Ex-IAF vice-chief says 4.5-gen Tejas may not have relevance in 2030s
Former IAF vice-chief Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor has criticized the significant delays in the delivery of the indigenous Tejas Mk1A fighter jets. He expressed skepticism regarding the operational relevance of the Tejas Mk2 by the 2030s, given the rapid advancement of Chinese fifth-generation fighter fleets.
Why it matters
The critique highlights critical gaps in India's defense procurement and indigenous manufacturing capabilities, raising concerns about national security readiness against regional rivals.
NEW DELHI: Less than two months after retirement as the IAF's vice chief, Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor (Retd) has slammed the delay in the delivery of Tejas (LCA) fighter jet by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to the air force, saying, “why must it be that a machine that was promised to us so many years back with a certain set of capabilities continues to be denied to us on one pretext or the other”.In an interview to NDTV, the IAF veteran said, “Why must we be hamstrung because someone somewhere has not been able to keep their promises?”The delivery of the indigenous LCA Tejas Mk1A jets by HAL to the IAF has faced multi-year delays, primarily caused by late supplies of F404-IN20 engines by American GE company, complex mission software validation, and stringent operational requirements set by the IAF.When asked if advanced Tejas Mk-2 may be operationally relevant when it starts…
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