Armenia has paused negotiations to purchase HAL Tejas fighter jets from India. This decision follows a fatal crash of a Tejas jet during a demonstration at the Dubai Airshow on November 21, 2025, which claimed the life of the pilot. The deal under discussion involved 12 Tejas jets, valued at approximately USD 1.2 billion. This would have been the first major export sale of the Tejas, making the suspension a significant setback for its international export ambitions.

The crash at the Dubai Airshow has raised serious safety and reliability concerns over the Tejas aircraft. Armenian defence officials reportedly decided to reassess whether Tejas meets their operational and survivability requirements. Given Tejas’ long-standing challenges in securing export orders, along with production delays and technical hurdles, this incident has further undermined confidence among potential foreign buyers.

For India’s defence-export ambitions, this pause represents a major setback, as a successful sale would have marked a milestone by securing Tejas’ first significant international order and enhancing India’s credibility as a supplier of multi-role combat aircraft.

For the defence industry associated with Tejas, the deal encompassed not only the jets themselves but also advanced components such as radar, electronic warfare systems, and avionics reportedly supplied by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The suspension may therefore impact these suppliers as well.

For Armenia, which was reportedly aiming to modernize its air force, currently equipped with aging Soviet-era jets, the collapse of the Tejas deal may necessitate exploring alternative aircraft or suppliers.

The crash is currently under investigation. Until the safety and technical issues surrounding Tejas are fully addressed, export negotiations are likely to remain on hold. Armenia may consider other aircraft options instead of Tejas. Recent media reports suggest that Yerevan could look at jets from South Korea or France, or heavier fighters, to meet its defence requirements.

For India’s defence-export sector, the incident may shake confidence among other potential buyers, potentially affecting Tejas’ broader export prospects.

Separately, Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder fighter jets could represent an alternative option for Armenia. However, such a move would be seen as a major shift in diplomatic relations between Pakistan and other global stakeholders.