IAF's fighting abilities affected due to association with HAL

HAl is a typical "Sarkari" company with little to no love for what work they do. HAL has failed to deliver on it's promises and it's poor performance is affecting country's security on a large scale.

Not only the poor performance of HAL has affected the fighting ability of Indian Air Force, it has also resulted in the loss of life of 17 IAF test pilots and engineers in air accidents.

It's seems the time has come to shift the responsibility of defense manufacturing to private sector from government run HAL. The performance of private sector in energy, retail and automobile industry is very well known. Private sector may bring a merit based culture instead of socialism based culture of HAL.

The Indian Air Force’s efforts to support the state-owned aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has affected its fighting capabilities, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa said on Friday.
IAF has only cooperated with HAL; “as a service; we have made concessions for HAL, but will the enemy make any concession for us when we face them in battle?” he questioned.
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The air chief was delivering the 10th ‘Jumbo’ Majumdar International Conference at the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) in New Delhi and was responding to criticism about the IAF’s alleged dislike for Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, the indigenous fighter made by HAL.
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A HAL spokesperson declined comment on the air chief’s comments which come at a time when the state-owned aircraft maker is in financial distress of some sort and also when it is in the middle of the controversy surrounding the government’s Rafale fighter deal.
A HAL official who spoke on condition of anonymity asked: “Doesn’t IAF allow concessions and modifications to foreign vendors? Concessions are also given to Defence Research Development Organisation and the Aeronautical Development Agency. Why is HAL being singled out?”
Putting HAL on the mat, ACMl Dhanoa said upgrading of one squadron of Jaguar deep strike bombers, nearly two squadrons of Su-30MKi, India’s mainstay fighters, and one squadron of Mirage-2000, a multi-role fighter , all work being done by the state-owned firm, was far behind schedule. “Additional production of Su-30 is delayed by over two years and LCA production commitment (has been delayed) by over six years,” he added.

Sources : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/fighting-abilities-affected-iaf-chief-on-force-s-long-association-with-hal/story-JQzKtAFdJ1yc1WuLGOwq1N.html

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