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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
India Air Chief's comments on delays in major defence projects call for introspection on issues plaguing manufacturing
Speaking on May 29 at the CII's Annual Business Summit in his first public interaction post-Operation Sindoor, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh made several pertinent points about the Indian defence industry. Pointing at perennial delays in every major defence project, he questioned why those involved in developing military hardware, particularly fighter jets, 'promise something which can't be achieved'. Admitting that, although the Indian Air Force (IAF) had been reliant on imported aerial platforms, 'atmanirbharta' was now an imperative. Pointing at the cruciality of air power in contemporary warfare and expeditionary missions, he called upon the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the private sector to take up the challenge. Quoting Winston Churchill, he asked the private sector '…to do a very special thing…(in what could be) their finest hour', invest at least 10 per cent of earnings in R&D, start designing and developing in India, and importantly, honour the contractual commitments given to the Armed Forces. There are a number of reasons why we have lagged in fielding hi-tech weapon systems. First, modern fighter aircraft are complex platforms and require seamless integration and smooth, synergistic functioning of a number of high-performance, cutting-edge technologies. These include incredibly efficient, strong, lightweight, modern jet engines capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, giving high power, great speed, as well as manoeuvrability. This requires advanced metallurgy (including single crystal technology, which just a few nations possess) and tight advanced manufacturing processes. The aircraft must also incorporate 'stealth' to some extent or the other, meaning it should present as small a radar cross-section as possible. This is achieved through an intricate blend of various materials, shapes, and radar-absorbing technologies. The airframe must be strong, manoeuvrable, yet stable. Its avionics, computing, navigation and flight control systems must maximise assistance to the pilot in his mission, while the systems on board should be fully integrated with the various weapons (missiles, guns, guided bombs, etc) for precision delivery. Thereafter, the entire platform must perform flawlessly in an environment replete with radars and anti-aircraft weapons of diverse types. In sum, the complexity of a modern fighter aircraft cannot be overstated, and its indigenous production is directly contingent not only on the availability of cutting-edge/emergent technologies but also on an advanced military-industrial complex. There are four requisites for developing and/or obtaining cutting-edge, future-ready technologies. First, obtain technology through transfer. No original equipment manufacturer/country will transfer technology in which it invested decades of R&D efforts and tons of money to rectify flaws and to finally derive that refined, efficient military platform unless paid huge offsetting amounts. Yet, rather than start R&D from scratch, some cutting-edge technologies should be bought, imbibed and assimilated internally, and then utilised as a threshold point from where to take off. Second, institutions of higher education that produce innovation as well as cerebral, highly-skilled alumni. For this, these institutions should be liberal and free-thinking, not weighed down by political/religious ideologies, and staffed with good faculty. Speaking at the Delhi School of Economics' Diamond Jubilee in August 2014, Gita Gopinath, First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF, had, inter alia, advised that India's education system must be revamped. Yet, the NEP notwithstanding, our education system and curriculum remain archaic. The National Employability Report Engineers Annual Report 2019 stated that a large percentage of engineers did not possess enough skills to work in IT companies. The government's Economic Survey 2024 opines that only 51.25 per cent of India's graduates are deemed employable, pointing at a wide chasm in skills required for the 21st century. Third, provide adequate R&D funding. In 2023, the US spent approximately $784 billion on R&D, China $723 billion, Japan $184 billion, Germany $132 billion, the UK $88 billion, and India $71 billion. Companies like Huawei of China and Apple of US spend billions of dollars on research. In contrast, most Indian industries, operating on thin margins, are faced with a Hobson's choice of maximising profits, expanding into new fields or investing in R&D. They thus need credible R&D funding from the government. Fourth, an advanced, civil-military industrial base. While India has many islands of tech-industrial excellence, for indigenous production of a system as complex as a fighter aircraft, the derived innovations/technologies need to be further developed and then coalesced within an advanced military-industrial base comprising many disciplines with technological cross-overs within those industries. China's state-supported civil-military integration model merits a study in this regard. The critical role of educational institutions, R&D funding and an advanced industrial base in the development of emergent/future-ready technologies is evident from just two reports. One, the 2021 report by the Office of the US Under Secretary of Defence entitled 'A 21st Century Defence Industrial Strategy for America'. This outlines how the US's edge in innovation and manufacturing has declined since the end of the Cold War on account of decreasing innovation, a decline in educational institutions, a paucity of skilled workers, low R&D investments in high-tech, etc. This tends to validate the claim made to the South China Morning Post in October 2024 by Lu Yongxiang, former vice-chairman of the National People's Congress, former president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of expert advisory board for 'Made in China 2025', that China will overtake the US in hi-tech and advanced military manufacturing within a decade as 'overall, the decline of the US manufacturing industry ….become an irreversible trend.' The second is the July 2023 National Security Scorecard by commercial data company Govini. It evaluated 12 technologies critical to national security and found that in all 12, 'the USA is falling behind China in the core science.' Another reason is that militaries, being large, complex organisations and required to function in high-stakes environments with order, efficiency, and coordination, are often very bureaucratic. This stifles innovation and change by promoting a culture of conformity while emphasising adherence to established norms. General Mark Milley, former Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Eric Schmidt, chairman Special Competitive Studies Project, outline in Foreign Affairs (September/October 2024) 'America isn't Ready for Wars of the Future' because it persists with legacy structures, platforms and doctrines, but has yet to incorporate autonomous weapons, military AI, drones, etc. Nearer home, the US began using armed drones (for example, the Predator, Reaper) from 2002 onwards to kill militants/terrorists in Pakistan's west — yet, it took nearly 18 years, that is, the 2020 Armenia-Azerbaijan war, for us to truly appreciate and situate the role of UCAVs in modern warfare. While DRDO picks up some of the best technical brains from India's universities, merely knowing science doesn't automatically translate into advanced, military sub-systems/systems. To truly understand, develop and manufacture such systems, the DRDO also needs scientifically-qualified military personnel with immense combat experience. In contrast, the Indian Navy's in-house WESEE (Weapons & Electronic Systems Engineering Establishment) has achieved far greater technological success and self-reliance. Perhaps, the IAF too needs to look at a WESEE kind of set-up which cooperates comprehensively with the private sector. Presently, the IAF operates 31 combat squadrons against an authorised strength of 42 squadrons, with the 36 4.5-generation Rafale being the most advanced combat jets in its inventory. The air power deficit stands aggravated by an ageing fleet and delays in key indigenous projects, particularly the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), and the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-2, at a time when China already has two variants of fifth-generation fighters in service and is trialling two new sixth-generation fighters, and Pakistan is fast-tracking acquisition of 40 Chinese J-35 stealth fighters. Speaking at the same event as the Air Chief, the DRDO chief Samir Kamat stated that the first prototype of India's indigenous, fifth-generation AMCA will be rolled out by late 2029, with five out by 2031. The words of the Air Chief, therefore, merit attention. It remains to be seen how we refine our education system, inspire innovation, and develop a military-industrial base with coherent manufacturing strategies that function under an empowered bureaucracy with de facto policymaking capabilities, but bereft of political meddling. The writer is a retired Brigadier from the Indian Army
News18
3 days ago
- Business
- News18
Defence Ministry Announces To Reduce Procurement Timelines A Day After IAF Chief Flagged Delays
Last Updated: The Defence Ministry's statement came a day after Air Force Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh raised concerns over delays in major defence procurement projects. The Defence Ministry on Friday said that it has slashed the defence procurement timelines by 69 weeks and is transitioning from cost-plus to competitive pricing models in a bid to to accelerate modernisation and ensure equitable treatment for both public and private sector participants. 'Major reforms in defence procurement are underway. The Ministry of Defence has slashed timelines by 69 weeks and is shifting from cost-plus models to competitive pricing. These steps are designed to accelerate modernisation and bring public & private sectors on equal footing," the ministry said in a post on X. Major reforms in defence procurement are underway. The Ministry of Defence has slashed timelines by 69 weeks and is shifting from cost-plus models to competitive pricing. These steps are designed to accelerate #modernisation and bring public & private sectors on equal footing.…— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) May 30, 2025 The Defence Ministry's statement came a day after Air Force Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh raised concerns over delays in major defence procurement projects. While addressing the CII Annual Business Summit 2025, the Air Marshal emphasised on the need to expedite the defence procurement process and said that the industry should not make promises if it cannot deliver on time. 'So, once a timeline is given, not a single project that I can think of has been completed on time. So this is something we must look at," the Air Force chief said, adding, 'Why should we promise something which cannot be achieved?" he had said. He further added that while signing the contract itself, the forces are sometimes sure that it is not going to come up on time, but still contracts are signed. 'Sometimes we know it's unachievable but sign the contract anyway. We need to be realistic and transparent from the start," he added. The Air Force Chief had further pushed for faster indigenisation and domestic capability under the government's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative. 'We need both capability and capacity. We can't just produce in India – we must design and develop here too. To produce at scale, we need capacity. So, trust and communication between the forces and industry must continue. We need to be open and forthright to ensure the relationship stays strong," he added. Earlier in February, he had expressed dissatisfaction over the delayed delivery of Tejas Mk1A fighter jets by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. 'I was promised that when I come here in February, 11 Tejas Mk1As would be ready. And not a single one is ready. We all have worked there (in HAL). But I find that HAL is just not in mission mode," he had said. First Published:
India Today
3 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Tejas Mk-1A jet delivery deadline missed again: Here's how timeline unfolded
Amid growing concerns over delays in India's indigenous fighter jet programme, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh on Thursday urged the defence industry not to make promises it cannot deliver on time. Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry's Annual Business Summit 2025, the Air Force chief underscored that "timeline is a big issue" — a sharp reminder of the Indian Air Force's mounting frustration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) over the delayed delivery of Tejas Mk-1A fighter three months ago, the IAF chief had publicly voiced concern about the slippage in deadlines. On paper, HAL was to deliver the first of 83 LCA Mk-1A jets by March 31, 2024, under a Rs 48,000 crore deal signed in February 2021. That did not happen.A STALLED TIMELINEThe Tejas Mk-1A — a more advanced variant of the LCA Mk-1 — has faced persistent delays, largely due to late engine deliveries from GE Aerospace and protracted certification processes. The first F404-IN20 engine for the Mk-1A aircraft was delivered only in March 2025, nearly two years behind schedule. The delivery, part of a USD 716 million contract for 99 engines, was hailed as a 'milestone' by GE Aerospace's Combat & Trainer Engines General Manager Shawn Warren, who said it would "ensure a strong future for India's military". But for HAL, it was only the beginning of a race to recover lost PUSH AFTER ENGINE BOTTLENECKSadvertisementFollowing the arrival of the long-awaited engines, HAL has ramped up its production capacity by restructuring its Bengaluru facility and adding a parallel assembly line. The goal now is to deliver at least 16 Tejas Mk-1A jets annually, aiming to complete the 83-aircraft order by Chairman Dr DK Sunil had earlier assured that with engine supplies stabilising, the production of Mk-1A jets would gather pace. "We have now promised that we will have all the Mk-1A structures ready. Once the engines are available, the Mk-1As will start rolling out," he said at Aero India ORDERS IN PIPELINEDespite the initial hiccups, the IAF is gearing up to place a follow-on order for 97 more Mk-1A aircraft, estimated at Rs 67,000 crore, which would bring the total fleet size to 180. In parallel, a mega Rs 1.3 lakh crore deal for 156 Light Combat Helicopters (LCHs) for both the IAF and Indian Army is expected to be finalised within the next six has committed to delivering all 180 Tejas Mk-1A fighters by 2031, with a consolidated production capacity of 16 to 24 aircraft annually beginning delays come at a time when the IAF is retiring ageing aircraft like the MiG-21, MiG-27, and Jaguars, leaving its squadron strength critically depleted. Without the timely induction of Tejas Mk-1A, the gap between required and available fighters continues to widen — raising serious questions about India's aerial combat PANEL FORMEDadvertisementTo address these systemic delays, the Ministry of Defence had constituted a five-member Defence Empowerment Committee led by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The committee recommended a slew of short, medium, and long-term solutions — including involving private players in the LCA production companies are now contributing critical components such as fuselages. Alpha Tocol Engineering Services Pvt Ltd recently handed over the first rear fuselage of the Mk-1A to HAL, with more scheduled to follow. Deliveries of the aircraft will now be streamlined across three separate HAL production lines.
Scroll.in
3 days ago
- Business
- Scroll.in
IAF chief raises concern about delay in defence procurements
Indian Air Force chief Amar Preet Singh on Thursday raised concerns about the delays in several defence acquisition projects and the failure to adhere to delivery schedules for the supply of military platforms, PTI reported. Addressing a Confederation of Indian Industry event, the air chief marshal said that adherence to timelines were a big problem. 'Not a single project that I can think of has been completed on time,' Singh said, adding that the armed forces had refrained from calling a 'black sheep as black sheep'. It was unclear which projects the air force chief was referring to. Noting that this was a matter that had to be looked into, Singh said: 'Why should we promise something which cannot be achieved?' He added: 'While signing the contract itself, sometimes, we are sure that it is not going to come up. But we just sign the contract and see what can be done after that… obviously then the process gets vitiated.' Singh also said that no military operations could be conducted without air power, adding that Operation Sindoor was testimony to that, The Indian Express reported. 'Our focus, as far as air power is concerned, we need to make sure that we have the capability and the capacity,' the air chief marshal said. 'We cannot just talk about producing in India, we need to start designing and developing in India.' The current geopolitical situation 'made us realise that atmanirbharta [self-reliance] is the only solution', the air chief marshal said, adding that Operation Sindoor had given the armed forces a clear idea of where 'we are headed and what we need in the future'. Singh also noted the need to have trust and open communication between the armed forces and the industry, The Indian Express reported. He added that the air force was putting in the maximum possible effort towards the Make in India programme. 'We have to now be ready to be future-ready,' Singh said. 'That is the concern.' While there could be more output from the Indian industry and the Defence Research and Development Organisation over the next 10 years, 'what is required today is required today', the air chief marshal said. Singh's remarks came in the backdrop of a delay in the delivery of 83 Tejas Mk 1A fighter jets by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, The Indian Express reported. The contract for the light combat aircraft had been signed with the state-owned aerospace and defence company in 2021. The air force had also signed a contract with HAL for the delivery of 70 HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft, according to the newspaper. The induction for the aircraft was scheduled to start in September. The statements also came amid tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad, which escalated on May 7 when the Indian military carried out strikes – codenamed Operation Sindoor – on what it claimed were terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The strikes were in response to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which killed 26 persons on April 22.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Defence project delays hit operational readiness: IAF chief
Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh NEW DELHI: Persistent delays in military modernisation projects with unrealistic timelines and unachievable promises adversely impact operational readiness of the armed forces in the long run, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said on Thursday. Speaking at the annual CII business summit, the IAF chief also described the deep precision strikes against terror hubs and military bases in Pakistan from May 7 to 10 under Operation Sindoor as a "national victory" and a testament to the collective efforts of the armed forces, different agencies and all citizens in a "whole-of-nation approach" against cross-border terrorism. "This was an operation executed in a very professional manner by everybody... When truth is on your side, things happen automatically," he said, speaking publicly for the first time about Operation Sindoor. "It has given us clarity on the evolving nature of warfare. It has given the armed forces a clear idea of where we are headed and what we need in the future. New technologies are constantly emerging. We need to realign our thinking accordingly, and it is already underway," he added. The IAF chief's deep anguish at the huge time overruns in domestic defence projects, however, came through in the backdrop of massive delays in production of the indigenous Tejas Mark-1A jets by defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which has left his force grappling with just 30 fighter squadrons when it is authorised to have 42.5, and several other projects. "Timelines are a big issue... Not a single project that I can think of has been completed on time. So, this is something that we have to look at. Why should we promise something that cannot be achieved?" ACM Singh asked. "While signing the contract itself, some of the times we are sure that it is not going to come up. But we just sign the contract. Obviously, then the process gets vitiated," he added. With the private sector increasingly coming into defence production, and the doors for it now being opened even in the development of the indigenous fifth-generation fighter called the advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA), the IAF chief quoted Winston Churchill to exhort industry captains to rise to the occasion. "The AMCA needs to be contemporary when it's built," he said. "If Indian industry can make world-class cars, electronics and civil equipment, why can't it make world-class military gear? Even if it doesn't bring in big profits, let's come together and build a stronger nation," he added. The global situation has made it clear that self-reliance is the only solution for India to meet its military hardware and software needs. "We must be future-ready. Over the next 10 years, we will see more results from Indian industry and DRDO. But what we need today is required today," he said. "We need to act quickly, maybe with fast-track 'Make in India' programmes, to address immediate needs while longer-term design and development continues. We need both capability and capacity. We can't just produce in India - we must design and develop here too. To produce at scale, we need capacity," he added.
