Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh's recent remarks on delays in defence procurement have sent ripples through India's defence establishment and industry. Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Business Summit on Thursday, May 29, 2025, the Air Chief voiced strong concerns over the persistent failure to meet delivery deadlines in defence projects, reigniting a long-standing debate about the efficiency and accountability of India's defence sector.
The Air Chief did not mince words. He stated plainly that "not a single project that I can think of has been completed on time," questioning why unrealistic timelines are promised at the time of contract signing. He went on to say that many times, while signing contracts, stakeholders are aware that the systems will never come. This candid assessment points to a systemic issue plaguing India's defence acquisitions, where commitments are made without a realistic assessment of feasibility.
While the Air Chief Marshal didn't identify specific projects, it was clear that he was referring to the delays with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in delivering the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). A contract for 83 Tejas Mk1A fighter jets, worth ₹48,000 crore, was signed in February 2021, with deliveries scheduled to begin in March 2024. As of today, not a single aircraft has been delivered. The delay has been attributed to the late supply of engines from General Electric. He had previously expressed his eroding confidence in HAL's ability to address these delays during a visit to the facility in February, where he noted that none of the promised 11 Tejas Mk1A aircraft were ready.
These delays, according to the Air Chief, not only affect capacity building but also impact the broader strategic posture of the armed forces. They also affect other projects, such as the Tejas Mk2 prototype and the stealth AMCA fighter. He stressed the need to move beyond simply manufacturing defence systems in India and focus on indigenous design and development. The Air Chief highlighted the importance of trust between the armed forces and the Indian industry to foster design and development within India.
Air Chief Marshal Singh also touched upon a culture of restraint within the defence forces, where underperformance is often not explicitly called out. He cautioned that this restraint cannot continue indefinitely, signaling a shift towards greater transparency and accountability. He urged the private sector to seize the pivotal moment and play a greater role in defence production under the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative.
The Air Chief's concerns come at a time when India is increasingly looking to the private sector to play a larger role in defence production. To enhance indigenous defence manufacturing, Air Chief Marshal Singh said that India needs to boost trust between the armed forces and the industry. He said that there needs to be open communication between the two, so the relationship does not break down. He also said that the current geopolitical situation has made India realize that self-reliance is the only solution.
