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IAF Chief Blames ‘Process-Driven’ Procurement For Fighter Aircraft Shortfall
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh (C), Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi (R) and former defence minister A K Antony (RAVEENDRAN/AFP/Getty Images)
On 4 October, while addressing his first press conference since India signed up to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France, Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha explained how the crippling deficiencies in fighter aircraft would be tackled.
The IAF chief blamed the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s obsession with procedure for the IAF’s current aircraft shortfall. India has just 33 fighter squadrons instead of the sanctioned 45.
The air chief specified that a new 'Make in India' fighter production line could be on the cards, based on “unsolicited offers” from Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Saab for building their fighter aircraft in India, namely the F-16 Block 70, F/A-18 Super Hornet and the Gripen E respectively.
In the conference, the IAF chief spelt out for the first time their commitment and a roadmap for inducting 120 Tejas fighter aircraft. The IAF chief said the long-delayed “final operational certification” of the Tejas would be cleared in the next five to six months.
In the meantime, the Tejas Mark 1A, with improved radar, weapons, electronic warfare capability and maintainability would fly in three to four years.
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