Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief VR Chaudhari on Tuesday said it will not be possible for the air force to reach its full sanctioned strength of 42 fighter squadrons in the next 10-15 years.
Speaking to media persons ahead of the Air Force Day which is scheduled on October 8, Chaudhari said that the strength will continue to be 35 squadrons in the next decade. The Air Force has currently sanctioned a total strength of 42 fighter squadrons.
When asked about the S-400 missile system, Chaudhari said that the first SAM system will be inducted within this year but it will be no substitute to the fighter jets.
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He further talked about the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme that has been undertaken by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to develop fifth to sixth-generation fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.
“The four squadrons of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk1A, six squadrons of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and six Medium Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA), and then factoring in the phaseout, it will remain at 35 squadrons in the next decade. There is no scope for increment as of now,” he said.
Chaudhari said that the Air Force is fully committed to DRDO’s timeline of rolling out the AMCA within this decade and is hoping to induct the aircraft by the start of the next decade.
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“We are fully committed to the AMCA programme, for which an ambitious timeline has been set by DRDO themselves. The AMCA will roll out well before the end of this decade. We hope to start inducting the AMCA by the early years of next decade,” he stressed. However, to mitigate the gap in fighter squadrons and the combat capabilities, the Request For Information (RFI) for 114 MRFA was floated. “The RFI were received and we are now waiting to move the case up further”, he noted.
Further talking about the current squadron, he emphasized the offensive capabilities and potential of aircraft like Rafale and Apaches.
"The induction of Rafale, Apaches have significantly added to our combat potential. Our offensive strike capability has become even more potent with the integration of new weapons on our fleets," said IAF chief.
