India's ₹15,000 crore Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program has surprisingly excluded state-run HAL from its initial manufacturing shortlist. Private firms like Tata, L&T, and Bharat Forge are now being considered. This marks a significant policy shift to involve the private sector in developing India's fifth-generation stealth fighter, aiming for efficiency and diversified defense manufacturing, though HAL may join later.
My article in Hindi. Also available in English, please see the ThePrint website. HAL पर टिकी भारत की रक्षा व्यवस्था. शुरुआत सबसे कमजोर कड़ी से होनी चाहिए—ह्यूमन रिसोर्स
HAL इंजीनियरों को विदेशों में और IITs तथा IIMs जैसे प्रमुख संस्थानों में प्रशिक्षण देने पर भारी निवेश करता है, लेकिन उनका पूरा और सही उपयोग नहीं हो पाता.
My article in ThePrint on reforms in HAL. Views will be different as always on such issues. I wrote on issues as I saw them in HAL. No spice, only truth. India's defence relies heavily on HAL, which faces backlogs and outdated practices. A new government-led restructuring is imperative after previous cosmetic reforms failed.
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
The Tejas is still the King of the Indian skies | Gopal Sutar
