Gloom descended over India on Friday after an Indian Air Force Tejas fighter aircraft taking part in a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show crashed while performing an aerobatic manoeuvre in front of a large audience. Thick plumes of black smoke filled the crash site, causing alarm among spectators, while back home, the incident came as a major setback at a time when the country was boasting about its aerospace prowess.
A sombre and worrisome mood swept across the country as the news of the incident broke, reminding those at the helm of the risk factors in aerospace. The Tejas, a futuristic aircraft that gave a new life to the Indian Air Force, is a highly technological achievement for the nation. It is India’s first home-grown fighter aircraft programme since the HF-24 Marut of the 1960s, and represents a major leap in India’s goal of self-reliance in defence technology, boasting of advanced aerodynamics along with exceptional agility and manoeuvrability.
The aircraft’s inception was not only a very important landmark but also a loud demonstration of India’s capability in producing hi-tech military hardware. The crash blemishes this milestone and sends a touching signal about the complexity of aerospace-related challenges.
India has experienced a few aircraft crashes recently. In July, a twin-seater Jaguar trainer aircraft crashed in Churu district, Rajasthan, killing both pilots on board. In April, another Jaguar fighter crashed in Gujarat. A third Jaguar crashed in Haryana in March, while in the same month, an AN-32 aircraft crash-landed in West Bengal, while in February, a Mirage 2000 trainer aircraft crashed in Madhya Pradesh.
The Indian defence system may not be free of roadblocks, but the country has succeeded in transforming challenges into opportunities to develop a strong and independent military aviation sector, and Tejas was just the beginning. India has taken giant strides in just about everything talked of, including the development and deployment of various types of aircraft, missiles, and warships, but with success comes with hurdles.
The Tejas programme, which has been marred by difficulties in meeting deadlines and technical problems in particular, has been a source of pride for the nation’s innovative capacity, which is why it remains indomitable. Hence, what is most important for the defence community going forward is not only to scrutinise the reasons for this accident but also to take corrective measures and keep on investing in research and development.
One cannot forget the fact that air travel is sometimes unpredictable, meaning accidents can take place even if the best efforts are made. The provision of the most up-to-date simulation training, emergency procedures, and psychological support for pilots is the only way of reducing the odds of such occurrences happening.
From a geopolitical angle, the display of India’s military capabilities using domestic resources is of great importance for strategic autonomy. The Tejas programme is an example of India being able to provide for itself and thus lessening its dependency on foreign weapon suppliers. The crash, however, does not take away from this accomplishment, but rather it calls for a sober reassessment of the journey left. It reminds us that technological advancement involves risks and that ensuring the safety of the pilots and the security of the equipment should always come first.
This crash is a wake-up call about the inherent challenges of aerospace development. While it brings disappointment, it also gives a chance for introspection, learning, and renewing a pledge to safety and progress.
