ibn sultan
New Delhi: Highlighting the importance of speeding up the defence procurement process, Air Force Chief Amar Preet Singh urged the industry not to make promises it cannot deliver on time. Speaking at the CII Annual Business Summit 2025, the Air Force Chief admitted that “timeline is a big issue.”
His remarks came nearly three months 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.
He also stressed the changing nature and landscape of warfare with the advent of drone technology and highlighted the need for timely induction of new technologies into the Armed Forces.
“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.
He further highlighted how technology is making significant advances in modern warfare, citing Operation Sindoor as a clear indicator of the future direction and requirements.
The clearance of Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) for participation by private companies marks a significant milestone and demonstrates the government’s confidence in the private sector, paving the way for greater industry involvement in defence projects.
As the Indian-made air defence system, drones and missiles stole the show during the four-day conflict with Pakistan, Singh stressed the importance of being self-dependent, saying, “The current situation in the world has made us realise that Aatmanirbharta is the key, and we need to be focus on our own defence platforms for our needs.”(India Today)
