Yasser76
Elite Member
Guess when you retire you can speak your mind. This is very damning. Now watch usual suspects on here try and questions the credibility of a Air Marshal
Amid mounting concerns over the delayed induction of the Tejas Mk1A fighter jets, Retired Air Marshal Diptendu Choudhury has issued a stern critique of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
He stressed that the state-owned Maharatna company must prioritise India's national security requirements above its commercial goals and profit margins.
In a recent interaction ahead of Air Force Day, the former senior officer stated that the aerospace manufacturer has severely damaged its credibility with its primary customer, the Indian Air Force (IAF).
To restore this vital trust, Choudhury noted that HAL must strictly adhere to its delivery commitments and significantly revamp its manufacturing capabilities.
The IAF's frustration is growing as it awaits the much-needed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A. Despite sealing a deal for 83 of these advanced jets in February 2021, HAL missed the initial delivery target set for March 2024.
Furthermore, an additional contract for 97 units was inked in September 2025, bringing the total order book to 180 aircraft.
This prolonged wait is particularly alarming given the IAF's depleting combat fleet.
Addressing the critical shortfall, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh recently highlighted that the Air Force must induct between 36 and 40 new fighter jets annually over the coming years just to maintain operational readiness and halt the continuous decline in squadron numbers.
Questioning HAL's operational strategies, Choudhury noted that the firm's existing production rate is entirely inadequate for the sheer scale of its massive order book.
He also expressed strong reservations about HAL's tendency to request the IAF to accept aircraft with operational concessions—a practice where incomplete jets are delivered with a promise to integrate pending capabilities at a later date.
Highlighting the core mandate of a state-run defence enterprise, Choudhury asserted that safeguarding national airspace should always supersede revenue generation.
Furthermore, he pointed out that HAL's aspirations to export indigenous platforms internationally will remain unfulfilled if its domestic buyer remains dissatisfied.
A truly successful global sales pitch, he argued, requires the enthusiastic endorsement of the IAF.
On its part, HAL has attributed the manufacturing bottlenecks primarily to global supply chain disruptions, specifically the delayed delivery of F404 engines from American firm GE Aerospace.
However, open-source reports and defence analysts indicate that engine shortages are not the sole hurdle.
The programme is also grappling with critical internal challenges, including unresolved integration work related to the aircraft's radar systems, electronic warfare (EW) suites, and weapon control mechanisms.
Moving forward, the IAF leadership has strongly urged for accelerated domestic production and capability enhancements.
For HAL, the immediate challenge is to resolve all pending system integrations, achieve final acceptance, and present a realistic, binding delivery timeline.
Ultimately, the successful execution of the Tejas programme will determine whether India's domestic defence industry can step up to produce advanced hardware at the scale and speed required to secure the nation's skies.
defence.in
HAL Must Prioritise Tejas Mk1A Deliveries Over Commercial Profits to Regain IAF Trust, Warns Ex-Air Marshal
- Thread starterRaj Basu
- Start dateWednesday at 10:54 PM
- Featured News
Amid mounting concerns over the delayed induction of the Tejas Mk1A fighter jets, Retired Air Marshal Diptendu Choudhury has issued a stern critique of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
He stressed that the state-owned Maharatna company must prioritise India's national security requirements above its commercial goals and profit margins.
In a recent interaction ahead of Air Force Day, the former senior officer stated that the aerospace manufacturer has severely damaged its credibility with its primary customer, the Indian Air Force (IAF).
To restore this vital trust, Choudhury noted that HAL must strictly adhere to its delivery commitments and significantly revamp its manufacturing capabilities.
The IAF's frustration is growing as it awaits the much-needed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A. Despite sealing a deal for 83 of these advanced jets in February 2021, HAL missed the initial delivery target set for March 2024.
Furthermore, an additional contract for 97 units was inked in September 2025, bringing the total order book to 180 aircraft.
This prolonged wait is particularly alarming given the IAF's depleting combat fleet.
Addressing the critical shortfall, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh recently highlighted that the Air Force must induct between 36 and 40 new fighter jets annually over the coming years just to maintain operational readiness and halt the continuous decline in squadron numbers.
Questioning HAL's operational strategies, Choudhury noted that the firm's existing production rate is entirely inadequate for the sheer scale of its massive order book.
He also expressed strong reservations about HAL's tendency to request the IAF to accept aircraft with operational concessions—a practice where incomplete jets are delivered with a promise to integrate pending capabilities at a later date.
Highlighting the core mandate of a state-run defence enterprise, Choudhury asserted that safeguarding national airspace should always supersede revenue generation.
Furthermore, he pointed out that HAL's aspirations to export indigenous platforms internationally will remain unfulfilled if its domestic buyer remains dissatisfied.
A truly successful global sales pitch, he argued, requires the enthusiastic endorsement of the IAF.
On its part, HAL has attributed the manufacturing bottlenecks primarily to global supply chain disruptions, specifically the delayed delivery of F404 engines from American firm GE Aerospace.
However, open-source reports and defence analysts indicate that engine shortages are not the sole hurdle.
The programme is also grappling with critical internal challenges, including unresolved integration work related to the aircraft's radar systems, electronic warfare (EW) suites, and weapon control mechanisms.
Moving forward, the IAF leadership has strongly urged for accelerated domestic production and capability enhancements.
For HAL, the immediate challenge is to resolve all pending system integrations, achieve final acceptance, and present a realistic, binding delivery timeline.
Ultimately, the successful execution of the Tejas programme will determine whether India's domestic defence industry can step up to produce advanced hardware at the scale and speed required to secure the nation's skies.
HAL Must Prioritise Tejas Mk1A Deliveries Over Commercial Profits to Regain IAF Trust, Warns Ex-Air Marshal
Amid mounting concerns over the delayed induction of the Tejas Mk1A fighter jets, Retired Air Marshal Diptendu Choudhury has issued a stern critique of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). He...
defence.in
