In the thick of Operation Sindoor, when our armed forces are showing steely resolve against a rogue and unstable neighbour, India did not expect a morale-breaking salvo—not from the enemy, but from within. That too, from none other than the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh. Speaking at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) summit, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh sharing the dais, the Air Chief aired what can only be described as a public complaint: “Why should the government promise something that cannot be delivered?” A subtle jab? Hardly. It was an unmistakable and unbecoming dig at the very government that has done more to modernize India’s armed forces in a decade than the previous six combined. Worse, Singh didn’t stop there. He continued: “Sometimes we know at the time of signing a contract that the timelines won’t be met. But we sign it anyway.” What does he even mean by this? Is he admitting to a pattern of institutional negligence or carelessness? If so, what was he doing about it as Vice Chief and now Chief of Air Staff? And more importantly, should this even be uttered in public, with cameras flashing and microphones live? Let’s be brutally clear. These are not comments from an activist, a politician, or an opposition spokesman. This is the sitting head of the Indian Air Force. And his words matter—especially when our soldiers are in harm’s way, and the nation is on heightened alert across multiple fronts. Loose talk from a uniformed officer in such times isn’t just inappropriate; it’s dangerous. But let’s get to the core of this false narrative. Singh implies that this government has failed the Air Force. Really? Has he conveniently forgotten that it was the Modi government that fast-tracked the long-stalled Rafale deal, handed over fully equipped squadrons in record time, and strengthened frontline bases with new hardened shelters, runways, and radar infrastructure? Or that it has massively expanded border connectivity—from Ladakh to Arunachal—with all-weather roads, tunnels, and forward helipads?
What about the push for Aatmanirbhar Bharat? Indigenous drones, next-gen radars, missile systems like Akash, Astra, Nag and Pinaka, and joint production of BrahMos with expanded export ambitions—all in the past few years. HAL’s Tejas is finally getting the attention and orders it deserves. Private-sector defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are humming with activity. DRDO has never been more empowered. Where was this public concern when previous governments allowed IAF’s squadron strength to fall to dangerous lows? When procurement scandals—Bofors, AugustaWestland, Scorpene—paralyzed defence acquisition for decades? When India’s borders had no roads, no airfields, and soldiers lived in tents? No, Air Chief Singh’s remarks are not a call for reform—they are an act of astonishing irresponsibility. Even if there were delays—and yes, some procurement projects may still suffer bureaucratic hurdles—does that justify airing grievances in front of an industry forum instead of behind closed doors with the Prime Minister, the defence minister, the NSA, or the Chiefs of Staff Committee? If there are flaws in the system, Singh had every opportunity to raise them in strategic meetings and secure corridors. He chose grandstanding instead. Let’s not be naïve—India’s enemies are watching. China, Pakistan, and their proxies in Western think tanks will seize such remarks and amplify them. This wasn’t just an embarrassing faux pas. It was a gift to those who wish to portray Indian defence preparedness as broken and divided. The Modi government may yet choose institutional restraint, but the people of India won’t forget this moment. The armed forces are revered in this country, not just for their strength, but for their silence, their dignity, their discipline. AP Singh’s outburst has breached that sacred trust. History will not remember him as the man who took Indian air power to new heights. It may remember him instead as the man who punched a hole in the fuselage mid-flight.
