Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh on Monday, February 10, expressed dissatisfaction with state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) over its failure to meet delivery timelines for aircraft, stating that the agency is not operating in mission mode. His remarks come amid growing concerns over the IAF's depleting squadron strength and delays in critical defence projects.
“I was promised that when I come here in February, 11 Tejas Mk1As would be ready. And not a single one is ready. Everything is [driven by] 'ho jayega' (will happen),” Singh remarked.
The IAF chief, seated in the cockpit of the locally manufactured Hindustan Jet Trainer (HJT-36), engaged in a discussion with a group of HAL officials. The aircraft, originally named Sitara, was rebranded as Yashas after extensive modifications resolved longstanding issues. A video of the conversation went viral on social media.
Singh, who has previously worked with HAL as a temporary pilot, and at the National Flight Test Centre (NFTC), said that the company lacks urgency. “HAL is our company, we have all worked there. But I find that HAL is just not in mission mode,” he noted.
The Tejas Mk1A is an advanced variant of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), India's indigenous single-engine, multi-role fighter jet developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with HAL.
"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, very wrong thing to happen," Singh said.
The Chief further said that an Mk1A cannot be made just by changing software of external looks. He explained that it is the capability that marks an Mk1A.
“I would be the happiest person if 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. It’s high time,” he added.
Meanwhile, HAL Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) DK Sunil cited supply chain disruptions caused by General Electric (GE) as a primary factor behind the delays. He said that the US-based engine manufacturer had now resolved its production issues and would supply 12 F-404 engines for the LCA Mk1A this year.
“GE has stabilised its manufacturing process for the F404 engines. We have already made three aircraft, and by the end of this year, 11 will be manufactured. As the engines start coming in, our delivery to the IAF will start,” Sunil assured during a press briefing at Aero India.
HAL has committed to delivering 180 Tejas Mk1A aircraft by 2031-32, maintaining that the project is still on track. The company has also ramped up its production capacity to manufacture 24 Tejas Mk1A aircraft per year.
The IAF chief’s criticism comes at a critical juncture, as the force is grappling with a shortage of fighter squadrons. Against a sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons, the IAF is currently operating with only 31, two of which are set to be phased out this year.
According to reports, the Defence Ministry signed a contract with HAL in 2021 for 83 Tejas Mk1 aircraft—73 fighters and 10 trainers—for Rs 45,696 crore. As part of this deal, GE was to supply 99 engines. However, delivery setbacks have slowed production.
Additionally, the Ministry issued a fresh tender last year to procure 97 more Tejas LCA jets at an estimated cost of Rs 65,000 crore. This contract, along with another for 156 Light Combat Helicopters (Prachanda), is expected to be finalised in the next three to six months, adding Rs 1.2 lakh crore to HAL’s order book.
HAL is also engaged in discussions with GE for the supply of advanced GE 414 engines for the LCA Mk2 and the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The negotiations currently focus on increasing the technology transfer component to 80% from the initial US offer of 58%.
“There are certain technologies where they have agreed to provide the processes, but we need the drawings. Once the discussions on technology transfer are over, we will proceed to financial negotiations,” Sunil said.
On the AMCA program, Sunil said that the indigenous fifth-generation fighter is progressing as planned. “The design of AMCA is nearly complete, and we are now moving into the prototyping phase. We are working closely with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), and we expect the first flight by early 2028. Testing will follow thereafter,” he said. The aircraft is slated to enter production by 2034.