IAF Will Have 35-36 Combat Squadrons By Mid 2030s Says Chief Chaudhari

It will be hard to keep watch and execute combat air patrol across the country with 31 squadrons, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, the Chief of Air Staff said on Tuesday at the yearly press conference before Air Force Day. 

The Indian Air Force is eagerly waiting for the induction of the indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA), Tejas, and also working on a proposal with international partners to buy more fighter jets in order to address the fleet shortage.

Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sandeep Singh made it clear that there was no question about reassessing the authorised strength of 42 squadrons of fighter jets while highlighting the expanding capabilities of the Chinese and Pakistani air forces. The number of fighter squadrons was critically necessary for taking on larger enemy forces and navigating broad geographic terrain.

About plans for purchases, the chief said that 83 LCA Tejas Mk 1A are already on order and the IAF will get an additional 10 Tejas from the first delivery of 40 jets this year. The plan to produce 114 medium-range fighter aircraft (MRFA) in India is being finalised in accordance with the technical specifications and the request for proposals will be issued soon, according to him.

However, the IAF intends to phase out three squadrons of the MiG-21 Bison by 2024. Six squadrons of the ageing Jaguar fighter fleet will then gradually be phased out, starting in 2025 and lasting until 2032. The enhanced Mirage 2000 and MiG-29 fleets would also be phased out by the end of the next decade, each with three squadrons.

The IAF now has 31 of the 42 fighter squadrons that are authorised for use, including two squadrons of French Rafales and one squadron of the domestic LCA Tejas. And there are around 18 fighters in each squadron.

The chief claims that even if all planned purchases go without any hiccups or delays, the number of squadrons by 2035-36 will only reach 35 as the sanctioned number is 42.