Ex-IAF Officer Harjit Singh Exposes Chaos, Mental Health Crisis, and Obsolete Systems in Indian Air Defence

New Delhi:Former Indian Air Force officer Harjit Singh has made startling revelations about the internal dysfunction within the Indian military, particularly the Air Defence units. In an interview reported by *The Wire*, Singh highlighted the widespread mental stress, outdated equipment, and flawed leadership plaguing India’s air defence system.

Singh stated that many officers within India’s Air Defence suffer from severe psychological issues due to immense pressure and an unhealthy internal competition. “Every officer wants to become a general,” he said, “and that ambition breeds toxic stress and mental instability.”

Describing the current state of India’s Air Defence as “a tragic joke,” Singh remarked that joining the Air Defence often leads to a “peaceful life”—a sarcastic jab at its perceived irrelevance in modern warfare.

He further revealed that approximately 80% of India’s air defence still relies on outdated anti-aircraft guns, which have little to no relevance in today’s combat landscape dominated by drones, cruise missiles, and hypersonic technologies.

Singh also criticized the poor quality of Indian military drones, calling them “barely airworthy.” He cited cases where officers refused to activate radar systems out of fear they would be detected. “If you don’t even switch on the radar, how will you detect enemy aircraft, missiles, or drones?” he questioned.

These claims point to a deeply ineffective and obsolete air defence structure within the Indian military. Singh’s revelations have ignited fresh debate over the preparedness, modernization, and mental health crisis within the Indian Armed Forces.

**Note:** The Indian military has not officially responded to these claims as of yet.