In a candid assessment of his force, Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh acknowledged on Friday that the IAF lags behind in terms of technological advancements and must catch up to remain competitive. He also expressed a willingness to choose Indian-made products, even if they offer 85 percent of the capabilities of their global counterparts.
*Need for Domestic Production and Collaboration*
Speaking at a seminar hosted by the Chanakya Forum, ACM Singh emphasized the importance of exploring collaborative projects between foreign firms and Indian private players to produce fighter aircraft domestically. This would supplement the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) production of the Tejas Mk-1A.
ACM Singh’s comments pointed directly to the long-pending Medium Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme, which envisions the procurement of 114 new fighter jets. Some of these will be acquired from abroad in flyaway condition, while others will be made in India. This move is part of the IAF’s broader strategy to procure 126 aircraft, an effort since 2000 that culminated in the Narendra Modi government’s emergency purchase of 36 Rafale fighters in 2016.
*Current Aircraft Numbers and Future Needs*
The IAF’s numbers remain a concern, with the force currently operating only 31 squadrons of fighter jets—well below the sanctioned strength of 42. In reality, even these 31 squadrons are somewhat inflated, as two squadrons of MiG-21s have been merged to meet the required numbers.
Looking ahead, ACM Singh stressed the need for India to prepare for future conflicts, which he believes will be defined by advanced technology and protracted engagements. “We cannot afford to fight wars of the past, we must fight the wars of the future,” he said, advocating for a more forward-thinking approach to defence preparedness.
*Homegrown Systems as First Preference*
Acknowledging the challenges, ACM Singh reiterated that the IAF’s first preference would be to prioritize homegrown systems. “Even if a domestic system delivers 85 percent or 90 percent of the performance offered by international products, we would still choose to go with the homegrown option,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that developing such systems will take time, and in the meantime, the IAF must quickly fill the gaps. “We will have to look at systems that are available but made in India. That will give us a boost because new technology will come to India at a quicker pace,” he said, adding that it will also increase the production capacity for homegrown systems.
*Immediate Requirements and Future Goals*
ACM Singh highlighted the delayed delivery of the Tejas MK-IA fighters, which was set to begin in February last year but has yet to start. He emphasized the need to produce or induct aircraft at the rate of two squadrons per year to cater for the required numbers and replace aging fleets such as the Mirage 2000, Jaguar, and MiG-29, which are set to begin being phased out from 2030.
He noted that HAL has promised to start delivery of 24 LCA MK-IA fighters. “If we are talking about 24 aircraft of MK1A, plus some Sukhois or other aircraft, we are looking at 30 aircraft per year by HAL alone. Along with that, if we have a private player coming in, we have a very good model of transport aircraft at this moment. If the private industry comes in for Make in India, we add another 12-18 from that side. So, we are reaching there, it is possible. We need to make sure that we don’t lose steam while we are pushing it,” he said.
The IAF chief referred to the model of C-295 transport aircraft, which is being manufactured in India through a partnership between TATA and the Spanish arm of the European firm Airbus.
