IAF Chief Prioritises 'Homegrown' Defence Equipment, Urges Private Sector Contribution To Boost Aircraft Production

India is accelerating its defence manufacturing capabilities, with the Indian Air Force (IAF) firmly prioritising indigenous systems over foreign imports, even if locally developed alternatives offer slightly lower performance. 

Addressing the Chanakya Dialogues conclave, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh reaffirmed this stance, stating, "Even if a homegrown system gives me a slightly lesser performance... if it is 90 percent or 85 percent of what I get in the world market, we will go for homegrown system because that is the only way we can get over with always looking outward to get our systems.", quoted as saying by The Economic Times.

Singh acknowledged that developing indigenous military platforms is a long-term process requiring sustained investment and support. "A homegrown system cannot just happen overnight. It will take time and it needs to be supported. So for that, Indian Air Force is fully committed to any R&D project," he added.

Scaling Up Aircraft Production to Meet Future Demands

With several ageing aircraft in its fleet, the IAF faces the challenge of replacing them at an accelerated pace. Singh emphasised the need to produce at least 35-40 military aircraft annually to maintain operational strength.

Singh further outlined the role of private sector participation in boosting production capacity. "If some private industry comes in for a Make in India, let's say, we add another maybe 12-18 aircraft per year from their side. So we are reaching that number. So that is possible," he explained.

Adopting Cutting-Edge Technologies for Modern Warfare

Recognising the rapid evolution of military technology, the IAF is actively incorporating automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and quantum computing into its operations.

The growing role of these technologies was highlighted by Singh, who stated that everyone understands what is happening in the world with AI, quantum computing, and automation. He emphasised that efforts are being made to move forward positively, with automation advancing rapidly.

Singh noted that a lot of systems and prognoses have been automated, which is saving a lot of time and also giving efficient solutions.