The Indian government has formed a high-level committee to fill important operational deficiencies in the Indian Air Force (IAF). In light of growing threats from neighbors like China and Pakistan, the IAF is severely lacking fighter aircraft and other vital capabilities, which is why this project was launched.
Key members of the group, which is chaired by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, include Air Marshal Tejinder Singh, the Deputy Chief of Air Staff, and Samir V. Kamat, the Chief of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Its main goal is to create a detailed plan for improving the IAF’s capabilities through both domestic and international initiatives, with a special emphasis on purchasing 114 new fighter aircraft.
Lagging Modernization: The IAF is having trouble keeping up with its regional rivals, especially China, in terms of fleet modernization. Marshal Amar Preet Singh, the Air Chief, has publicly admitted that India has lagged behind in terms of defense equipment manufacturing rates and technology, which are essential for preserving air superiority. The IAF’s operational preparedness and effectiveness are hampered by the fact that it now only has 31 fighter squadrons, far less than the authorized 42.
Dependency on Foreign Technology: One of the most urgent problems is the continued reliance on foreign vendors for cutting-edge aircraft and technology. Although encouraging, the domestic TEJAS program is still not entirely ready to take on cutting-edge foreign combatants like China’s J-20. The Kaveri engine continues to be a bottleneck in the development of vital components like jet engines.
Only 30 fighter squadrons are currently in service in the IAF, far less than the 42.5 approved squadrons needed to properly handle China and Pakistani threats.
The committee will discuss how supply chain problems with General Electric engine deliveries have caused delays in important programs, like the domestic TEJAS MK-1A fighter fighters.
The heightened military presence of China, which has modernized its airbases and strengthened its fleet of aircraft and drones along the Indian border, is the reason for the urgency of this committee.
A growing disparity in weapons capabilities relative to its enemies further complicates the IAF’s modernization efforts, calling for quick action to improve both air-to-air and air-to-ground missile systems.
By the end of January 2024, the group is supposed to deliver its report, which will include a strategic strategy for closing these capability gaps and expediting the purchase of new aircraft.
This program is part of a larger effort to strengthen India’s air defense capabilities by relying more on domestic production while still taking into account required international partnerships.
In order to solve long-standing shortcomings in the IAF’s operational capability and achieve a more resilient defense posture in a regional security environment that is becoming more and more difficult, this newly established committee is an essential first step.
Significant obstacles still stand in the way of the Indian Air Force’s efforts to modernize and become self-sufficient in defense production. The creation of yet another committee highlights the ongoing battle to adequately address these systemic problems inside India’s defense sector.
