IAF Looks at Indigenisation to Build Strength: Air Chief

NEW DELHI. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is putting “a special focus on indigenisation and self-reliance” to build its combat capabilities in the coming years though strategic partnership.

- VK Jimmy Bhatia

Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa told India Strategic in an interview that while “the major challenge is to ensure that equipment being operated by us remains contemporary and we are able to maintain technological asymmetry with respect to our adversaries, our key result areas in future will be to continue building up combat capabilities through new inductions and upgrades with a special focus on indigenisation and self-reliance.”

The Government, he said, “is preparing a roadmap for manufacturing of fighter aircraft with a strategic partner through the Make in India process” and that “all future inductions in IAF will be in accordance with this roadmap.”

The programme through a strategic partner will also assist in ensuring development of next generation indigenous fighter aircraft, he said, indicating that the selected partner will have to assist in developing the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) that the country’s scientists are working on.