Air Chief Marshal AP Singh (X/@ItsShubhangi)
Bengaluru: The Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, on Monday voiced his disappointment over Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) failure to meet the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) critical requirements, particularly regarding the delayed delivery of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark 1A. Speaking at the ongoing Aero India 2025 event, he expressed his lack of confidence in the state-run aerospace giant, stating that the company had yet to alleviate the concerns of the force.
"I can only tell you our requirements and what 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," he told HAL officials in a conversation that was captured on video and later surfaced online.
"Maza nehi aa raha," Indian Air Force Chief tells HAL executives that he is not confident of HAL.
— Shubhangi Sharma (@ItsShubhangi) February 11, 2025
A very concerning exchange over delayed Tejas Mk1A jets. Hope something constructive comes out of these events. High time for entry of private players. pic.twitter.com/VS3dDSxrgL
Highlighting his concerns, the Air Chief Marshal remarked, "Everything is [driven by] ‘ho jayega’ (will happen) and ‘karenge’ (we will do it)!” expressing his frustration over unkept promises. He added that he would be the happiest person if HAL proved him wrong.
The delay in delivering the LCA Mk 1A poses a significant challenge to the IAF's combat capabilities. The force had placed an order for 83 Mk-1A fighters in February 2021 for ₹48,000 crore, with plans to procure an additional 97 at ₹67,000 crore. HAL had initially committed to delivering the first aircraft by March last year, but supply chain issues, including delays in receiving F404 engines from US-based GE Aerospace, have hindered progress.
"I was promised when I come here in February that I will see 11 Mk-1As ready minus the engines. That is what I was promised. Not a single [fighter] is ready... You calling it Mk-1A. It is not Mk-1A. Mk-1A is after the capability comes in. Then only it is Mk-1A. (Not) just by change of one software to other software...the weapon comes in, when the capability comes in, then it is Mk-1A. But ‘maza nahi aa raha hai’ (it’s not working out)," Singh stated, underscoring his dissatisfaction.
Despite the setbacks, four Mk-1As participated in the inaugural flypast at the Yelahanka airbase during Aero India 2025. However, critical trials, including the integration of the indigenous Astra beyond-visual-range missile, remain pending.
"HAL is our own company. We all have worked there. I have also served in HAL as a temporary pilot...But I find that we are just not in mission mode," Singh remarked.
When an HAL official assured him of meeting the deadline, he responded, "Please... I am an outsider in your system. In your system, I am nobody... I feel only a few are putting in effort or maybe everyone is putting effort in their own silo and that the overall things are not working out."
Expressing the need for urgent reform, he added, "I don’t know what. Something has to change. Something drastic has to change... And I find it ridiculous that when I say something, the media take the negative part of it."
Aero India 2025, one of the country’s largest defense events, is currently taking place at the Yelahanka Airbase in Bengaluru and will conclude on February 14.
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