The Chief of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, has voiced his dissatisfaction with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the company responsible for manufacturing the Tejas fighter jets. His concerns center around the delay in delivering these aircraft.
Expressing his discontent regarding the overdue delivery of the Tejas MK1A fighter jets, he openly stated his lack of trust in HAL. This statement has been captured in a video.
During an inspection at the Aero India Show, he addressed HAL officials, clearly stating his current lack of confidence in the company.
In the video, he mentions, "I can only tell you what our requirements and concerns are. You need to reassure us. At this moment, I do not have confidence in HAL, which is very problematic. Everyone claims it will get done."
He pointed out that the operations don't seem to be in a mission mode. HAL is essentially our own company; we've all worked there. I believe we aren't in mission mode. I was promised that by the time I return in February, we would receive 11 Mk1A jets, but so far, not a single one is ready. It's disappointing. We need significant changes in this system.
In the video, an HAL official can be heard saying, "I can't point fingers because, if I do, there are three pointing back at me. Many issues exist because creating a product takes time and requirements keep evolving."
HAL Responds to Air Chief's Concerns with Assurance
Following the Air Chief Marshal's remarks on the delayed delivery of Tejas jets, HAL has issued a statement. HAL Chairman and Managing Director D.K. Sunil assured, "I want to clarify that the delay in aircraft delivery is not due to laziness or negligence. There were some technical challenges which have been resolved." He acknowledged the validity of the Air Chief's concerns and mentioned that meetings at multiple levels within HAL have taken place, promising that aircraft deliveries will soon proceed.
