Armenia has halted its planned acquisition of a dozen HAL Tejas fighter jets — a deal worth around US $1.2 billion — following the tragic crash of a Tejas Mk-1 during the 2025 Dubai Airshow on 21 November.The jet went down during a demonstration, killing the pilot and sparking serious doubts about the aircraft’s safety.
Yerevan had been among the most promising prospective buyers of Tejas — the first export deal would have significantly boosted the programme’s international credibility.The suspension underscores how critical export customers are reacting under pressure when export-candidate aircraft underperform or suffer accidents on global stages.
For India and aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), this is a major setback: after decades of development, this was to be Tejas’s first major export order. The crash and subsequent fallout now cast a shadow over export prospects, likely prompting re-evaluations of safety, marketing strategy, and risk assessments by potential buyers. With Armenia’s pause, the Tejas programme’s export ambitions face a serious challenge — the coming weeks will show whether HAL can restore confidence or if other potential deals slip away.
