'We sign contracts despite knowing it won't come on time': IAF chief flags delays in defence procurement

Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh on Thursday (May 29) flagged delays in the procurement of critical military platforms, stressing that no single project that he can think of has been completed on time.

"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," he said, questioning why unrealistic timelines are promised at the time of contract signing. "Why should we promise something which cannot be achieved?" he said.

His statement comes after he publicly expressed displeasure over the delay in the delivery of Tejas Mk1A fighter jets by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

"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. Why should we promise something which cannot be achieved? While signing the contract itself, sometimes we are sure that it is not going to come up, but we just sign the contract," the Air Force chief said.

"In the next 10 years, the Air Force will require more input from the industry, but we also need to act today and get into quick Make in India programs so that we can achieve the ‘Now Ready’ part of it, while ‘Design in India’ continues to progress in the near future," he added.

'Operation Sindoor has given us a idea of where we are headed & what we need in future': Indian Air Chief Marshal

India's Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh hailed Operation Sindoor as a ‘national victory’, and said all the Indian forces came together to execute it in a very professional manner.

The Air Chief Marshal was was addressing the CII Annual Business Summit, where defence minister Rajnath Singh was also present. He said, “This Operation Sindoor that we've been talking about, it's a national victory. I thank each and every Indian. I am sure, every Indian was looking towards this victory.”

Also Read: 'Talks only on PoK...': India's MEA reiterates its clear message to Pakistan, demands list of terrorists from Islamabad

"Operation Sindoor, as it was told by the Chief of Naval Staff, the character of war is changing. Every day, we are finding new technologies coming in. Operation Sindoor has given us a clear idea of where we are headed and what we need in future. So a lot of work needs to be done in realigning our own thought processes also, which is already going on," he said.

"In future, we will be able to deliver the goods as a nation, and we will be able to achieve our objectives. AMCA- advanced medium combat aircraft has been cleared for even participation by private industry, which is a very big step, and that is the kind of confidence that the nation has in private industry today, and I'm sure this is going to pave the way to bigger things coming in the future," he added.