DUBAI: The Indian Air Force Tejas aircraft, developed over four decades, is a key component of India’s drive for defence self-reliance and export expansion. The incident has raised fresh concerns over India’s efforts to promote its indigenous defence capabilities on the global stage.
The accident occurred on the final day of the airshow as the Tejas aircraft was performing aerobatic manoeuvres. Emergency teams launched a rescue operation immediately after the crash, but the pilot was pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash comes just days after a video surfaced showing oil leaking from a Tejas aircraft during an earlier flight, adding to questions about the jet’s reliability. Indian media confirmed the accident and the pilot’s death, stating that the crash occurred at around 2:10 p.m. local time.
The Dubai Airshow 2025, one of the world’s largest aviation events, hosted around 150,000 attendees and more than 1,500 companies, according to the event’s official website.
Furthermore, Defence analysts told international media that the crash could hinder India’s ongoing efforts to market the Tejas jet overseas.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) Tejas fighter jet crashed during a demonstration at the Dubai International Airshow, killing the pilot and prompting a temporary suspension of the event.
In this regard, Douglas A. Birkey, executive director of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies in the United States, noted that accidents at airshows can significantly undermine public confidence.
The Tejas program began in the 1980s as India sought to replace its ageing Soviet-era MiG-21 fleet. The last MiG-21 was retired in September, but deliveries of the Tejas have progressed slowly due to production limitations at the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
So far, the HAL has domestic orders for 180 upgraded Mk-1A aircraft, but supply chain delays related to GE Aerospace engines have stalled production.
However, India had been targeting markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and HAL even opened an office in Malaysia in 2023 to support its outreach.
