Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh delivered a sharp critique of India’s defence procurement system during an address in Delhi, highlighting the consistent failure of defence projects to meet deadlines. He stated bluntly, “Not a single project that I can think of has been completed on time,” and questioned the culture of overpromising during contract signings. Singh stressed that such delays undermine the operational capacity of the armed forces and called for realistic commitments and greater accountability across the defence ecosystem. His remarks reflect growing frustration within the services over the repeated delays in critical defence deliveries.

Calling for a major shift in the nation’s approach to defence production, Singh urged a deeper partnership between the military and Indian industry. He emphasized that the focus must shift from manufacturing to the indigenous design and development of advanced defence systems. “We must start building our systems here, not just assembling them,” he said, underlining the importance of trust and transparency between stakeholders. Quoting both Bollywood and Winston Churchill, the Air Chief encouraged industry leaders to recognize this moment as a historic opportunity to contribute meaningfully to India’s self-reliance in defence under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

In a candid assessment, Singh did not shy away from calling out underperformance, particularly taking aim at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for persistent delays in delivering the Tejas aircraft and other upgrades. He remarked that his confidence in the PSU has diminished and urged them to address operational concerns seriously. The Air Chief also reiterated the centrality of air power in all forms of modern warfare, citing recent operations like Operation Sindoor as examples. His comments signal a new era of frank dialogue and urgency in reforming India’s defence landscape—placing performance, partnership, and indigenous capability at its core.