Tejas crash raises tough questions for HAL

ANY accident that takes place is tragic, especially when it results in the heart breaking loss of life. The Tejas crash at the Dubai air show on November 21 that took the life of Wg Cdr Namansh Syal has left the IAF fraternity and the nation at large grief-stricken, to say the least. While fighter flying is inherently risky and entails significant challenges, display flying demands even more from those in the cockpit.Pilots who conduct low-level aerobatics and display flying are not only carefully chosen for exceptional skill, professionalism and temperament but also rigorously trained and mentored. While accidents happen — and will continue to take place because of the risks involved — some come at an inflection point that demands critical course correction, not only for the aviators and air forces but also for the nation.The loss sustained by the pilot's family is both profound and irreplaceable and something they would have to deal with for the rest of their lives. The loss of a professional pilot for any air force would take years to overcome.The court of inquiry will get to the root cause of the accident and come out with recommendations and remedial measures and one only has to be patient and wait for its outcome.As the aircraft was indigenously designed, developed and manufactured, it showcased the maturing of India's defence manufacturing capability in more ways than one. The loss of reputation, however, irrespective of the cause of the accident, would be difficult to restore. This is where the Indian defence public sector unit, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), comes in. The onus is on HAL to not only redeem its reputation but also the trust that the nation has reposed in its capability.With the IAF having placed orders for 180 Tejas Mk 1A aircraft after the initial order of 40 Mk1, there is no denying the fact that a large part of the future IAF inventory would comprise this homegrown 4.5 generation fighter aircraft. With the Tejas aircraft coming under scrutiny after this accident, there is a need to differentiate between the aircraft's capability and HAL's production capacity, along with that of the wider ecosystem.Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew the Tejas aircraft in Bengaluru on November 25, 2023, and it was the first time that any Indian PM had flown a fighter aircraft. The present IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, led a formation of three Tejas aircraft to welcome the Luftwaffe Air Chief when he was flying into India in a Eurofighter Typhoon during the multilateral exercise Tarang Shakti in August 2024.With the aircraft having a zero accident rate during its development phase and having flown for eight years post induction into the IAF without any accident, needless to say that the aircraft has had a stellar flight safety record. The only other accident before the present one was in March 2024 during an exercise in which the pilot managed to eject safely. The preliminary findings attributed the accident to an oil system malfunction leading to engine failure. With more than 12,000 flying hours since its first flight in 2001 the Tejas has a robust safety record, with the lowest non-combat losses when compared to other single-engine fighter aircraft development and induction programmes across the world.The contract for the first lot of 83 Tejas Mk 1A aircraft was signed in February 2021 at a cost of Rs 48,000 crore, with the delivery of the first three aircraft in three years and 16 aircraft every year thereafter. According to the scheduled delivery timelines, the IAF by now should have had at least 15-18 Tejas Mk 1A already inducted and flying whereas in reality even the first aircraft has not been delivered.The IAF subsequently signed another contract for 97 additional Tejas Mk 1A in September 2025 at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. While the delay in the delivery of GE F404 engines has been a major cause, there are other issues as well that relate to the integration of the indigenous Uttam radar and the Astra air-to-air missile. HAL has decided to go ahead with the Israeli EL/M-2052 AESA radars on early Mk1A aircraft to avoid further delays.However, the Astra Mk1 missile still faces integration, software compatibility and certification issues that are yet to be resolved. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) made a great platform in the Tejas for HAL to build on and HAL needs to make a great production line to match up with that.While it is good to showcase indigenous fighter aircraft capability in air shows and bilateral and multilateral exercises across the world, the need to campaign for export orders is questionable under the circumstances.With expressions of interest from Malaysia, the Philippines, Egypt and Argentina in the past, it is not surprising that most of these countries have finalised their orders with other manufacturers. HAL has also produced the Dhruv, Advanced Light Helicopter, which has been inducted by the Indian armed forces and the Coast Guard.With more than 380 helicopters produced to date and the Sarang display team of the IAF performing at multiple air shows across the world, exports have been limited to single digits.This has been largely due to safety concerns and competition from other manufacturers globally. While the Indian armed forces will continue to buy what is Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) in the interest of promoting self-reliance or atmanirbharta, to export, one has to be globally competitive.The HAL and the aerospace manufacturing ecosystem in the country are thus at an inflection point wherein all hands on deck will be required to redeem its reputation of being a dependable defence public sector undertaking.

Tejas crash raises tough questions for HAL

India cannot campaign for exports when domestic delivery schedules remain unmet.

Air Vice Marshal Anil Golani Retd

Tejas crash raises tough questions for HAL

India cannot campaign for exports when domestic delivery schedules remain unmet.

Air Vice Marshal Anil Golani Retd

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