Air Force Chief AP Singh upset with Tejas manufacturing company, openly expressed displeasure over delay in delivery

New Delhi. IAF i.e. Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh is upset with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the company that makes fighter aircraft Tejas. He also said that he does not trust the company. He has openly expressed displeasure over the delay in delivery of aircraft. However, this is not the first time that the Army Chief has criticized the delay on HAL’s part.

According to the Times of India report, in a video on Monday, Singh said, “You have to address our concerns and reassure us. At this time I do not trust HAL, which is a very bad thing.” He reportedly said about HAL, “I can tell you (HAL) what our needs and concerns are.” There are reports that his statement has created controversy.

According to the report, HAL blames the sanctions imposed after the nuclear test in 1998 for this delay. Regarding the objection raised by the Air Force Chief, HAL CMD DK Sunil said, “Let me tell you. You know that we (India) are facing sanctions after our nuclear test in 1998. In such a situation, we have to prepare things from the beginning. A lot of hard work has gone into it. You cannot blame laziness for the delay.”

He said, “We understand the Air Force Chief’s concern, because the strength of his squadron is decreasing. We promise that we will prepare the structure. Also, we have said this at different levels in many meetings.”

HAL also said on Tuesday that they are confident of delivering 11 Tejas Mk1A aircraft by the end of March. According to the newspaper, the CMD said that HAL is insisting on 80 percent technology transfer to the American company GE. It is paying for the GE-414 engine which powers different variants of Tejas.