【By Observer News, Xiong Chaoran】No one could have anticipated that, as the largest aerospace event in the Middle East, on the closing day of the 2025 Dubai Air Show (November 21), an Indian "Tejas" fighter jet crashed in front of everyone.

Reuters reported on November 23 local time that crashing in front of global arms buyers has once again hit India's national key project, the "Tejas" fighter jet, which can only maintain its role as a domestic defense technology showcase through orders from the Indian military.

Experts pointed out that this crash in public will inevitably affect India's efforts to promote this four-decade-long developed fighter jet overseas.

"The scene is shocking," said Douglas A. Birkey, Executive Director of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies under the Air Force Association. He mentioned that all countries and companies try to use air shows to demonstrate major national achievements, but crashes severely damage their image. "The message conveyed by the crash is exactly the opposite: it represents a painful failure." However, he also added that aircraft sales are driven by highly political realities, which can override a single incident.

The report stated that the specific cause of the crash is still unknown, but this accident marked the end of the "battle for influence" at the Dubai Air Show over the past week. In May this year, India and Pakistan had just experienced the largest air combat in decades, and as "rivals", Pakistan also participated in this air show.

On November 21, 2025, Dubai, a Indian-made "Tejas" fighter jet crashed during a flight performance at the Dubai Air Show, and the pilot failed to eject. IC Photo

Except for the "Tejas" fighter jet performing multiple flight performances in the presence of the Pakistani delegation, the Pakistani side also revealed that they signed a temporary agreement with a "friendly country" to supply JF-17 "Thunder" fighters, a fighter jet jointly developed by Pakistan and China.

On the tarmac, next to a JF-17 "Thunder" fighter jet, weapons systems including the Chinese PL-15E missile were displayed. U.S. and Indian officials have confirmed that Pakistan used this missile to shoot down at least one French Rafale fighter jet in India in May this year.

At the booth, compared to India's "low-key promotion" of the "Tejas" fighter jet, the Pakistani Aeronautical Complex (PAC), the aircraft manufacturer, distributed brochures promoting the JF-17 as one of the two fighter jets deployed by Pakistan in the India-Pakistan air war, claiming that it "has been tested in combat".

The Dubai Air Show is the third largest air show in the world after the Paris Air Show in France and the Farnborough Air Show in the UK. Over time, accidents occurring at such air shows have become increasingly rare.

In 1999, a Russian Su-30 fighter jet crashed during a aerobatic performance at the Paris Air Show; ten years ago, a Soviet MiG-29 fighter jet also crashed at the same air show. However, in both cases, all crew members safely ejected. Later, India also ordered these two types of aircraft.

The "Tejas" fighter jet project began in the 1980s, when India sought to replace its aging Soviet MiG-21 fighter jets. Due to the slow delivery of the "Tejas" fighter jets by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the retirement deadline for the MiG-21 was repeatedly extended, and India's last MiG-21 fighter jet was retired in September this year.

The company's domestic orders include 180 advanced Mk-1A versions of the "Tejas" fighter jet, but due to problems in the supply chain of General Electric Aerospace engines, deliveries have not yet begun.

Reuters cited a former HAL executive who recently left the company, saying that with the crash at the Dubai Air Show, the "Tejas" fighter jet "temporarily excludes the possibility of exports."

The original target market for the "Tejas" fighter jet included Asia, Africa, and Latin America. HAL also established an office in Malaysia in 2023. "The focus in the coming years will be to enhance domestic production," said the anonymous former executive.

Currently, the Indian Air Force is concerned about the continuous reduction in the number of its fighter squadrons, which has decreased from the authorized 42 squadrons to 29, and early models of the MiG-29, the Anglo-French Jaguar, and the French Mirage 2000 fighters will be retired in the coming years.

"The 'Tejas' fighter jet was supposed to be their replacement," said an Indian Air Force official to Reuters: "But the type currently faces production issues."

As an alternative, two Indian defense officials revealed that India is considering purchasing ready-made aircraft to fill the urgent demand gap, including buying more French Rafale fighters. They added that India still plans to continue increasing the number of "Tejas" fighters in service, which are currently around 40.

Meanwhile, India is weighing proposals from the United States and Russia for fifth-generation fighters, the F-35 and Su-57, respectively — two advanced aircraft that were rarely seen together at the Dubai Air Show this week.

Reuters noted that for many years, India has been one of the largest arms importers in the world, but the country is increasingly emphasizing the "Tejas" fighter jet, viewing it as a symbol of "self-reliance." Indian Prime Minister Modi personally flew the aircraft in a test flight in November 2023.

On November 16, 2025, the Dubai Air Show was held at the Dubai World Central, and the "Tejas" fighter jet was performing. IC Photo

Like most fighter jet projects, India has always tried to draw more attention to the "Tejas" fighter jet project at the intersection of technology and diplomacy.

Walter Ladwig, a deputy researcher at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said that the project initially faced obstacles, partly because of sanctions following India's nuclear tests in 1998 and difficulties in developing its own engines.

However, he believes that the long-term significance of this fighter jet lies more in the industrial and technological foundation it establishes for India's future fighter jet projects, rather than export sales.

According to previous reports, on November 21 local time, a Indian "Tejas" fighter jet crashed during a flight performance at the Dubai Air Show. According to the Indian Air Force, the pilot involved in the crash died in the accident.

In response to the crash of the Indian "Tejas" fighter jet at the Dubai Air Show, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh posted on the social media platform X on November 21 expressing his condolences. Singh said that the pilot who died in the incident was "brave and fearless," and he extended heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased, stating that the nation would stand firmly with the family of the pilot during this time of grief.

The Economic Times of India reported that Pakistan's Defense Minister Asif also posted on the social media platform X, expressing condolences for the Indian pilot who died and stating that the competition between Pakistan and its neighbor India "only exists in the skies." "We will not celebrate any unfortunate events," Asif wrote, "Rest in peace, warrior."

This article is an exclusive piece by Observer News. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

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