SOURCE: AFI
As Aero India 2025 approaches, the aerospace community is buzzing with anticipation for new program announcements and project unveilings. However, this enthusiasm is often tempered by the reality of prolonged development timelines in India’s defense public sector undertakings (DPSUs).
Historically, the announcement of new aerospace programs at events like Aero India has been accompanied by the display of scale models, symbolizing future aspirations. Yet, the journey from these announcements to actual flying prototypes typically spans 5-6 years or more. This extended timeline has frequently led to criticism and skepticism about the efficiency and urgency of India’s defense projects.
During Aero India, announcements of new projects like advanced fighter jets, drones, or missile systems are made with much fanfare, often with scale models or renderings to give a glimpse of what’s to come. Following the initial hype, the real work begins. This includes securing funding, detailed design, prototype construction, and rigorous testing, all of which can take years due to bureaucratic hurdles, technical challenges, and budget constraints.
The long wait often results in a public relations challenge for the DPSUs. Each passing year without significant progress can lead to skepticism, especially in a field where technological advancements occur rapidly, potentially making initial designs obsolete.
To mitigate these issues, there’s a growing consensus, echoed by industry analysts and stakeholders, that Indian DPSUs should adopt a more cautious and strategic approach to announcements. Announcements should only be made when there’s a clear, achievable timeline for major milestones like prototype testing within 12-24 months. This would demonstrate a commitment to speed and efficiency.
Instead of showcasing scale models as a promise of future capabilities, DPSUs could focus on presenting tangible progress, perhaps through updates on ongoing projects that are nearing significant stages like prototype flights or advanced trial phases. Programs should not be announced unless funding is already secured and initial research and development phases are well underway, reducing the gap between announcement and action.
By managing expectations and focusing on near-term achievements, DPSUs can rebuild trust with stakeholders, the public, and international partners. A more disciplined announcement strategy could pressure internal processes to become more efficient, cutting down on unnecessary delays.
In an era where speed to market can define success, India could position itself better in the global aerospace market by showing it can deliver on promises within a reasonable timeframe.