Induction of 35-40 fighters per year need of the hour: IAF chief

The Indian Air Force is "very badly off in numbers", Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh admitted on Friday, pointing out that it must induct 40 fighter jets every year to stay combat ready.

- Rahul Singhs

Singh added that the participation of private industry could help boost the aircraft production rate in the country to meet the growing needs of the world's fourth largest air force.

He said that the IAF was pushing for a model to build new fighter jets that will involve a foreign original equipment manufacturer setting up a production agency in the country along with an Indian partner as it would also give the air force an alternative option for any future design including a stealth fighter rather than depending only on the capabilities of state-run plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

"At the moment, we are very badly off in terms of numbers.

And the numbers that have been promised are also coming a little slow," Singh said making a case for boosting the production rate of fighters. He was speaking at the Chanakya Dialogues Conclave Bharat 2047: Atmanirbhar in War.

Singh's frank assessment of IAF's challenges come weeks after he questioned HAL's ability to meet the air force's critical requirements in the backdrop of a lingering delay in the supply of the new Mk-1A fighter jets, saying he had "no confidence" in the plane maker.

On Friday, he said that an in-house study conducted by the IAF showed that it must induct two fighter squadrons every year to cater to the numbers needed, the existing shortfall and to replace the aircraft that will be phased out soon.