Aero India 2025 | IAF chief pulls up HAL for 'poor track record' on timely aircraft delivery, says 'agency is not in mission mode'

Bengaluru: Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh has pulled up the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for its poor track record on timely delivery of the aircraft, blaming the agency for not being in the “mission mode”.

“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,” Air Chief Marshal Singh told the top brass of the company.

He made the comments while seated in the cockpit of an intermediate jet trainer that has been renamed as Yashas. A video of his comments has been posted on social media.

“HAL is our own company. We all have worked there. I have worked there. I have also served in HAL as a temporary pilot and, of course, very closely at NFTC (National Flight Test Centre). But I find that we are just not in mission mode. Everything is 'ho jayega,” he said.

The Chief of the Air Staff said he “totally understands” the problems related to the supply of GE engines from the USA for the Tejas LCA Mk-1A, but there are many other unfulfilled promises.

“I was promised, when I come here in February, I will see 11 Mk-1As ready minus the engines. That is what I was promised. But not a single (one) is ready,” he said.

The IAF chief noted it was wrong on the part of the HAL to call it Tejas Mk-1A without having the weapons and other capabilities.

You [have started] calling it Mk-1A. It is not Mk-1A. Mk-1A is after the capability comes in. Then only it is Mk-1A and not by just changing one software to other software. When the weapon comes in, when the capability comes in, then it is Mk-1A,” he said. “Maza nahin aa raha hain.”

Air Chief Marshal Singh said he would be the happiest if proven wrong by the HAL.

The IAF chief’s critical comments come at a time when the force is struggling with depleting squadron numbers. Despite having a sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons of fighter aircraft, the force is currently operating with 31 squadrons, out of which two will be phased out this year.