Business · Companies · 2 hrs ago
India's fighter jet production falls short of air force needs
India wants to modernise its air force with domestically developed fighter jets, but it cannot produce them fast enough.
On October 11, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh flew a Tejas jet in his final fighter sortie before retiring later that month.
The air force says it needs two new fighter squadrons each year and aims to have 42 in service.
Singh said that would require 36 to 40 aircraft to be produced annually, and that even more may be needed.
Engine delays and other production bottlenecks are holding back the jets.
The shortfall could limit India's ability to fight future air wars, and the sources give no timeline for resolving the delays.
India’s fighter jet production is not meeting the air force’s stated needs.
Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh said the Indian Air Force needs to induct two fighter squadrons each year.
He said India would need to produce 36 to 40 aircraft annually to meet its target of 42 fighter squadrons.
Engine delays and other bottlenecks have hampered production of the domestically developed jets.
Singh flew a Tejas jet in Jodhpur on October 11 for his final fighter sortie before retiring later that month.
- Who
- The Indian Air Force and India’s domestic fighter jet industry.
- What
- Fighter jet production has been hampered by engine delays and other bottlenecks, while the air force says it needs more aircraft.
- When
- Singh made his production remarks on October 3 and flew his final fighter sortie on October 11. The article was published on October 19, 2026.
- Where
- Jodhpur, India, where Singh flew the Tejas jet. The article does not specify where production takes place.
- Why
- Singh said 36 to 40 aircraft need to be produced annually to support the target of 42 fighter squadrons.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Singh said the air force needed to induct two fighter squadrons annually and 36 to 40 aircraft would need to be produced each year.
Singh flew a Tejas jet at an airbase in Jodhpur for his final fighter sortie before retiring later that month.
SCMP published its report on India’s fighter jet production and air force needs.
- Annual induction need
- Two fighter squadrons
- Annual production stated by Singh
- 36 to 40 aircraft
- Air force target
- 42 fighter squadrons
- Aircraft flown by Singh
- Tejas
- Final fighter sortie
- October 11, at an airbase in Jodhpur
What people are saying
We need to induct two fighter squadrons every year
between 36 and 40 aircraft
Actually, we need even more than that