In an unusual public disapproval of India's weapons manufacturing ecosystem, Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Amar Preet Singh lamented the delays plaguing the country's defense projects and urged accountability.  

Speaking at a high-profile industry gathering in the capital New Delhi last week, in the presence of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, the air chief declared that contract timelines are routinely unrealistic and questioned the fundamental credibility of delivery promises made by public sector defense companies.

"Many times, we know while signing contracts that those systems will never come. Not a single project that I can think of has been completed on time," said Singh, referring to the agreed deadlines at the time of contract signing.

"Why should we promise something which cannot be achieved?" Singh asked.

While pointing to the changing nature and landscape of warfare  involving drone technology, the air chief urged timely induction of new technologies into the armed forces. 

India aims to overhaul defense ecosystem

For several years, the IAF has faced repeated delays in the delivery of new aircraft, especially the indigenous multirole combat jet Tejas Mk1A. For instance, not a single Tejas Mk1A from the 2021 order has yet been delivered despite repeated assurances of their imminent arrival.

Singh's latest comments come on the heels of recent armed clashes between India and Pakistan, where Indian air force employed manned aircraft alongside drones, enabling deeper incursions into Pakistani airspace.

The aerial confrontation was in response to a deadly attack by Islamist assailants that killed 26 people, mostly Hindu men, in India-administered Kashmir.

New Delhi has accused Pakistan of supporting the attack, a charge Islamabad denies.

During the four days of fierce clashes, reports emerged of aircraft losses and integration challenges.

Pakistan's defense minister claimed three of India's fighter jets had been shot down during the fighting, though this was not independently verified.

India's chief of defense staff told Reuters last week that India suffered losses in the air, but declined to give details.

Defense analysts say India urgently needs boost aircraft production and its modernization efforts to ensure its air force remains combat-ready. However, India's defense procurement system has been chronically bogged down by a complex, multi-stage procedures, frequent changes in requirements, and prolonged negotiations — often leading to projects taking years longer than initially planned.

Plane prototypes arriving too late

Tara Kartha, former member of the National Security Council Secretariat, which sits at the apex of India's national security architecture, flagged the slow pace of procurement which impacts the military's operational readiness.

"Programs like the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and Tejas Mk-2 are still in development, with functional prototypes expected by 2028–2029, which are too slow to address immediate needs," Kartha told DW.

In her reckoning, the systemic changes envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi have not taken off, with the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) still unable to deliver projects on time.

"It is time the defense services have a separate cadre for procurement and development to optimize efficiency and get away from bottlenecks," Kartha underlined.

India looks abroad as Russian jets age out

Former Lieutenant General Deependra Singh Hooda, who handled numerous strategic challenges along the borders with both Pakistan and China, points to evolving threats in the region as the reason for urgency in military procurement and modernization.

"The air chief is absolutely correct. The fighter aircraft fleet has shrunk significantly due to delays in delivery of indigenous fighters," Hooda told DW.

"Some hard decisions now must be taken, including considering foreign buys to ensure that the air force has adequate capability to take on future challenges. Meanwhile, we need to look beyond the public sector units to energize the private sector," he said.

The IAF currently operates 31 combat squadrons, far below its sanctioned strength of 42. Considering a typical squadron has about 18 to 20 aircraft, the shortfall of 11 squadrons would amount to around 200 fighter jets.

This shortfall is due to the retirement of aging aircraft like the MiG-21, MiG-23, and MiG-27 in the 2000s and 2010s without adequate replacement.

The procurement process for the French-made Rafale multirole fighter aircraft has been relatively faster and smoother compared to many other major defense deals but it has still involved significant timelines and strategic considerations.

In 2016, India finally signed a government-to-government deal with France for 36 Rafale jets.

Air power proves crucial

Former Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar pointed out that the IAF's ability to project power, achieve air dominance, and deliver precision strikes proved to be crucial during the recent fighting with Pakistan.

"The events of those 90 hours underscore the pivotal and decisive role of the Indian Air Force. It was the sustained and impactful application of air power, targeting critical enemy infrastructure and capabilities," Nambiar told DW.

"While broader geopolitical considerations and actions by other arms of the military played their part, the offensive air campaign was undoubtedly the principal factor that broke the enemy's will to continue the conflict," he added.

At the same time, the aerial confrontation has also highlighted the growing influence of Chinese military technology, with Pakistan reportedly using the Chinese-made J-10C fighter jet and PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles.

This deployment has drawn global attention, particularly from the US and Western nations, as it signals China's advancing capabilities in air warfare.

Scaling up India's defense manufacturing

Konark Rai, managing director of Rudram Dynamics, a defense startup, said the recent clashes were not just a test of India's armed forces but also a stress test for its defense industry.

"When a war or national emergency hits and mass production is suddenly required, these firms falter. Not for the lack of effort or innovation, but because the system they operate in does not empower them to scale on demand," Rai told DW.

Rai said the time has come for structural reform.

"First, the archaic L1 or lowest bidder system and No Cost No Commitment (NCNC) trials must be rethought," said Rai, referring to a process in defense acquisitions where the government neither bears the cost of trials nor commits to buy the product after the trial.

While admitting due diligence was necessary, Rai pointed out that staging trials without commitment is extremely risky and expensive HE claims the process discourages companies, especially small and medium ones, from contributing to defense procurement. 

"A better approach would be for defense forces to proactively scout technologies across the country in collaboration with local colleges, rather than just with the institutions of national importance," he added.

Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru