Ex-IAF Vice Chief: Tejas May Lack Relevance by 2030s, India Should Join Global 6th-Gen Programmes

NEW DELHI: Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor (Retd), who retired as Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force less than two months ago, has voiced sharp criticism over the repeated delays in delivery of the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). In an interview with NDTV, he questioned why the IAF continues to wait for a machine promised years ago with specific capabilities, when commitments are not being met.

“Why must we be hamstrung because someone somewhere has not been able to keep their promises?” the former vice-chief said, referring to the prolonged wait for the Tejas Mk1A jets. The delivery of these 4.5-generation fighters has been pushed back by several years. Key reasons include late supplies of F404-IN20 engines from American firm GE, complex mission software validation, and stringent operational requirements set by the IAF itself.

Addressing the operational relevance of the more advanced Tejas Mk2, which is expected to enter service in significant numbers only by the mid-2030s, Air Marshal Kapoor was blunt. Asked whether the jet would still be useful at a time when China is expanding its fleet of fifth-generation fighters, he said, “No, operationally, definitely no.”

China is on track to deploy around 500 J-20 fifth-generation fighters by 2030. In contrast, India is still awaiting its first squadron of Tejas Mk1A jets. The IAF has ordered 180 Tejas Mk1A aircraft, but HAL expects to deliver only the first 18–25 units by March 2027.

The former vice-chief, however, did not completely dismiss the Tejas Mk2's future role. He said that even with fifth- and sixth-generation fighters, India's vast geography would require a mix of aircraft. “You can have a certain number of those 5th generation and 6th generation fighters, but given the size of the country, you won't be able to deploy them everywhere. So those gaps which continue to remain to be filled will have to be filled by this class of aircraft,” he explained.

“I want Tejas Mk-2 to come, I want India’s 5th-gen AMCA to come. But they must come at a much faster speed,” he added.

When asked about Russia's Su-57 fighter, Air Marshal Kapoor said that Western jets such as the American F-35 have an edge over the Su-57 in terms of avionics and stealth.

He suggested that instead of pursuing incremental upgrades through generations, India should consider joining international consortia developing sixth-generation combat aircraft. “Why not join FCAS (Future Combat Air System, a European programme involving Dassault Aviation, Airbus and Indra Sistemas)? Why not GCAP (Global Combat Air Programme, a joint initiative by Italy, Japan and the UK)?” he asked. “You are probably going with a consortium which has got a good record of delivery, of development. Why go through this Gen 4, Gen 4.5 steps when you know the next best thing is already being thought of and why not just join up there?”