Armenia halts talks on Indian Tejas jet deal after Dubai Airshow crash PHOTO

Armenia has suspended negotiations to buy India’s Tejas fighter jet after a fatal crash involving the aircraft at the Dubai Airshow on November 21.

Wing Commander Namansh Sial, who was piloting the jet during an aerobatic display, died when the aircraft went down, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Investigators have not yet determined whether the crash resulted from technical failure or pilot error.

Yerevan had been in talks with the Indian government and state-owned manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) over the purchase of 12 Tejas aircraft, a deal valued at around $1.2 billion. It would have been the first export order for the jet, whose development began in the early 1980s as part of India’s long-term push to expand its domestic defence industry.

India has so far delivered 40 Tejas aircraft to its air force from the initial production batch. A new run of 97 upgraded A1 models has entered production, featuring significant enhancements aimed at matching Western-built fighters. Much of the improvement comes from Israeli systems integrated into the design.

The A1 version is set to include Elta-produced AESA radar and an electronic warfare suite from Israel Aerospace Industries, along with Elbit’s latest helmet-mounted display. Rafael’s Derby radar-guided missiles are also planned to arm the aircraft.

The crash has raised concerns about the jet’s reputation, with Israeli suppliers expected to face a potential financial hit if Armenia ultimately cancels the deal. Israeli Aerospace Industries could lose tens of millions of dollars in projected revenue.

The incident also prompted criticism of how the Dubai Airshow handled the aftermath. Major Taylor Hiester, commander of the US Air Force F-16 Viper Team, said on Instagram he was “shocked” that flying displays continued after the crash. His team withdrew from its final performance out of respect for the pilot and his family.

By Aghakazim Guliyev