An accidental on-camera recording of the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief rebuking the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) by a YouTube channel has created quite a stir at the ongoing Aero India show at the Yelahanka IAF base in Bengaluru.
In the defence news portal NationalDefence video, the IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh is heard telling a few HAL officials in a rebuking tone: “I can only tell you what our requirement and 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 wrong thing to happen.”
The LCA Tejas aircraft | Bhanu Prakash Chandra
“HAL is our company, we have all worked there. But I find that HAL is just not in mission mode,” said the IAF chief. “I was promised that when I come here in February, 11 Tejas Mk1As would be ready. And not a single one is ready.”
HAL is making the long-delayed Tejas LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) for the IAF.
The IAF chief was making the comment while being seated in the cockpit of an aircraft.
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On Monday, HAL posted on X after four Tejas Mk1A aircraft that were put on display: “The LCA Mk1A flew in the inaugural program of ongoing Aero India 2025. Four Mk1A aircraft flew in 'finger four' formation called Yodha formation. The Mk1A second prototype did an amazing aerial display in front of the Raksha Mantri, enthralling the spectators.”
But the IAF chief’s strong comment has taken the thunder away from HAL when he was recorded as also saying: “The aircraft that you flew, calling it Mk1A. It is not Mk1A. It cannot happen just by change of one software or by looks. When the weapons come and the capability comes, then it’s a Mk1A… Mazaa nahi aa raha hai (there’s no fun there).”
