New Delhi, India – Web Desk: India’s indigenous light combat aircraft, the Tejas, has faced a series of crashes and technical issues, raising concerns about the country’s defense modernization program and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” initiative.
Reports indicate that several Tejas jets have sustained severe damage, including incidents in early 2026 at a frontline airbase where a pilot was forced to eject. However, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the state-run defense company, has repeatedly downplayed these incidents, describing them as minor technical issues with no aircraft accidents, though independent evidence suggests otherwise.
Since February 2021, the Indian government has committed billions of rupees to acquire Tejas aircraft—48,000 crore for 83 jets and an additional 62,000 crore for 97 more—despite repeated program delays, technical failures, and accidents, including a crash near Jaisalmer in 2024 and a mishap at the 2025 Dubai Air Show.
Defense experts highlight that delayed supply of American GE F404 engines and recurring technical faults have hindered the modernization of the Indian Air Force. Critics argue that the massive purchases are driven more by political showmanship than genuine defense readiness.
While HAL asserts that Tejas is among the safest fighter jets globally, analysts caution that India remains dependent on foreign technology and that the aircraft’s operational reliability is still unproven, undermining Modi’s claims of self-reliance.
