By Aritra Banerjee
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is facing mounting criticism from both domestic and export markets over procurement delays and safety issues. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has expressed concern over the delayed supply of 40 LCA Tejas jets, which could potentially threaten India’s defence preparedness. The committee has recommended that the government consider purchasing over-the-counter state-of-the-art fifth-generation fighter aircraft to avoid losing time.
In addition to procurement delays, HAL’s safety record and organisational inefficiencies have been called into question, with two HAL helicopters crashing in 11 days. Malaysia recently scrapped the LCA Tejas in favour of Korea Aerospace Industries’ (KAI) FA-50 Golden Eagle for its Fighter Lead-In Trainer-Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT-LCA) program. KAI secured a lucrative contract worth US$920m to supply 18 aircraft, citing the FA-50’s established brand name and proven capabilities.
HAL’s reputation has been seen as contributing to the loss of the Malaysian contract, as the company’s safety and reliability record has been criticised in the domestic market. HAL’s poor spare support has also damaged the reputation of the domestic industry, hindering India’s export capabilities. The need to address these issues is crucial to ensure India’s military-industrial complex’s continued success and reputation, particularly as HAL’s poor reputation has affected the Rafale procurement process.
“As India looks to expand its presence in the global export market, it is imperative that HAL improves its production capabilities and addresses its safety and delivery issues. The loss of the Malaysian contract is a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining a solid reputation and delivering quality products on time,” strategic affairs analyst, Major General VK Madhok (r) told Indian Aerospace & Defence when asked about the way ahead.
