Air Chief Marshal expresses serious concerns over delays in defence acquisition projects

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh on Thursday, 29 May, flagged serious concerns over inordinate delays in various defence acquisition projects and failure to stick to delivery schedules for supply of key platforms even as he hailed Operation Sindoor as a "national victory".

In his first public comments following the four-day military clashes between India and Pakistan, the Air Chief Marshal said "not a single project" has been completed on time and that the armed forces have refrained from calling "black sheep as black sheep".

In his remarks at the CII Business Summit, he, however, did not provide specific details of the projects or made any reference to the period since when delays have been impacting the IAF.

Air Chief Marshal Singh, known for his plain speaking, suggested that even a decade back, the IAF was largely looking "outward" for its procurement but that approached changed and it started looking inward for opportunities within India after a "rap on our knuckles".

He emphasised that the current geopolitical situation has "made us realise that Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) is the only solution".

Lauding the armed forces as well as all agencies concerned for the , Air Chief Marshal Singh said: "We were taking the path of truth, I think, God was with us also in this."

Lamenting the delays in implementation of defence projects, the IAF chief said huge delays by the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd in the delivery of Tejas light combat jets have been upsetting.

"Timelines is a big issue; that is where the 'vachan' (commitment) part comes in. Once a timeline is given.. not a single project that I can think of, has been completed on time," he said.

In the context of a nation, he likened the armed forces, the industry, the DRDO and other stakeholders as "links" in a "bigger chain", and said, each one will "have to ensure that we are not a weak link, because of which this chain will break".