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Beyond the News- Tejas and beyond: How short the IAF is of fighters, what options it has now
Context
- IAF is well short of the strength required to face up to a two-front threat.
- To be prepared for a two-front collusive threat, from China and Pakistan, is the government’s mandate for the IAF.
What is the present scenario?
- The Air Force is authorised 42 squadrons of fighter aircraft, which is the bare minimum it needs to dominate a two-front conflict.
- Each squadron of the IAF has 18 aircraft; this number that can sometimes be a little higher depending on the number of trainers in the squadron.
- India has developed its indigenous single-engine Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas
- The five LCA Tejas supplied to the IAF by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) are part of a contract for 40 aircraft, 20 in Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) configuration, and 20 in the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) configuration.
What are the awaiting deals?
- The Air Force is also committed to buying another 83 LCA Tejas
- These fighters will be the improved Mark-1A version, which is still in the design stage.
- The IAF is getting 36 French Rafale, besides the balance Russian Sukhoi Su30MKI fighters.
What are the alternatives?
- The option is to buy some other foreign single-engine fighter, and this is the route the IAF is currently exploring.
- The American F-16 and Swedish Gripen are in contention for the supply of 114 fighters, 18 of which will come in flyaway condition, and the rest will be made in India.
- India is also developing the next generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), and the IAF expects to have its first squadron in service by 2032.
What is the way ahead?
- India must develop and promote its indigenous defence industry and the IAF must remain committed to LCA Tejas, the nation’s security is paramount.
- A right balance needs to be found a mix of LCA Tejas Mark-1 and Mark-2, AMCA, and some foreign fighter aircraft.
- A decision must be made before the IAF’s fleet has depleted to critical levels, and India is forced to make emergency imports at very high costs.
