In a strikingly candid address, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh has sounded alarm over the persistent delays plaguing India’s defence procurement projects, warning that timelines are routinely missed and contractual commitments often remain unfulfilled.
Speaking at the CII Annual Business Summit, the Indian Air Force chief did not mince words:
“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?”
The Air Chief particularly highlighted delays in indigenous programmes — notably the Tejas Mk1A Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). Despite a ₹48,000 crore contract signed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in February 2021 for 83 jets, not a single aircraft has been delivered as of May 2025, although delivery was supposed to begin in March 2024.
Other critical programmes are also stalled. He noted:
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The prototype of Tejas Mk2 is yet to roll out.
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No physical prototype exists yet for the stealth AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft).
Calling for a dramatic shift in approach, Singh stressed urgency:
“We have to be now-ready to be future-ready… What we need today, we need today. We need to quickly get our act together.”
He underscored the importance of actual design and development capability under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) initiative, stating that the focus must shift from mere production to innovation.
“We cannot just talk about producing in India. We need to talk about designing. We need to have trust between the forces and industry.”
Referencing Operation Sindoor — India’s military response to the deadly April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 — the Air Chief said the operation showed how the “character of war is changing,” with evolving technologies and tactics.
“Operation Sindoor has given us a clear idea of where we are headed… It’s time to realign our thought processes,” Singh said.
India’s retaliation reportedly led to the killing of over 100 terrorists, with intelligence attributing the Pahalgam attack to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and military elements in Pakistan.
In a key move, Singh noted that the AMCA stealth fighter project has now been opened to private industry participation — a signal of growing trust in India’s non-government defence sector:
“That is the kind of confidence the nation has in private industry today.”
This isn’t the first time the Air Chief has publicly raised red flags. In October 2024, soon after taking office, he warned that India had fallen behind China in defence production capabilities. In February 2025, an accidental hot mic moment saw Singh bluntly say, “HAL is just not in mission mode,” during a cockpit inspection of the HJT-36 Yashas.
His repeated concerns reflect the urgent need for India’s defence sector — especially state-run entities — to overhaul production timelines, focus on deliverables, and embrace a mission-oriented approach to secure India’s strategic preparedness.
“Wars are won by empowering our forces,” the Air Chief concluded.
