Israeli media outlets have claimed that Armenia has suspended negotiations to purchase India’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) following last week’s fatal crash of the indigenous fighter at the Dubai Airshow. The Jerusalem Post reported that Yerevan had been in advanced talks with the Indian government and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for a proposed acquisition of 12 Tejas Mk1 jets worth approximately $1.2 billion — a deal the newspaper now says has been “scrapped.”
However, Indian defence analysts and officials have dismissed the report as unfounded, insisting no formal negotiations over the Tejas had ever begun with Armenia. Instead, they point to Yerevan’s ongoing interest in acquiring Su-30MKI fighters jointly produced by India and Russia. Both sides are yet to issue an official statement.
The controversy comes amid global scrutiny following the tragic crash of an Indian Air Force (IAF) Tejas jet at the Dubai Airshow on Monday, killing its pilot, Wing Commander Namansh Syal.
The accident occurred during a high-intensity aerobatic routine at around 2:10 p.m. local time (10:10 GMT). The single-engine, 4.5-generation LCA Mk1 — the backbone of India’s push toward self-reliance in aerospace manufacturing — suddenly lost control during a low-altitude loop maneuver. Eyewitness footage posted online showed the jet entering an unstable spiral before nosediving into desert terrain roughly 1.6 kilometers from the main showground at Al Maktoum International Airport.
Moments later, a massive fireball erupted, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky and halting the airshow display. Thousands of spectators — including military leaders, UAE dignitaries, and top executives from Boeing, Airbus, and Lockheed Martin — watched the disaster unfold.
Wing Commander Syal, an experienced IAF pilot with more than 1,500 flying hours, was unable to eject despite the aircraft being equipped with the advanced Martin-Baker zero-zero ejection seat, engineered to save pilots even at minimal speed and altitude. The Indian Air Force confirmed his death in a statement hours later, adding that a court of inquiry has been convened.
“A Tejas aircraft met with an accident during an aerial display at the Dubai Airshow today. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family,” the IAF said.
Dubai’s Government Media Office also expressed condolences, noting that the mishap occurred during an official flying display.
Preliminary speculation from aviation experts points to a possible control system failure or an insufficient pull-up during the high-G vertical roll. Nonetheless, official findings will only be available once investigators complete their technical analysis. HAL confirmed that the aircraft had undergone a routine maintenance and inspection cycle the day before the event.
Unverified claims of an “oil leak” during static display — circulated widely on X (formerly Twitter) — were dismissed as misinformation by India’s Press Information Bureau. HAL has described the crash as an “isolated occurrence due to exceptional circumstances” and reiterated the Tejas platform’s otherwise solid operational record.
Hassan Loqman, an Iraqi national who witnessed the crash from the grandstand, told AFP that the pilot appeared to be attempting a recovery: “He was flying at low altitude, performing risky maneuvers. He tried to pull up at the last moment, but it was too late.”
The Dubai Airshow, the world’s third-largest aerospace event after Paris and Farnborough, had been viewed as a major opportunity for India to showcase the Tejas to potential buyers. The IAF’s aerobatic display team had been performing regularly in Dubai since 2021, helping raise international interest in the homegrown fighter.
The high-profile accident, however, has cast a shadow over India’s defence export ambitions. Rival aircraft — including China’s J-10CE and the Pakistan-China–built JF-17 Block III — were featured prominently at the event and are aggressively marketed in many of the same regions India is targeting.
“Any crash, especially at a global exhibition, affects public perception,” said a former Indian Air Force test pilot. “But whether it affects actual defence procurement decisions is another matter.”
Western experts note that aircraft sales historically withstand isolated crashes. Walter Ladwig of the Royal United Services Institute pointed out that Russia’s Su-30 crashed at the 1999 Paris Airshow — yet the aircraft later became one of the world’s most exported twin-engine fighters.
“Fighter sales are driven by geopolitical realities,” Ladwig said. “Customers rarely make long-term decisions based on a single incident.”
Despite the viral claims originating from Israeli media, Indian defence experts maintain that Armenia was never actively negotiating to purchase the Tejas.
In October 2024, Armenian officials reportedly initiated talks with HAL regarding the acquisition of Su-30MKI fighters — aircraft India produces under license from Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau. Yerevan already operates older Su-30SM models and has been seeking to expand its fleet following escalating tensions with Azerbaijan.
“Armenia is expected to explore multiple options to bolster its airpower, but its focus is likely on India-built Su-30MKIs, which offer greater combat versatility and remain far cheaper than Rafales,” said Sam Lichtenstein, Director of Analysis at RANE.
Analysts say the Jerusalem Post report may have conflated general Armenia–India defence discussions with specific negotiations over the Tejas.
Awaiting Official Confirmation
The Asia Live has contacted defence officials in both New Delhi and Yerevan to verify the claims. Neither government has issued a formal statement as of publication.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
