House panel slams HAL 'inefficiencies'

Already facing flak for huge delay in production of indigenous Tejas fighters as well as grounding of over 330 Dhruv advanced light helicopters for safety checks since a crash on January 5, Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) came under fresh ack-ack fire on Thursday in Parliament.
Parliamentary panel on public undertakings slammed HAL for prolonged project timelines, impaired costs, and missed strategic opportunities. "Systemic inefficiencies continue to hinder HAL's ability to meet operational demands (of armed forces) effectively," it said. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh in recent weeks has publicly lashed out at HAL, noting that he was "just not confident" of defence PSU. IAF needs to induct at least 40 fighters every year to stay combat ready, he said.