Dubai Airshow Crash Exposes High Cost of India’s ‘Tejas’ Fighter Jet

Dubai — A major setback hit India’s defense establishment when its indigenous fighter aircraft Tejas crashed during an aerobatic display at the Dubai Airshow, killing the pilot and raising serious questions about the program’s long-standing technical and safety issues.

The incident — witnessed by international delegations, defense officials and global media — not only caused a tragic loss of life but also delivered significant financial and reputational damage to the Modi government, which has repeatedly promoted Tejas as a breakthrough in India’s domestic defense capability.

According to Indian authorities, flames erupted from the single-engine fighter jet mid-air as it performed a maneuver. Within seconds, the aircraft spiraled downward and crashed, turning into a heap of burning debris.

Tejas is India’s first fully home-grown fighter jet, with more than half of its components manufactured domestically. But the project has been marred by decades of delays, technical hurdles, and repeated failures to meet operational standards. Initially launched in 1983, the program struggled for years due to lack of expertise, insufficient testing, and persistent design flaws — to the extent that the Indian Air Force reportedly refused to induct early versions.

Despite these issues, the aircraft was eventually added to the Indian fleet last year, following multiple revisions and government assurances. However, today’s crash — in full view of an international audience — has once again spotlighted concerns over its reliability.

The cost implications are equally staggering. India’s Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the contract for 83 Tejas Mark-1A jets is valued at ₹45,696 crore, putting the per-unit cost at approximately ₹550 crore. This makes Tejas ₹120 crore more expensive than India’s heavyweight Su-30MKI fighter jet.

Retired Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur noted that despite four decades of development, the Tejas program continues to face critical challenges — challenges that have now taken center stage on the global stage following the Dubai crash.

The incident has triggered renewed scrutiny of India’s defense manufacturing claims, dealing a blow to the government’s narrative of technological self-reliance and military modernization.