During the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Business Summit, Indian Air Force Chief Marshal A P Singh delivered a blunt message regarding the persistent delays in the country’s defense production and procurement processes. He notably referenced the stalled delivery of Tejas Mk1A fighter jets to underscore the challenges faced in timely defense contracts.
In front of an audience that included Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, he criticized the tendency to make commitments that are rarely met. “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 stated, emphasizing his concerns regarding the effectiveness of current practices in defense procurement.
Singh specifically called attention to the Light Combat Aircraft program, which has encountered significant setbacks. None of the 83 Tejas Mk1A jets ordered under a ₹48,000 crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in February 2021 have been delivered, despite initial plans for deliveries to commence in March 2024. He also mentioned that the prototype for the Tejas Mk2 has yet to be revealed, alongside the absence of a prototype for India’s next-generation stealth fighter, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
The Chief Marshal stressed the urgency of making immediate improvements in production processes, stating, “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 comments reflect a realistic outlook on India’s current defense capability and the necessity of aligning production with operational needs.
This outburst is not an isolated incident; Singh has previously voiced concerns about production delays. Earlier this year, he expressed doubt in HAL’s ability to deliver on time, recalling a prior commitment that 11 Tejas Mk1As would be ready for deployment, a promise that ultimately went unfulfilled. He also highlighted the alarming trend of India lagging behind in defense technology compared to nations like China, attributing this to systemic delays in defense production.
His statements underscore a crucial sentiment within the armed forces regarding India’s defense readiness and the overarching need to synchronize industrial output with the demands of operational effectiveness, particularly in light of the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative aimed at boosting indigenous defense production.
