Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh has expressed confidence in India’s indigenous fighter aircraft programmes, highlighting the future importance of the Tejas Mk2 and the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) as the country works to expand its domestic defence aviation capabilities.
Speaking during the ongoing Exercise Veer Guardian 2026 in Jodhpur, Air Chief Marshal Singh said India’s defence aviation industry was poised to reach greater heights with the development of the Tejas Mk2 and AMCA. His remarks come amid continued attention over delays in the delivery of Tejas Mk1A fighter aircraft manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
The Indian Air Force has orders for 180 Tejas Mk1A aircraft under two contracts. Deliveries under the first 83-aircraft contract were originally scheduled to begin in March 2024, but the programme has faced delays linked to supply-chain constraints and pending aircraft-system integration. HAL has said that 27 Tejas Mk1A airframes have been completed, while some remaining technical issues, including radar and weapons integration, need to be resolved before the first aircraft are handed over to the IAF.
The latest comments from the IAF Chief underline that the service continues to view indigenous fighter development as an important part of its long-term modernisation plans. Tejas Mk2 is being developed as a larger and more capable evolution of the Tejas family, while the AMCA programme is intended to provide India with an indigenous fifth-generation fighter capability.
Singh also acknowledged that global supply-chain disruptions have affected some aircraft deliveries. However, he pointed to the broader progress of India’s aerospace sector and the increasing ability of domestic organisations and industry partners to develop and manufacture advanced military platforms.
His remarks followed a significant aviation event during Exercise Veer Guardian, where Singh flew a Tejas fighter alongside Japanese Air Self-Defense Force General Takehiro Morita. The exercise has provided an opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of Indian and Japanese air forces while also highlighting the Tejas platform in an international operational setting.
The IAF Chief’s comments come shortly after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called for greater accountability over delays in critical defence projects. The Defence Minister warned that prolonged delays can create capability gaps, increase costs and raise the risk of technologies becoming outdated before systems are delivered.
Against this backdrop, the continued development of Tejas Mk2 and AMCA remains an important part of India’s effort to strengthen indigenous fighter aircraft capabilities. The programmes are expected to play a major role in the IAF’s future force structure beyond 2030, while the service continues to address immediate requirements associated with Tejas Mk1A deliveries.