Armenia puts Tejas fighter jet purchase on hold after Dubai air show crash

Armenia have reportedly put discussions with India to buy 12 Tejas fighter jets on hold, following a fatal crash at the Dubai Air Show last week.

According to international media, the two countries were in ongoing talks over a US$1.2bn deal. Had it gone through, the agreement was expected to mark the Tejas programme’s first major export contract and its largest overseas sale to date.

Israel set to feel the financial impact

Armenian sources have suggested that freezing the purchase could also lead to a sizeable financial blow for Israel Aerospace Industries. Several key systems inside the Tejas, including advanced radar technology, are designed and built in Israel, making the company one of the primary foreign suppliers for the aircraft.

Crash that raised safety questions

The incident took place on November 21 during the Dubai Air Show, when an Indian Tejas jet reportedly crashed shortly after an aerial display. The pilot, who was the aircraft’s sole occupant, died in the accident.

Following the crash, Armenia are said to have pushed back the purchase decision due to safety concerns, as officials review the aircraft’s risk profile and operational reliability before moving forward.

No timeline for resuming the talks has been shared so far.