6 months ago
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The caller clang of an Indian Air Force (IAF) Tejas combatant craft astatine the Dubai aerial amusement has triggered a question of speculation connected societal media, with galore users terming the mishap a setback for India’s flagship defence export platform.
On Sunday, an IAF squad reached Dubai to behaviour a associated probe with the UAE authorities. While nary grounds of foul play has emerged truthful far, online discussions person intensified, demanding a thorough probe into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Several hashtags gained traction, amplifying theories astir sabotage and outer interference. A fabricated societal media station besides claimed that an lipid leak had been detected connected the Tejas earlier the flight. However, a PIB Fact Check clarified that the allegation was false, stating that the fluid seen successful the video was portion of a regular draining process, not a method malfunction.
A elder authoritative monitoring misinformation campaigns said galore accounts — operating from neighbouring countries — were recovered circulating misleading narratives astir the crash. The heightened subject practice betwixt China and Pakistan, particularly successful defence technology, has besides been often referenced successful online discussions astir the incident.
Aviation experts, however, cautioned against premature conclusions until the associated probe study is released.
“IAF has afloat assurance successful the aircraft; that’s wherefore they are flying it. The lone contented is HAL’s inability to conscionable transportation timelines. If we cannot conscionable our ain timelines, however tin we export?” said Air Vice Marshal Anil Golani (retd.), Director General of the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS).
Impeccable grounds
Air Vice Marshal Golani added that incidents during improvement oregon aboriginal induction phases are not unusual. “Tejas has had an impeccable record. It was inducted successful 2016, and till 2024 not a azygous incidental occurred. Its information grounds is excellent.”
On the export imaginable of Tejas, helium said India indispensable archetypal prioritise home requirements. “Our archetypal precedence should beryllium to fulfil our ain needs. IAF has already placed orders for 220 Tejas aircraft. There are galore powers successful the satellite trying to propulsion India down.”
According to the Ministry of Defence, India’s indigenous defence accumulation reached a grounds ₹1,27,434 crore successful FY 2023–24, a 174% leap from 2014–15. India present exports subject instrumentality to implicit 100 countries, including the United States, France, and Armenia. Defence PSUs accounted for 77% of full output, portion the backstage assemblage contributed 23%.
With the status of its past MiG-21 squadrons — No. 23 Panthers and No. 3 Cobras — the IAF’s spot has dipped to 29 combatant squadrons, its lowest since the 1960s, against a sanctioned 42.
To span the gap, the unit is relying heavy connected the phased induction of the Tejas. The craft presently serves with No. 45 Flying Daggers and No. 18 Flying Bullets astatine Sulur, with much squadrons planned.
The upgraded Tejas Mk-1A, featuring precocious radar, enhanced physics warfare systems, and improved maintainability, is expected to importantly boost IAF capability. However, transportation delays persist. In February, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh criticised HAL for slipping schedules.
“Hungry mouths are ready; we are waiting for the food,” helium said, stressing that the IAF requires astatine slightest 30–40 craft each twelvemonth to support optimal squadron strength.
On October 17, the first LCA Tejas Mark 1A from the caller Nashik accumulation enactment completed its maiden formation but inactive to beryllium inducted by IAF.
Meanwhile, the much precocious LCA Mk-2, meant to regenerate the Mirage-2000, Jaguar, and MiG-29 fleets, is inactive nether development. First conceptualised successful 2012, its prototype has been repeatedly delayed, with accumulation present expected astir 2026.
