IAF Chief speaks out: 'Contracts done, but systems never came in time'

Voicing his displeasure over delays in the completion of key defence procurement projects, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh on Thursday (May 29) said that on several occasions, he was sure that the equipment would not be delivered even after signing a contract.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) chief went a step further, saying that completion of projects was a “big issue,” adding that he was unable to recall a single project that was completed in time. Voicing concern over “unrealistic timelines” declared during the contract signing of major defence projects, the IAF chief, as quoted in media reports, said, “Why should we promise certain things that cannot be achieved.”

Delay in LCA project

Citing delays in the completion of multiple major defence projects, especially concerning indigenous weapon systems, such as the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme, Singh said that the deliveries of the Tejas Mk1A combat jet are yet to start even though the project is covered under an Rs 48,000 crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

He pointed out that the contract for the project was signed back in February 2021 and despite the fact that delivery was initially scheduled to start in March 2024, not even one of the 83 fighter aircraft ordered has been delivered so far.

Talking at an official function, he also said that while the prototype of the Tejas Mk2 was yet to roll out, any prototype of the proposed stealth Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is yet to see the light of day.

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Must deliver after committing

Speaking at the CII Annual Business Summit in Delhi, reportedly in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the IAF chief said that India cannot just keep itself limited to discussions of producing in the country, but also need to think about designing.

“We need to be very open. Once we have committed to something, we should deliver. Air Force is trying to do its best to make in India," he said as quoted by NDTV.

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Lauds Operation Sindoor

Emphasising that the military needs to be “future ready”, the IAF chief said that the output from the industry will increase in the next 10 years, adding “But what we need today, we need today.” He said that wars are won by “empowering” the armed forces.

Hailing Operation Sindoor as a “national victory”, Singh said that the armed forces executed it together in a very professional manner.

“This Operation Sindoor that we've been talking about, it's a national victory. I thank each and every Indian. I am sure, every Indian wanted....was looking towards this victory," the IAF chief said.

With Agency inputs