The IAF must balance self-reliance in fighter jet production with combat readiness as HAL’s delays raise concerns about India’s defence preparednessread moreThe Indian Air Force (IAF) is at an important stage where it needs to upgrade its fleet while also supporting India’s goal of making its own fighter jets. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Friday spoke about the tough choice between choosing the best-performing aircraft and relying on Indian-made jets. He supports homegrown fighter jets, even though they are better foreign alternatives, because they help India become more self-sufficient in defence. However, he also criticised Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for delays, raising concerns about whether India’s aircraft industry can meet the IAF’s needs on time.AdvertisementBetween self-reliance and combat-readiness?The IAF has supported the growth of India’s defence industry. The reason is simple: using homegrown fighter jets ensures a steady supply of aircraft during long conflicts and reduces reliance on foreign countries for important defence technology. However, choosing Indian-made jets like the Tejas Mk1A comes with trade-offs. These aircraft are easier to maintain, technology transfer is not a hurdle and are cost-effective. The IAF chief, who was speaking at the speaking at the Chanakya Dialogues conclave on the theme of Bharat 2047: Atmanirbhar in War, according to a Moneycontrol report, highlighted the tough challenge of ensuring national security while also maintaining strong combat capabilities.HAL’s persistent delaysThe IAF’s ability to transition smoothly to an indigenous fleet depends heavily on the efficiency of its primary defence manufacturer, HAL. However, Air Chief Marshal Singh’s comments during the Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru earlier this month suggested that HAL’s track record has been less than satisfactory. The production delays in delivering the 83 Tejas Mk1A jets that the IAF ordered in 2021 are a prime example of this problem. The chief’s sharp rebuke—labelling HAL’s approach as the familiar ‘ho jayega’ attitude—reflects the growing frustration within the armed forces over the slow pace of deliveries.HAL’s inefficiencies have had tangible consequences on the IAF’s squadron strength. With the sanctioned squadron strength of 42 still far from being achieved, the delays in Tejas Mk1A deliveries mean that the IAF continues to operate older aircraft, some of which are well past their optimal service life. Given that fighter jets require rigorous maintenance and upgrades to remain operationally effective, the delay in new inductions puts additional strain on the force’s ageing fleet. This raises concerns about whether HAL can deliver on its commitments in a manner that ensures India’s combat readiness is not compromised.The production conundrumFor India to achieve its goal of self-reliance in defence aviation, it must drastically enhance its aircraft production capabilities. The IAF chief’s insistence at the conclave that India needs to produce 35 to 40 military aircraft per year spells out the urgency of scaling up manufacturing. The reality, however, presents significant hurdles. At present, HAL’s production capacity remains constrained with bottlenecks in supply chains and inefficiencies in assembly lines slowing down output. The delays in Tejas Mk1A deliveries have been further exacerbated by disruptions in global supply chains, particularly in sourcing engines from General Electric (GE), which powers the Tejas fighter jets.AdvertisementTo meet its ambitious targets, India must not only improve HAL’s efficiency but also bring in private sector participation. The involvement of private players in defence production has been a recurring recommendation from strategic analysts, who argue that a competitive ecosystem can drive efficiency and innovation. While India has made strides in this direction by allowing private firms to bid for defence contracts, the bulk of production responsibility still rests with HAL, which continues to face criticism for its slow pace of execution.Lessons from global modelsMany leading military powers have successfully managed the balance between indigenous manufacturing and operational effectiveness. The United States, for example, has maintained a robust domestic defence industry while ensuring that its air force always operates cutting-edge technology. The US defence sector benefits from a combination of government-funded research, private-sector competition and stringent accountability mechanisms that drive timely production and high-quality output. Similarly, China has rapidly scaled up its domestic fighter jet programmes by ensuring streamlined production processes and heavy state investment in research and development.AdvertisementIndia, by contrast, continues to face bureaucratic hurdles in its defence manufacturing sector. The repeated delays in HAL’s production lines coupled with its over-reliance on foreign components indicate that India’s defence industry is still far from self-sufficient. Without addressing these structural deficiencies, the push for self-reliance may end up compromising the IAF’s operational preparedness rather than strengthening it.Gap between vision and realityThe IAF’s backing of indigenous jets is rooted in a long-term vision of strategic autonomy. However, for this vision to materialise without weakening India’s air power, HAL and other defence manufacturers need to improve their production performance. Efficiency, accountability and adherence to timelines need to become non-negotiable principles in defence production.AdvertisementThe IAF’s dilemma between homegrown jets and high-performance alternatives is emblematic of the broader challenges India faces in its quest for defence self-sufficiency. While the push for indigenous manufacturing is a strategic necessity, it cannot come at the cost of combat readiness. The IAF chief’s concerns about HAL’s delays highlight the urgent need for reforms in India’s defence production ecosystem. Without addressing inefficiencies, improving manufacturing capacity and ensuring strict adherence to timelines, the dream of a fully indigenous fighter fleet will remain just that—a dream.More from India
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