India’s air force industry suffered a blow after Armenia suspended negotiations to buy 12 Tejas fighter jets. The deal, worth $1.2 billion, was halted following a crash as a Tejas warplane crashed during an aerobatic display at the Dubai Airshow a few days ago.
The pilot, Wing Commander Namish Sial, died in the accident, prompting renewed safety concerns about the aircraft.
The negotiations, that were going on between India, Armenia, and aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) were abruptly stopped.
Armenia’s sudden announcement disappointed Israel, which had anticipated substantial revenue from the potential sale. The suspended deal would have marked Tejas’ first export order.
India’s Tejas fighter jet crashes at Dubai airshow, killing pilot
According to Defense Security Asia, Tejas LCA is a single-engine, delta-wing, lightweight multirole fighter capable of air-to-air combat, air-to-ground precision strikes, maritime missions, and reconnaissance roles.
The jet design includes Israeli-origin Elta EL/M-2032 radar, modern glass cockpit displays, digital fly-by-wire flight control systems, and compatibility with a wide range of weapons including the Astra beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile and the upcoming BrahMos-NG supersonic cruise missile.
The Tejas jet program began in 1982 to replace India’s aging MiG-21 fighters.
Only 40 jets from the first production batch have been delivered so far, while production of 97 upgraded A-1 variants is under way.
These upgrades aim to bring the aircraft closer to Western fighter jet standards and include Israeli systems integration.
The Dubai Airshow crash raised concerns about the fighter’s safety, despite India’s efforts to modernize the fleet.
The jet was performing aerobatic maneuvers when it went down, highlighting the risks involved in advanced displays. Authorities have called for reviews of safety protocols to prevent further accidents.
Wing Commander Sial’s body was returned to his hometown in Himachal Pradesh, where he received full state honors. His funeral included a gun salute, a procession, and floral tributes.
Meanwhile, defense experts say India must now reassess export plans and work on restoring confidence in the Tejas program.
Muhammad Luqman is Associate Editor at Views News Now. He writes on wide-ranging issues including economy, South Asia, the Middle East, agriculture, economy and innovation. Luqman has worked some of the leading news organizations and won acclaim for his original and research-based works.
