In this episode of Global Order, I speak to Hindol Sengupta. He breaks down the strategic importance of India’s indigenous HAL Tejas fighter aircraft in the wake of the recent Tejas crash at the Dubai Airshow 2025, an incident that tragically claimed the life of an Indian Air Force pilot, Wing Commander Namansh Syal. The discussion explores how such setbacks impact India’s defence aspirations and export efforts, while emphasizing why Tejas remains central to the modernization of the Indian Air Force. Despite accidents being part of the aviation development process, I highlight the rigorous testing Tejas has undergone, the internal evaluations underway, and HAL’s commitment to learning and improving from every challenge. I also discuss how decades of technology denial propelled India’s push for indigenous defence manufacturing, the operational significance of Tejas for decades to come, and why building sovereign capabilities, especially in engine manufacturing, is more crucial than ever.
https://youtu.be/1HailQfocJE?si=u0rBfnHWzlGPRORT
