The Indian Air Force (IAF) is stepping up efforts across several parallel acquisition and manufacturing programs to stem a steady decline in fighter strength, with Air Chief Marshal AP Singh warning that ongoing delays in aircraft inductions are beginning to have an impact on operational capability.
Speaking ahead of the 94th Air Force Day celebrations in New Delhi, the Air Chief highlighted that the IAF currently operates just 29 fighter squadrons, significantly below its authorised strength of 42.5 squadrons.
He emphasized that the service must induct between 36 and 40 fighter aircraft each year just to stabilize its force structure, which equates to the addition of approximately two fighter squadrons per year.
According to the Air Chief, delays in planned inductions are now having a tangible impact on combat readiness.
He recognized that scheduling slippages are normal in huge military projects, but said that the current delays had been exceptionally severe.
The deployment of the TEJAS MK-1A light combat aircraft continues to be a key concern. The IAF has ordered a total of 180 TEJAS MK-1A fighters and sees them as an important part of its attempts to rebuild squadron strength.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has committed to boosting production capacity to as many as 24 aircraft per year through its manufacturing sites in Bangalore and Nashik. Accelerating delivery from these production lines is seen as critical if the IAF is to reverse its falling trend in fighter numbers.
The service continues to place a high priority on indigenous combat aircraft development. Along with the TEJAS MK-1A, the IAF anticipates future inductions of the TEJAS MK-2 and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India’s projected fifth-generation stealth fighter.
At the same time, the Air Force takes a pragmatic approach to fifth-generation combat aircraft requirements. While the AMCA remains India’s principal option to acquiring an indigenous stealth fighter capability, the IAF has suggested that if the domestic program experiences substantial delays, it may explore a foreign fifth-generation plane.The Air Force
Russia has been actively pitching its Su-57 stealth aircraft to India as a viable option. Senior defense officials, on the other hand, have consistently stated that the AMCA is still the favored path for the country to achieve advanced stealth combat capabilities.
The urgency of fifth-generation fighters is being driven by shifting regional security dynamics. China is expanding its fleet of stealth combat aircraft while also developing more powerful sixth-generation fighter designs. Pakistan is also set to acquire a Chinese fifth-generation platform, putting additional pressure on the IAF to modernize quickly.
On the conventional fighter procurement front, the Air Force gave its most definitive signal yet on the long-awaited 114-aircraft Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program.
The IAF hopes that negotiations will be completed and the contract signed before the current fiscal year ends in March 2027, assuming discussions proceed as scheduled.
The Dassault Rafale is usually regarded as the top contender for the criteria. Plans call for a significant amount of the aircraft to be constructed in India under a Make in India framework, based on the knowledge gained from operating the current fleet of 36 Rafales.Defense Industry
The Air Force also addressed the increased interest in unmanned systems, disputing claims that drones require a whole distinct command organization.
IAF leadership claimed that the service has used unmanned platforms for many years and sees them as force multipliers that supplement human aircraft rather than an independent combat arm.History
This idea is represented in the Weapons Systems Branch, which was established by the IAF in 2022. The branch is in charge of operating surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles, remotely piloted aircraft, and weapons systems on twin-seat and multicrew platforms.
Taken collectively, the IAF’s policy reveals a multifaceted approach to managing a growing capability gap. The service is simultaneously pushing for faster TEJAS production, encouraging more private-sector participation in fighter manufacturing, moving forward with the MRFA procurement, preparing for future TEJAS MK-2 and AMCA inductions, and retaining the option of a foreign fifth-generation fighter if domestic timelines slip further.
Despite these contingency measures, the Air Force has stated that the long-term goal remains the development of a primarily indigenous combat fleet capable of addressing India’s future air power needs.
