We need to add 35-40 fighter jets every year: IAF chief
3 weeks, 4 days ago

We need to add 35-40 fighter jets every year: IAF chief

The Hindu  

The Indian Air Force needs to add 35 to 40 fighter jets every year to fill the shortage in numbers, Air Chief Marshal A.P. HAL has promised to produce 24 Tejas Mark-1A jets next year, I am happy with that,” Air Chief Marshal Singh said while speaking at the Chanakya Dialogues conclave. To a question on the likely force structure of the IAF by 2047, the Air Chief did not predict a major difference in platforms but said “the technology would change obviously”. That is what my vision is.” Elaborating further, Air Chief Marshal Singh stated that the IAF will be a bigger force in terms of fighters, “in terms of enablers and technology-wise”.

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History of this topic

India likely to issue global tender to acquire multirole fighter jets
1 week, 6 days ago

India likely to issue global tender to acquire multirole fighter jets

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: As India prepares to issue a global tender to acquire new multirole fighter aircraft, Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. The IAF chief's statement comes when a high-level committee headed by defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, in its report to defence minister Rajnath Singh last week, is said to have accepted the need for getting 114 …

How Indian Air Force aims to give its bold modernisation a flying start
2 weeks, 6 days ago

How Indian Air Force aims to give its bold modernisation a flying start

India Today  

New Delhi is abuzz with strategic manoeuvring as the Indian Air Force unveils a sweeping roadmap to fortify its combat capabilities even as the Donald Trump administration dangles the coveted F-35 stealth fighter as a tantalising offer. Given the growing threat perception and need for technological superiority, the IAF’s modernisation push is expected to shape India’s future air combat capabilities …

High-powered defence committee identifies key thrust areas for IAF modernisation
3 weeks, 1 day ago

High-powered defence committee identifies key thrust areas for IAF modernisation

The Hindu  

The Empowered Committee for Capability Enhancement of the lndian Air Force, headed by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, identified key thrust areas and made recommendations for medium- and long-term measures in its report presented to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday. “The report also underscores the need for impetus to enhance ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in the aerospace domain with the private sector …

Induction of 35-40 fighters per year need of the hour: IAF chief
3 weeks, 3 days ago

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

Hindustan Times  

NEW DELHI: 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. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said that an in-house study conducted by the IAF showed that it must induct two …

India needs 35-40 fighter jets annually to replace aging fleet: Air Force Chief
3 weeks, 4 days ago

India needs 35-40 fighter jets annually to replace aging fleet: Air Force Chief

India Today  

The Indian Air Force requires the production of at least 35 to 40 fighter jets per year to replace its aging fleet, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said on Friday. Speaking at the Chanakya Dialogues conclave on "Bharat 2047: Atmanirbhar In War", Singh also stressed the urgency of ramping up domestic aircraft manufacturing to maintain operational readiness. "This target is …

Will U.S.’s F-35 stealth fighter jets fit into IAF’s future plans?
1 month, 1 week ago

Will U.S.’s F-35 stealth fighter jets fit into IAF’s future plans?

The Hindu  

Early last week fifth generation fighter aircraft of both Russia and U.S. were at Aero India in Bengaluru, positioned at each end of the static display at the Yelahanka Air Force station. Just as the business days of the show came to an end, U.S. President Donald Trump, standing next to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a visit …

Defence Ministry forms committee to address shortages in Air Force
3 months ago

Defence Ministry forms committee to address shortages in Air Force

India Today  

The Defence Ministry has set up a committee to address the capability development of the Indian Air Force amid critical shortage of fighter jets, weapons, and equipment, government officials told India Today. Chaired by the Defence Secretary, the committee includes senior ministry officials, Defence Research and Development Organisation chairman Dr Samir V Kamat, and IAF representatives. The IAF’s long-pending proposal …

Parliamentary panel urges faster Tejas jet production to boost Air Force fleet
3 months, 1 week ago

Parliamentary panel urges faster Tejas jet production to boost Air Force fleet

India Today  

In a bid to address the Indian Air Force’s dwindling squadron strength, a parliamentary committee on defence has urged the Ministry of Defence to expedite the production of the Tejas Mk1A fighter jets. While the Air Force requires 42 squadrons to effectively handle a two-front threat scenario with Pakistan and China, it currently operates only 31 active squadrons, each consisting …

India to Now Develop Its Own Fifth-Generation Stealth Fighter; What are IAF Plans? Everything You Need to Know
1 year ago

India to Now Develop Its Own Fifth-Generation Stealth Fighter; What are IAF Plans? Everything You Need to Know

News 18  

India will now be able to make its own fifth-generation stealth fighter, the advanced medium combat aircraft at supersonic cruise speed, at the estimated cost of Rs 15,000 crore. The approval happened more than two years after Defence Research and Development Organisation and Aeronautical Development Agency initiated the process to obtain the CCS approval for Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft design …

IAF chief receives 1st LCA trainer from HAL, 7 more to come by Mar ‘24
1 year, 5 months ago

IAF chief receives 1st LCA trainer from HAL, 7 more to come by Mar ‘24

Hindustan Times  

State-run plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited on Wednesday handed over the first trainer version of the light combat aircraft Tejas to Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari at a ceremony in Bengaluru, with the twin seater set to fill a key training role in the air force and double as a fighter if needed, officials aware of …

Indian Air Force to procure another 97 Tejas Mark-1A jets
1 year, 5 months ago

Indian Air Force to procure another 97 Tejas Mark-1A jets

Firstpost  

In February 2021, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000-crore deal with state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for procurement of 83 Tejas MK-1A jets for the IAF. With the additional 97 Tejas Mark-1A jets, the total number of indigenously-developed aircraft of the IAF will be 180 The Indian Air Force is in the process of finalising a Rs 1.15 …

IAF banking on indigenous fighter aircraft to prevent numbers going below current level
1 year, 6 months ago

IAF banking on indigenous fighter aircraft to prevent numbers going below current level

The Hindu  

The Indian Air Force, which has put its weight behind the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft project, is hoping for expedited deliveries and gearing up to place additional orders. By 2030, the IAF would have 32 or 33 fighter squadrons and would have 35 or 36 fighter squadrons by 2040 if the indigenous fighters meet the induction timeline, a Defence official …

Indian Air Force orders 100 more LCA Mark1A jets, to replace MiG-21s
1 year, 7 months ago

Indian Air Force orders 100 more LCA Mark1A jets, to replace MiG-21s

Firstpost  

The order would mean that the LCA Tejas fighters would renter the Indian Air Force in very large numbers. The IAF will have 40 LCA, over 180 LCA Mark-1A and at least 120 LCA Mark-2 planes in the next 15 years A day after India achieved major success in the space sector with Chandrayaan-3, the indigenous aerospace sector is all …

IAF grounds MiG-21 fighter aircraft fleet pending investigations
1 year, 10 months ago

IAF grounds MiG-21 fighter aircraft fleet pending investigations

Live Mint  

The Indian Air Force has grounded the entire fleet of MiG-21 fighter aircraft till the checks are carried out and investigations into the reasons behind the crash over Rajasthan earlier this month are ascertained. Three people lost their lives in the crash when a MiG-21 Bison aircraft airborne from the Suratgarh air base crashed over Hanumangarh in a village on …

Defence Diary: New Weapons Systems Branch in IAF Will Plug Gap in a Key Personnel Issue — Shortage of Pilots
2 years, 5 months ago

Defence Diary: New Weapons Systems Branch in IAF Will Plug Gap in a Key Personnel Issue — Shortage of Pilots

News 18  

The creation of a new Weapons Systems Branch for Indian Air Force officers will tackle a critical personnel issue plaguing the service for the last several years —shortage of pilots. Stating that this is the first time since Independence that a new operational branch is being created, the Air Chief said IAF personnel in the new branch will man four …

Doctrinal aspects of Air Force should not be compromised by new structures under theatre commands: IAF Chief
2 years, 5 months ago

Doctrinal aspects of Air Force should not be compromised by new structures under theatre commands: IAF Chief

The Hindu  

While the Indian Air Force is not opposed to the process of having theatre commands, it has “certain reservations” with respect to the structures and the doctrinal aspects of the force “should not in any way be compromised by this new structure”, said IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal, V.R. Asked about the situation along the LAC following the recent disengagement …

IAF to phase out remaining four MiG-21 squadrons by 2025
2 years, 7 months ago

IAF to phase out remaining four MiG-21 squadrons by 2025

The Hindu  

The Indian Air Force has drawn up a three-year timeline to phase out the remaining four MiG-21 fighter squadrons with one of them set to retire from service in September, people familiar with the development said on Friday. The IAF also plans to start the phasing out of the three squadrons of MiG-29 fighter jets in the next five years, …

IAF set to phase out all 4 of its ageing MiG-21s by 2025
2 years, 7 months ago

IAF set to phase out all 4 of its ageing MiG-21s by 2025

Hindustan Times  

The Indian Air Force is set to retire one of its four remaining squadrons of ageing MiG-21 fighter jets in September, with the other three scheduled to be phased out over the next three years, people familiar with the development said on Friday. Several MiG-21s have crashed in recent years with the accidents turning the spotlight on India’s longest-serving fighter …

IAF to build 96 fighter jets in India under the 'Buy Global and Make in India' scheme
2 years, 9 months ago

IAF to build 96 fighter jets in India under the 'Buy Global and Make in India' scheme

India TV News  

IAF to build 96 fighter jets in India under the 'Buy Global and Make in India' scheme The initial 18 aircraft will be imported while the next 36 aircraft would be manufactured within the country. Highlights IAF plans to acquire 114 fighter jets under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat scheme The payment for the last 60 aircrafts will be made only in …

IAF to get 35 fighter squadrons in next 10 years, but needs 42: Air chief
3 years, 5 months ago

IAF to get 35 fighter squadrons in next 10 years, but needs 42: Air chief

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: At a time when there’s a joint threat from China and Pakistan, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal V.R. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said while the Air Force will get 83 Light Combat aircraft MK1A, 114 MRFA and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, it would also have to retire the Jaguar and MiG-21, which will bring down …

IAF To Have Maximum 35 Fighter Squadrons Till Next Decade: Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari
3 years, 5 months ago

IAF To Have Maximum 35 Fighter Squadrons Till Next Decade: Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari

News 18  

Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said on Tuesday the Indian Air Force will have around 35 fighter squadrons till the next decade, even as the sanctioned strength is of 42. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari while addressing concerns of IAF’s depleting fighter squadron strength, particularly in the wake of an anticipated collusive security threat from China and Pakistan, said even after …

Chinese S-400 systems across LAC, forces India to rethink air defence
3 years, 9 months ago

Chinese S-400 systems across LAC, forces India to rethink air defence

Hindustan Times  

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Tuesday said that air defence was becoming more and more complex in the larger context of the proposed setting up of an air defence theater command. The on-going stand-off with the People's Liberation Army on China in East Ladakh with the presence of two S-400 squadrons of anti-aircraft systems at Hotan air …

Opinion | How in a single stroke Modi rubbished Rahul’s charge of ‘winding up’ HAL
4 years, 2 months ago

Opinion | How in a single stroke Modi rubbished Rahul’s charge of ‘winding up’ HAL

India TV News  

The Cabinet Committee on Security on Wednesday approved the acquisition of 83 indigenously manufactured fourth-generation Tejas jet fighters from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for the Indian Air Force. The LCA-Tejas is going to be the backbone of the IAF fighter fleet in the years to come.” The new Tejas Mark 1-A jet fighters will have 43 improvements over the 40 Tejas …

Tejas to be Backbone of IAF Fleet: Rajnath Singh After Largest-Ever ‘Make in India’ Defence Deal
4 years, 2 months ago

Tejas to be Backbone of IAF Fleet: Rajnath Singh After Largest-Ever ‘Make in India’ Defence Deal

News 18  

Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday predicted that the deal to acquire 83 upgraded versions of the Tejas fighter jets will be a “game-changer” for self-reliance in Indian defence manufacturing soon after the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the largest-ever indigenous defence procurement deal. Confirming the CCS clearance for the deal, Singh said the homegrown fighter jet, LCA Tejas, will …

The Hindu Explains | How is India building up the squadron strength of its air force?
4 years, 8 months ago

The Hindu Explains | How is India building up the squadron strength of its air force?

The Hindu  

The story so far: On July 2, the Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved defence deals worth ₹38,900 crore which includes procurement of 21 MiG-29 fighter jets for the Indian Air Force along with upgradation of 59 existing MiG-29 jets in the IAF inventory and procurement of 12 Su-30MKI aircraft from Russia. Other deals approved by …

MoD approves 33 new fighter jets for IAF in deals worth ₹38,900 crore
4 years, 8 months ago

MoD approves 33 new fighter jets for IAF in deals worth ₹38,900 crore

The Hindu  

Amid the ongoing tensions on the border with China, the Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Thursday approved deals worth ₹38,900 crore. Other deals include Pinaka ammunition, armoured vehicle BMP armament upgrades and Software Defined Radio for the Army, long range land attack missile systems of over 1000 km range and Astra Beyond Visual Range air …

India to acquire 200 fighter jets for Air Force
5 years, 2 months ago

India to acquire 200 fighter jets for Air Force

India TV News  

The government is in the process of acquiring around 200 aircraft to cope with the depleting aerial inventories of the Indian Air Force, defence secretary Ajay Kumar said here on Sunday. " The contract for HAL-manufactured 83 LCA Tejas Mark 1 A advanced fighter jets are in the final stages," he said. "We are in the process of finalising the …

India to spend $130 billion for military modernisation in next 5 to 7 years; key priority is procurement of 110 multirole fighter aircraft for IAF
5 years, 6 months ago

India to spend $130 billion for military modernisation in next 5 to 7 years; key priority is procurement of 110 multirole fighter aircraft for IAF

Firstpost  

As India faces complex security threats, the government has firmed up a mega plan to spend USD 130 billion to bolster combat capability of the armed forces in the next five to seven years New Delhi: As India faces complex security threats, the government has firmed up a mega plan to spend USD 130 billion to bolster combat capability of …

In next two years, IAF will be left with only 26 squadrons of fighter aircraft against sanctioned strength of 42
6 years, 2 months ago

In next two years, IAF will be left with only 26 squadrons of fighter aircraft against sanctioned strength of 42

India TV News  

In the next two years, the Indian Air Force will be left with an alarmingly low 26 squadrons of fighter aircraft against an authorisation strength of 42. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, while visiting his home turf, Congress president Rahul Gandhi renewed his attack on Prime Minister Narendra over the Rafale aircraft deal, accusing the “watchman” of “giving” Rs 30,000 crore to …

Air Force likely to get 123 LCA Tejas by 2024-25
8 years ago

Air Force likely to get 123 LCA Tejas by 2024-25

The Hindu  

If the present development and capacity enhancement plans go as per schedule, the Indian Air Force will have 123 indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas fighter jets in its fleet by 2024-25. Mr. Raju said that about 45 improvements have been implemented in the 1A and HAL has already floated a tender for the Advanced Electronically Scanned Array radar and Self-Protection …

Indian Air Force facing capacity crisis: U.S. expert
8 years, 11 months ago

Indian Air Force facing capacity crisis: U.S. expert

The Hindu  

Even as India mulls over what fighter aircraft to invest in following Prime Minister Modi’s purchase of 36 French Rafale jets in January, a U.S. expert on India’s air capabilities has said that the Indian Air Force’s “falling end strength and problematic force structure, combined with its troubled acquisition and development programs, threaten India’s air superiority over its rapidly modernising …

Two new Rafale squadrons are fine, but IAF's dwindling fighters a worry: Former Air Marshal Gogoi
9 years, 11 months ago

Two new Rafale squadrons are fine, but IAF's dwindling fighters a worry: Former Air Marshal Gogoi

Firstpost  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi might have pulled a rabbit out off his hat while visiting France, when he decided to buy 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in fly-away condition for the Indian Air Force. To find out the pros and cons of the NDA’s Rafale deal, Firstpost spoke to former Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command, Air Marshal Anjan Kumar …

IAF to induct over 300 Sukhoi-30, Tejas LCA
13 years, 6 months ago

IAF to induct over 300 Sukhoi-30, Tejas LCA

Firstpost  

New Delhi: India will procure over 300 Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets and Tejas light combat aircraft at a total cost of Rs 64,408 crore to strengthen the combat capability of the IAF, the Upper House in Parliament was informed today. Replying to a question on procurement of combat aircraft in the Rajya Sabha, Defence Minister A K Antony said, “Su-30 …

“IAF plans are not adversary-specific”
15 years, 5 months ago

“IAF plans are not adversary-specific”

The Hindu  

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, on Thursday asserted that the capacity-building plans of the Indian Air Force were aimed at making it one of the most potent forces in the world, and not “adversary-specific.” Addressing a press conference here ahead of the October 8 Air Force Day, he downplayed the recent projection in the …

Does IAF need more squadrons?
18 years, 5 months ago

Does IAF need more squadrons?

Hindustan Times  

Last week, a letter from Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal, SP Tyagi to Defence Minister Pranab Mukherji was leaked to several media outlets. Air Commodore Jasjit Singh, director of the New Delhi-based Centre of Air Power Studies, says that despite the enormous capabilities of modern aircraft and force multipliers like air-to-air refuelling and Airborne Warning and Control System …

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