Indian Air Force Grapples With Combat Pilot Shortages And Aging Training Infrastructure: CAG Report

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is grappling with a shortage of fighter pilots, a problem compounded by inadequate training resources.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report tabled during the winter session highlights a persistent decline in IAF's pilot strength.

In 2015, the IAF identified a shortage of 486 pilots. However, between 2016 and 2021, the planned annual intake of 222 trainees fell short of target, with actual intakes ranging between 158 and 204 trainees.

"The annual intake after wastage ranged between 124 to 167," the report said.

As a result, “the shortage of pilots rose from 486 to 596 which was expected to be filled up between January 2021 and January 2030," it added, The New Indian Express reported.

Challenges in Pilot Training

The CAG's Report on Training of Pilots in the Indian Air Force reveals significant deficiencies in the training infrastructure.

The Performance Audit was conducted during the period January 2022 to May 2022 and covered the three stages of training; Stage I (Basic), Stage II (Intermediate) and Stage III (Applied) imparted by the Flying Training Establishments (FTEs) and the training of Navigators at the Navigation Training School (NTS) during the period 2016 to 2021.

Pilots across all three training stages—Basic, Intermediate, and Applied—are trained on old aircraft, undermining their preparation for modern combat scenarios.

Basic Trainer Aircraft: Induction of 106 Basic Trainer Aircraft (BTA), which were to be indigenously developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), was delayed due to issues with design and certification.

• Intermediate Jet Trainers: Plans to induct 73 Intermediate Jet Trainers (IJT) also faced delays, further exacerbating training gaps.

• Helicopter Training: Helicopter pilots are trained on the ageing Chetak helicopters, which were inducted more than 50 years ago.

Delay in Modernisation

The report underscores that delays in procuring new trainer aircraft have hindered efforts to modernise the IAF’s training infrastructure.

The audit findings about Trainer Aircraft said had stated in March 2013 that action was on hand to procure 296 aircrafts by 2016 and IAF would have sufficient resources to train its pilots till 2036.

Comparative Disadvantage

The delay in modernisation, particularly in force multipliers, places the IAF at a disadvantage when compared to Pakistan and China's air forces, both of which have made significant advancements in their combat capabilities and pilot training programmes.

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