Recently, the challenges faced by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in modernizing its fleet have come into the spotlight. The IAF, recognized as one of the largest Air Forces globally, is grappling with delays in procurement resulting in a shortfall in its fighter squadrons. A report presented to the Parliamentary standing committee on Defence revealed that the IAF currently operates 31 fighter squadrons, falling short of its sanctioned strength of 42.
Understanding Fighter Squadrons
A fighter squadron refers to a military unit comprising fighter aircraft and their respective pilots. This military subdivision forms an integral part of any air force and holds the responsibility of executing air operations within a combat zone. Typically, a fighter squadron consists of 18 fighter aircraft. Their mission range includes maintaining air superiority and executing ground attacks, making them an indispensable component of any modern air force.
The Root Cause: Procurement Delays
The primary cause contributing to this shortfall are the delays in procurement. Many of the fighter jets currently operated by the IAF are reaching the end of their service life and require replacement. The process of acquiring over 500 new fighter jets appears ambitious on paper, but delays in their development and manufacturing stages have caused complications. These jets are predominantly destined for the IAF, with a total contract for 272 SU-30 units. However, an agreement to acquire additional SU-30MKI and MIG-29 aircrafts from Russia has hit a roadblock, contributing to the delay, although officials from both nations maintain it’s only temporary.
India’s Varied Fleet of Aircrafts
The Indian Air Force operates diverse aircraft types, each designed for specific roles and responsibilities.
Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)
The LCA, developed to replace aging Mig 21 fighters, is a product of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Department of Defence Research and Development. Manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), this tailless multi-role supersonic fighter aircraft is equipped for a range of air-to-air, air-to-surface, precision-guided weapons operations.
Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA)
The IAF intends to procure 114 MRFA units to replace its aging fleet of Soviet-era MiG-21. As part of the Make in India initiative, the chosen vendor will have to set up a production line within India and transfer technology to local partners.
MiG-21
The IAF acquired its first MiG-21 in 1963 and has since inducted 874 variants of the aircraft. However, with its involvement in numerous accidents and its subsequent nickname, “flying coffin,” the IAF plans to phase out the MiG-21 by 2024.
Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)
The AMCA, an Indian initiative to develop a 5th generation stealth, multirole combat aircraft, is expected to have numerous advanced features. First flight is anticipated in 2025, with production commencing post-2030.
Sukhoi Su-30MKI
This twin-engine, two-seat, multirole fighter aircraft developed by Russia’s Sukhoi, and built under license by HAL for the IAF, has been deployed in several conflicts and exercises.
Twin-Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF)
The TEDBF, manufactured for the Navy to replace the Navy’s MiG-29K, is India’s first twin-engine aircraft project for dedicated carrier-based operations.
Rafale
The Rafale, a French twin-engine and multirole fighter aircraft, was procured in 2016 and is equipped for a broad range of missions.
Recent Developments
In recent news, the INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, was commissioned in September 2022 and is currently becoming operational. Additionally, the Naval variant of India’s indigenous LCA recently completed its maiden landing on board the INS Vikrant.
