After Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal A.P. Singh expressed dissatisfaction over the failure of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to ensure timely delivery of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fighter jets to the IAF, HAL said while the concern of the force is understandable, the delay in delivery cannot be attributed to "laziness."
#WATCH | Aero India 2025 | Bengaluru: Indian Air Force LCA Tejas Mark 1A performs manoeuvres in the sky as spectators look on.
— ANI (@ANI) February 10, 2025
Source: ANI/ Aero India pic.twitter.com/1eEQChLsvZ
A video in which the IAF chief, who had raised the issue of delay in delivery earlier as well, is heard telling a few HAL officials that he can only tell them what the requirements and worries of the force are and it is upto them to alleviate those had gone viral.
"At the moment I am just not confident of HAL, which is a very wrong thing to happen," he was heard saying, adding, "I was promised that when I come here in February, 11 Tejas Mk1As would be ready. And not a single one is ready.”
READ MORE: Video of IAF chief rebuking HAL officials at Aero India goes viral
The IAF chief rued that he found that HAL is just not in mission mode.
HAL assured that it will soon start delivering the fighter jets to the Indian Air Force as the technical difficulties are resolved.
HAL Chairman and Managing Director D.K. Sunil said, "The delay is not simply attributable to just I would say laziness on the part of the industry."
"There have been technical issues which have got sorted out. The concern of the Air Chief is understandable," Sunil told the reporters on the sidelines of the ongoing Aero India show in Bengaluru.
He said meetings have been held at different levels and HAL and the company would soon be delivering the aircraft.
"We have now promised that we will have all the structures ready. We have conveyed this. We have had multiple meetings at different levels. We are building this. And once the engines are available, this will start rolling out. I think the concern is well understood. There is no doubt on that and as a team, all of us are focused...we will start delivering the aircraft," he said.
