Ex-IAF Vice Chief Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor Questions Relevance of Tejas Mk-2 by Mid-2030s

Just weeks after retiring as the Indian Air Force’s Vice Chief, Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor has raised serious concerns over the operational relevance of the indigenous Tejas Mk-2 fighter jet.

Asked whether it makes sense for India to induct a fourth-generation aircraft around 2035, when China is advancing towards sixth-generation platforms and Pakistan is exploring fifth-generation options, Kapoor was categorical:
“No, operationally, definitely no.”

Kapoor, who demitted office less than two months ago, warned that by the time the Tejas Mk-2 enters service in significant numbers in the mid-2030s, it may no longer be suitable for a frontline combat role amid rapid advances by regional adversaries. Estimates suggest China could field hundreds of J-20 fighters by 2030.

However, he clarified that aircraft in the Tejas Mk-2 class could still play a useful role. “You can have a certain number of fifth- and sixth-generation fighters, but given the size of the country, you won’t be able to deploy them everywhere. The remaining gaps will have to be filled by this class of aircraft,” he said.

The former Vice Chief also sharply criticised Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for what he described as a lack of urgency, particularly over repeated delays in delivering the Tejas Mk-1A. “Why must it be that a machine that was promised to us so many years back continues to be denied to us on one pretext or the other?” he asked.

According to the latest updates, the Tejas Mk-2’s first flight is now expected between March and July 2027, with large-scale induction pushed into the mid-2030s.

Kapoor’s remarks have reignited debate over the pace of India’s indigenous fighter programmes and the country’s ability to keep pace with evolving aerial threats in the region.