New Delhi: India has issued its strongest warning yet to defence manufacturers worldwide, cautioning that any delay in equipment delivery will result in immediate contract cancellation. The message comes from Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, who stressed that accountability will now be strictly enforced across all procurement channels.
Speaking at the National Security Summit in New Delhi on 28 November, Singh said the Ministry of Defence will no longer tolerate missed timelines—whether the vendor is domestic or foreign.
Under the current emergency procurement guidelines, equipment must be delivered within one year of the contract’s signing. Any delay beyond that period will lead to automatic foreclosure of the deal. Singh added that the ministry will impose tougher liquidated damages to deter habitual delays.
His message follows the Indian Air Force’s repeated concerns over slippages in key programmes, including the TEJAS MK-1A fighter jet production schedule, where the service has repeatedly flagged mismatched promises and actual output.
Global Delays Highlight Urgency
Supply disruptions affecting India mirror a broader international trend. Singh cited ongoing delays in shipments of Russia’s S-400 air defence systems—referred to as Sudarshan Chakra in India—due to the prolonged Ukraine conflict. Deliveries of the fourth and fifth squadrons, part of a $5.4 billion deal signed in 2018, have now been pushed to 2026.
Delays have also emerged in equipment sourced from Israel and in engine orders from General Electric, reinforcing India’s demand for strict vendor accountability.
Major Jet Engine Breakthrough Expected
Singh also delivered a significant update on indigenous aerospace development. India is in the final stages of sealing a landmark agreement with a leading global engine manufacturer to co-develop a 120 kN fighter jet engine, which will be fully built in India with complete intellectual property held domestically.
The project—expected to take 10 to 12 years—is being aligned with the proposed partnership with France’s Safran for the AMCA fighter engine under an upcoming government-to-government agreement. A final decision is likely soon at the topmost levels of government.
A Year of Defence Procurement Reform
The Defence Secretary underlined that 2025 has been declared the “Year of Reforms” under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP 2020), with sweeping changes to speed up user trials, financial negotiations, and overall procurement cycles.
The ministry’s emphasis on faster deliveries and tried-and-tested foreign platforms stems from lessons learned during crises such as the Ladakh standoff, which exposed gaps in India’s quick-response capabilities.
With the new rules in force, Singh asserted that India’s defence preparedness will no longer be hostage to supplier delays, adding that the government will act decisively to ensure timelines crucial to national security are met without exception.
