Following the crash of an HAL Tejas fighter jet at the Dubai Airshow, controversial Indian anchor Arnab Goswami sparked debate over India’s reliance on foreign aircraft engines. On Friday, Indian authorities confirmed the death of the pilot after the Tejas jet failed to complete a spin maneuver during an aerobatic display and crashed.
Speaking on his news program, Arnab Goswami claimed that the United States felt “threatened” by India developing its own aircraft engines. He alleged that the US firm supplying engines to Indian jets “is not a friend of India” and hinted that the American government influenced delays in next-generation Tejas engines.
“It is powered by an engine made by General Electric, and this firm has not been India’s friend, as it has tried to slow things down,” Arnab Goswami said. “America sees the Tejas LCA program as a threat, and this cannot happen without their influence.”
While he did not directly blame the US for the crash, Arnab Goswami warned that the incident highlights India’s over-reliance on foreign firms for critical military technology. He questioned why India continues to depend on external companies for engines, emphasizing the need to strengthen domestic capabilities.
General G D Bakhshi supported Arnab Goswami’s viewpoint, stating that India should leverage its private sector to develop indigenous engines. “This should be India’s wake-up call, similar to what World War II was for America,” he added.
The discussion also touched upon India’s offer to purchase additional engines from the American firm, noting that only two engines were delivered in the past two years despite a significant investment. Authorities emphasized the importance of moving toward self-reliance in defense manufacturing.
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Experts agree that while developing indigenous aircraft engines will take time, incidents like the Tejas crash underscore the urgent need for India to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and bolster its defense production capabilities.
