DUBAI: India’s air force faced an embarrassing moment at the Dubai Airshow after its Tejas fighter jet suffered an oil leak on the tarmac, once again raising questions about the country’s much-touted defence capabilities.
The incident exposed the poor reliability of India’s aircraft, undermining New Delhi’s claims of building a strong and advanced defence industry. According to reports, the leak became so severe that Indian technicians were seen using shopping bags in an attempt to stop it, highlighting what observers described as the air force’s declining technical standards.
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India, often criticized for its aggressive military posturing, has repeatedly faced global scrutiny over the quality and safety of its defence equipment. This latest technical failure dealt another blow to the Indian Air Force’s reputation.
For a country that frequently issues threats to its neighbours, particularly Pakistan, the malfunction has further exposed the weaknesses and unpreparedness of its defence sector.
It is pertinent to mention here that few days ago, Indian Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan had publicly expressed deep concerns over the country’s defence industry, highlighting persistent delays in the supply of weapons to the armed forces.
Chauhan’s remarks, reported by Indian publication The Print, reflected growing frustration within the military over the slow progress of the “Make in India” defence initiative. He urged domestic companies to demonstrate genuine patriotism alongside their profit-making efforts.
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