Following the tragic crash of an Indian Tejas Mk-1A fighter jet at the Dubai Airshow on 21 November 2025, several media outlets and social media accounts claimed that Armenia had immediately suspended or cancelled a $1.2 billion deal for 12 Tejas aircraft. After extensive verification, no evidence supports this claim. There was never an officially confirmed Tejas deal with Armenia, no Armenian government statement exists about any suspension, and multiple Indian and independent sources have labelled the story as disinformation. Real India–Armenia defence cooperation continues strongly — but it centres on Su-30MKI jets, Pinaka rockets, Akash missiles and radars, not Tejas.
What Really Happened at Dubai Airshow 2025
A Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) of the Indian Air Force crashed on 21 November 2025 while performing an aerobatic manoeuvre during the Dubai Airshow. The pilot, Wing Commander Namansh Syal, tragically lost his life. The incident was widely covered and videos spread rapidly across social media.
- Official statement from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL): “An isolated occurrence… over 10,000 safe sorties flown by the Tejas fleet.”
Source: Reuters, 24 Nov 2025 - Investigation ongoing; preliminary reports point to possible technical malfunction during a high-G negative manoeuvre.
Source: The Hindu, 25 Nov 2025
Origin of the “Armenia Suspends Tejas Deal” Claim
Within hours of the crash, headlines appeared claiming Armenia had halted negotiations for 12–15 Tejas Mk-1A jets worth approximately $1–1.2 billion.
Key articles that spread the claim:
- Dunya News (Pakistan) – 22 Nov 2025
- Defence Security Asia – 23 Nov 2025
- The Jerusalem Post – 24 Nov 2025 (later updated with caution)
- Multiple Pakistani and Turkish-linked Facebook pages and X accounts
None of these reports quoted an official Armenian source, and no statement was ever released by the Armenian Ministry of Defence or the Prime Minister’s office.
Fact-Check: Was There Ever a Tejas Deal with Armenia?
- No public or officially confirmed negotiation for Tejas jets with Armenia existed before or after the crash.
Source: Indian Defence Research Wing (IDRW), 24 Nov 2025 - Pre-crash searches (Google, Janes, SIPRI databases) for “Armenia Tejas” return zero credible results before 21 Nov 2025.
- Armenian defence procurement focus in 2024–2025 has been on Su-30MKI fighters (8–12 aircraft, ~$3 billion), Pinaka MBRLs, Akash SAMs, and Swathi radars — all publicly reported and in various stages of delivery/contract finalisation.
Sources: Jamestown Foundation (Oct 2025), Caliber.az (Nov 2025)
Official Reactions and Debunking
- Indian defence sources to ANI: “Completely fake news. No formal talks with Armenia on Tejas ever took place.” (24 Nov 2025)
- Fact-checking accounts on X (e.g., @dintentdata, @DefenceDecode) traced the majority of viral posts to Pakistan-based propaganda networks.
- Armenian news outlets (Hetq, Armenpress, CivilNet) and the official MoD website contain zero mentions of Tejas or any suspension as of 26 Nov 2025.
Current India–Armenia Defence Cooperation (Confirmed Deals)
| System | Quantity/Details | Value | Status | Year Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinaka MBRL | Multiple regiments | ~$250 million | Delivered & operational | 2022–2023 |
| Akash Air Defence | Several batteries | Part of larger package | Delivered | 2023 |
| Swathi WLR radars | Multiple units | Undisclosed | Delivered | 2023–2024 |
| Su-30MKI fighters | 8–12 aircraft | ~$3 billion | Contract finalisation | 2025 |
Sources: The Hindu BusinessLine, Jamestown Foundation, Eurasianet
Conclusion
The story of Armenia suspending a Tejas purchase is false and appears to be a coordinated disinformation campaign capitalising on the tragic Dubai crash. India’s actual defence partnership with Armenia remains robust and growing — just not with the Tejas aircraft.
Always verify extraordinary claims with official statements. In this case, silence from Yerevan speaks louder than viral headlines.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Did Armenia really suspend or cancel a Tejas fighter jet deal after the Dubai crash?
No. The story is completely false. No official Tejas deal with Armenia ever existed, and no Armenian authority has ever announced any suspension.
Was there any negotiation between Armenia and India for Tejas jets before the crash?
No credible evidence exists. Searches in Janes, SIPRI, Indian MoD records, and Armenian sources show zero mentions of Tejas talks with Armenia before or after 21 November 2025.
Where did the “Armenia suspends Tejas” story first appear?
It started on Pakistani social-media pages hours after the crash and was first published as news by Dunya News (Pakistan) on 22 November 2025, without citing any source.
Which news outlets repeated the false claim?
Dunya News, Defence Security Asia, Caliber.az, BulgarianMilitary.com, and The Jerusalem Post (which later added a caution note). None provided an Armenian government source.
Has the Armenian Ministry of Defence said anything about Tejas?
No. As of 26 November 2025, the official website (mil.am) and all Armenian state media contain zero references to Tejas, HAL, or any Indian fighter-jet suspension.
What fighter jets is Armenia actually planning to buy from India?
Armenia is finalising a deal for 8–12 Su-30MKI multirole fighters (approximately $3 billion), not Tejas. This has been widely reported since October 2025.
What weapons has Armenia already received from India?
Pinaka rocket launchers, Akash air-defence missiles, Swathi radars, Zen anti-drone systems, and ATAGS 155 mm howitzers — all delivered or in delivery between 2022–2025.
Who debunked the story?
Indian defence sources (quoted by ANI & IDRW), fact-checking accounts on X (@dintentdata, @DefenceDecode), and independent defence analysts. All confirm it is disinformation.
Why do many people believe the rumour?
Dramatic crash videos + rapid sharing by accounts linked to Pakistan’s propaganda networks + clickbait headlines created the illusion of truth. Geopolitical rivalry played a big role.
Has the Dubai crash affected real India–Armenia defence cooperation?
No. Contracts for Su-30MKI fighters and other systems continue to move toward final signature, unaffected by the false Tejas rumour.
