NEW DELHI: A detailed roadmap for the “all-round accelerated capability enhancement” of IAF has been chalked out by a high-powered committee to plug existing operational gaps in a time-bound manner, with greater participation from the private sector to complement ongoing efforts of DRDO and defence PSUs.
The “key thrust areas” identified range from progressively increasing the number of fighter squadrons, which is currently down to 30 despite a sanctioned strength of 42.5, to induction of additional “force-enablers” like airborne early-warning and control aircraft and mid-air refuellers as well as a wide array of air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles.
Defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, who chaired the committee, presented the report to defence minister Rajnath Singh on Monday, in the presence of IAF chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, vice chief Air Marshal S P Dharkar and others.
The report comes at a time when China is flaunting sixth generation fighter prototypes, and is expected to deliver at least 40 J-35A stealth fifth-generation jets to Pakistan. India, in contrast, is floundering to even produce the home-grown fourth-generation Tejas jet in adequate numbers.
The report has detailed a “glide path” to increasing the number of fighter squadrons, which includes a foreign OEM (original equipment manufacturer) tying up with an Indian partner to set up a production line here.
“While HAL’s three production lines for light-weight Tejas will continue, this will be a parallel production line for a medium-weight fighter,” an official said. This involves the pending project to manufacture 114 new 4.5-generation fighters, at an initial estimate of Rs 1.2 lakh crore, with foreign collaboration.
The report underscores “the need for impetus to enhance ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in the aerospace domain with the private sector complementing the effort of defence PSUs and DRDO”.