No one can argue that DRDO has had a horrible track record in delivering projects on time and as per agreed quality. But a large part of the problem stems from the fact that our armed forces at first sets sets unrealistically high goals for indigenous products and then keeps on changing the requirements as time goes by.
If "some" delays would be the only problem, it wouldn't be a big issue, but in case of LCA for example, they can't provide anything! Their engine developments failed completely, which caused the main part of the LCA delays, so that has nothing to do with requirements or IAF at all. And which requirements really was changed by IAF? The new engines were needed because Kaveri failed and LCA got to heavy and draggy, so more power was a need to counter the shortfalls of the development (btw, mainly required from IN wrt N-LCA, just like the additional fuel tanks, which is why I always say, that N-LCA delays LCA as a while as well).
A few points here -
1. The point of developing & using indigenous military equipment is creating local capability - it is by definition a long term game. You can always argue that our air force will need to match enemy capabilities but the correct approach here is to create a basic product and keep on developing in subsequent releases.
Exactly, that's why the LCA program as whole is so important for Indias aero sector, because it's sets up the base infrastructure to develop and operate indigenously developed fighters. That's why it's so important to get LCA into serial production and inducted into IAF as soon as possible, but also to keep developments going on to make it better and provide good logistical support for the next 3 decades.
But all this is not possible if the industry is not able to meet at least basic development goals and simply want to switch to the next project now (AMCA), or without IAF finally inducting LCA and help to improve it in the coming years during operational service. That's why I am for inducting LCA right now, but not for waiting more years for DRDO to provide the promised techs. Take proven and capable foreign techs now instead, which even makes LCA better than initially planned and keep improving DRDOs development on the side and de-linked from LCA.
2. But when it comes to foreign made products, they are strangely much more forgiving. I don't suggest that this is because of bribes and honey-traps, but their attitude does generate suspicion. Again Arjun vs. T90S comes to mind.
I agree with that to certain extend, just like LCA should already be inducted now, Arjun should have got more orders by now as well. However, you can't simply forget the years of delays both projects have and that in these years the threat perception, just like the tactics changes, for Arjun more than for LCA.
Arjun was developed as an MBT in a time when Pakistan and the western borders were the main priority, today IA needs more mobile tanks that can face the more capable Chinese army, that's why IA prefers T90s or the FMBT for the northern or eastern borders.
LCA on the other side was always meant to be the low end fighter of IAF, so even against China it will only be an addition to more capable MKIs, Rafales and in future FGFAs at the eastern borders. That's why I would have prefered a smaller and faster MK2 modifications, but as said, that was mainly not possibly because if the requirements of IN.
So again, it is ture that our forces needs to be more confident in indigenous developments, but that doesn't mean they have to take anything what the industry have developmed or what they want to develop (HTT40), because the most important priority is Indias security, not supporting Indian industry for pride reasons!
3. From what I have seen, the Indian Navy has been the sole exception in this regard -
That's often stated, but it's simply too short sighted!
1) IN don't have a threat perception like IA and IAF, therefor their requirements can be lower, or they can accept limited capable indigenous developments too (N-LCA)
2) Indian naval industry is way ahead of our aero industry, that's why IN benefit a lot from good Indian companies, that can not only produce capable vessels, but also from capable naval sensors (partially developed by DRDO) and systems.
3) On the other side, the fact that IN might not have a single indigenously developed helicopter for the next decades apart from a dozon naval Dhruvs or so, shows the problem of the aero field and that IN is not that supporting as it seems!