Bengaluru: The Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, on Monday did not seem happy with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) over the delay in delivering the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark 1A. During the ongoing Arero India 2025, Air Chief Marshal Singh Singh told HAL officials that he had no confidence in the state-run company as it failed to meet the critical requirements of the force. A video of the conversation between the Chief of Air Staff and the HAL officials also surfaced online.

"I can only tell you our requirements and what our worries are. You have to alleviate those worries and make us more confident. At the moment, I am just not confident of HAL, which is a very wrong thing to happen," Air Chief Marshal Singh told the HAL officials.

Here Is The Video:

"Everything is [driven by] ‘ho jayega’ (will happen) and ‘karenge’ (we will do it) !” Singh is heard saying in the clip shot," The Chief of Air Staff could be heard saying. He further added that he would be the happiest person if the HAL proved him wrong. Notably, the video of the conversation surfaced on Tuesday.

Notably, the delay in the delivery of the LCA Mk 1A could hamper the combat effectiveness of the IAF. The force has ordered 83 Mk-1A fighters for Rs 48,000 crore in February 2021. The IAF is reportedly planning to buy more 97 Mark 1As at the cost of Rs 67,000 crore. Notably, the HAl had promised to deliver the first aircraft to the IAF by March last year. However, due to the inability of the US firm GE Aerospace to supply the F404 engines on time and some other key delays the HAL failed to deliver the first aircraft.

"I was promised when I come here in February that I will see 11 Mk-1As ready minus the engines. That is what I was promised. Not a single [fighter] is ready... You calling it Mk-1A. It is not Mk-1A. Mk-1A is after the capability comes in. Then only it is Mk-1A. (Not) just by change of one software to other software...the weapon comes in, when the capability comes in, then it is Mk-1A. But ‘maza nahi aa raha hai’ (it’s not working out ) ,” the air chief could be heard saying in the video.

Notably, four Mk-1As performed in the inaugural flypast at the airshow t the Yelahanka airbase in Bengaluru. However, the critical trials are yet to begin, which includes testing of the indigenous Astra beyond-visual-range missile and other weaponry.

"HAL is our own company. We all have worked there. I have also served in HAL as a temporary pilot...But I find that we are just not in mission mode," the Chief of Staff told the HAL officials.

When one of the HAL officials assured the Chief of Air Staff to meet the deadline, he said, "Please... I am an outsider in your system. In your system, I am nobody...I feel only a few are putting in effort or may be everyone is putting effort in their own silo and that the overall things are not working out."

"I don’t know what. Something has to change. Something drastic has to change...And I find it ridiculous that when I say something, the media take the negative part of it," Air Chief Marshal Singh added.

The Aero India 2025 is currently underway at the Yehalanka Airbase in Bengaluru. The mega-defence event will conclude on February 14.