DRDO had made that statement for the 2016 version as well and changed it only in 2019. Official letter was written to MoD and IAF. So funny that you want to change the narrative. Caught lying again.DRDO statement was back in 2011 for its IOC config. - How smart of u to think that Tejas of 2011-12 is equal to Tejas IOC official 2016.
IAF made the mistake of trusting DRDO and HAL. They said they will deliver on time but didn’t. They also tried to get MMRCA, and were again denied. Again HAL failed to close the deal.
Again, DRDO have in writing that the plane must not be used in combat under any circumstances. DRDO’s written words.
So please tell me how is a plane which simply can’t be used for war is better than a plane which is ready to fight and is in fact being exported?
Also, you again skipped the main point. Even the orders already placed are delayed. So what’s the point of more orders? It’s not like there was a single extra plane that HAL could have produced but IAF said don’t give it to us.