but also a broader push for accountability and agility in India’s strategic manufacturing capabilities.
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