‘Not a single project that I can think of has been completed on time’: IAF Chief Air Marshal AP Singh

NEW DELHI: Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, on Thursday raised serious concerns over persistent delays in defence projects, highlighting the systemic issue of unrealistic timelines and their impact on operational readiness.

In his address at the CII Annual Business Summit 2025, the Air Chief Marshal pointed at the recurring pattern of delays in project execution and criticised the practice of committing to unachievable deadlines. His remarks come in the context of the reported ongoing challenges with projects like the delivery of aircraft, which has faced criticism from the Air Chief for failing to meet timelines.

#WATCH | Delhi: Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh says, “Timeline is a big issue. So, once a timeline is given, not a single project that I can think of has been completed on time. So this is something we have to look at. Why should we promise something… pic.twitter.com/4aJxyuEcLx

— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2025

“Timelines is a big issue… Not a single project that I can think of has been completed on time. This is something that we have to look at”, Air Chief Marshal Singh stated, adding, “Why should we promise something that cannot be achieved? While signing the contract itself, sometimes we are sure that it is not going to come up. But we just sign the contract. Then the process gets vitiated”, said Air Chief Marshal Singh.

The Air Chief also hailed Operation Sindoor as a “national victory”, emphasising the operation’s success as a testament to the collective efforts of the armed forces, agencies, and every Indian citizen in combating terrorism.

During his address, the Air Chief Marshal reflected on the operation, highlighting how Operation Sindoor, a precision strike on nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, showcased the evolving nature of warfare with the integration of advanced technologies, providing a clear direction for future defence strategies.

#WATCH | Delhi: Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh says, “Operation Sindoor, as it was told by the Chief of Naval Staff, the character of war is changing. Every day, we are finding new technologies coming in. Operation Sindoor has given us a clear idea of… pic.twitter.com/NbkdTdbBY5

— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2025

“I must put on record, this Operation Sindoor that we’ve been talking about, it is a national victory. My thanks to everyone of you in India here… This was an operation executed in a very professional manner by everybody, all the agencies, all the forces; we all came together, and when truth is on your side, things happen automatically”, he stated.

He underscored the intrinsic trust within the armed forces, noting that it was a default setting in the armed forces. The Air Chief Marshal also urged all stakeholders — army, navy, air force, industry and DRDO — to remain strong links in the national security chain, ensuring no weak points compromise the system, and stressed the importance of retaining this trust through consistent performance.

“Trust for defence forces is intrinsic. Our default setting is trust… The very first mission that you’re flying, you have to trust each other because your life depends on somebody else,” he said.

“When we talk about a nation, all of us in these groups army, the navy, the air force, various agencies, industry, DRDO — all of us are links in a bigger chain. We all have to make sure that our group is not the weak group because of which this chain will break. And that is what is stressed: that if I am trying to be strong enough not to let this system break, everybody else is also trying equally to be strong enough to be competent enough in that game or at least be aware of where the shortcomings lie and improve that system”, Air Chief Marshal Singh added.

The Air Chief Marshal also called for stronger collaboration with private industry, noting the recent clearance for private participation in the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme as a significant step. “AMCA — advanced medium combat aircraft — has been cleared for even participation by private industry, which is a very big step, and that is the kind of confidence that the nation has in private industry today, and I’m sure this is going to pave the way to bigger things coming in the future”, he said.

Expressing confidence that such partnerships will pave the way for future advancements in India’s defence capabilities, Air Marshal Singh said, “We cannot just talk about producing in India. We need to start designing and developing in India also… We need to have this trust between the forces and the industry continue, with open and forthright communication.” (ANI)