Armenia has suspended negotiations to purchase India’s Tejas light combat aircraft following a fatal crash during an aerobatic display at the Dubai Airshow, officials confirmed this week.
Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Namansh Sial was killed when the single-engine jet went down during the show on Saturday. Investigators have not yet determined whether the accident resulted from pilot error or a technical malfunction.
Talks covered $1.2 billion aircraft package
Armenia had been in discussions with New Delhi and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for a deal involving 12 Tejas aircraft valued at roughly $1.2 billion. The agreement would have represented the first export sale of the fighter, which India has been developing since the 1980s to replace its MiG-21 fleet.
The crash has cast uncertainty over the aircraft’s prospects abroad. Armenia was viewed as one of the most likely early customers, as it seeks to modernize its aging Soviet-era air fleet amid shifting regional security dynamics.
The latest Tejas A1 variant integrates several Israeli-made systems, including Elta’s AESA radar, an electronic-warfare suite, Elbit’s new helmet-mounted sight, and Rafael’s Derby air-to-air missiles. India has delivered about 40 early-production Tejas fighters to its air force, with production of 97 A1 units now underway.