‘HAL not in mission mode’: Video shows IAF Chief telling Defence PSU

Bengaluru: Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, in a video of his six-minute conversation with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) chairman DK Sunil posted by defence news portal National Defence on Monday, seems unhappy with the state manufacturer.

“You have only 200 aircraft order. I can understand the engine part and dependency. We have just ordered 99…,” said Singh.

Sunil is seen assuring Singh that “no stone will be left unturned”.

“I can only tell you what our requirement and 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,” said Singh.

“HAL is our own company. Even I have worked there…But I find that HAL is just not in mission mode…I was promised that when I come here in February, 11 Tejas Mk1As would be ready. And not a single one is ready,” Singh said, adding, “The aircraft that you flew, calling it Mk1A. It is not Mk1A. It cannot happen just by change of one software or by looks. When the weapons come and the capability comes, then it’s a Mk1A… Mazaa nahi aa raha hai.”

As the HAL team tells him that his words are “duly noted” and they will work on it, the IAF chief is seen saying, “I will be the happiest person if I’m proved wrong. I feel that only a few are putting In any effort. Or maybe everyone is putting in effort in their own silos without looking at the overall picture. Something has to change. Some drastic change. This needs a magic wand so everything gets aligned. It’s high time.”

The IAF chief has earlier, too, expressed similar concerns.

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