Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh questions repeated delays in India’s defense deals, slamming zero delivery on Tejas Mk1A jets and lack of prototypes for AMCA. Calls for urgent reforms in procurement timelines.
A Wake-Up Call from the Skies
Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh sent a stark and uncompromising message to the defense bureaucracy, on May 29th, 2025.
Delhi: At the CII Annual Business Summit (2025), Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh (Air Chief very pragmatic in his demeanor, challenged with a pointed query as he said… “:: ‘Why promise something when things do not arrive on time?..”
Tejas Mk1A: ₹48,000 Crores, Yet Not One Delivered
One of the major missed highlights of an Indigenously built flagship fighter jet program of India was brought to the limelight by the Air Force Chief. ₹48,000 crore contract (at a settlement of ₹620,000 for each aircraft) signed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 83 Tejas Mk1A jets in 2021. Targeted to start by March 2024. Fast forward to mid-2025, and no vehicles have been delivered. It is not only the delay that disappoints but the long history of over-promising and under-delivering on this.
Time Isn’t a Casualty—It’s the Battlefield
Singh No project ever completes on time,the blunt statement. But Tejas wasn’t just a lonely target for his frustration. Tejas Mk2 has not seen a prototype yet and the advanced stealth AMCA fighter continues sitting on the drawing board The problem, he said, was not just over schedule delivery — but a systemic disrespect for timelines that disrupt national security and operational readiness.
Promises Don’t Win Wars—Preparation Does
In Remembering his words, the Air Chief noted “You win wars by arming the armed forces not by getting chains of paper to clear” Absolutely nothing was against him. Such warnings weren’t blamed, they were wake-up calls. He reiterated that India should not wait 10 years for any result as the threats are here in an urgent manner. Today we need it, the shit we need must be delivered today.
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More Than Made in India—Designed in India
The message also posed a challenge to Indian industry: “Don’t just focus on manufacturing—emphasize designing as well,” he urged. True self-reliance isn’t achieved through assembling foreign components; it stems from innovation, trust, and speed. He advocated for stronger collaboration between the military and industry, emphasizing one crucial element: trust.
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The Clock Is Ticking—and So Are the Threats
The summit was far more than an ordinary defense conference. With Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in attendance, Amar Preet Singh issued a stark warning—India must urgently reform its defense procurement system or risk falling behind in aerial capabilities.
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