IAF Chief On Tejas Delivery Delay: HAL Limitations Demand Private Sector Support

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, the Indian Air Force chief, highlighted concerns over the delayed delivery of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) during a press conference on Friday. He emphasized the need to involve private players to address production delays, as HAL's current output falls short of the required 24 aircraft per year. Singh also pointed out China's rapid infrastructure development along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), while stressing that India is similarly upgrading its border infrastructure. He further stressed the importance of indigenous weapons systems, envisioning an entirely domestically produced Air Force inventory by 2047 to bolster national security.