NEW DELHI – The Indian Air Force (IAF) is facing a shortage of fightersquadrons amid potential aerial threats from Pakistan and China.
The IAF has gradually been phasing out its MiG-21, MiG-23, and MiG-27fighter aircraft and replacing them with newer aircraft.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will soon be getting new aircraft, a seniorofficial of India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.
Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar said the government is looking at purchasingnearly 200 more fighter aircraftlinkinthe near future.
The defence secretary said expressions of interest have been floated for110 more aircraft in addition to the 83 Tejas Mark 1 A Light CombatAircraft that are under order from state-owned Hindustan AeronauticsLimited (HAL).
The LCA contract will definitely be signed this year, The Economic Timesquoted the senior MoD officiallinkassaying.
When asked about what kind of time frame the government had in mind, Kumarsaid: “We want to do it as soon as possible.”
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The Secretary added that the aircraft design has been finalised and thatthe defence ministry expects HAL to double production of the LCA Mark 1 Aaircraft from eight to 16 annually.
The government is also ready to consider acquiring more aircraft throughoutsourcinglink,he said.
Currently, the IAF deploys Sukhoi 30 MKIs, Mirage 2000s, Mig 29s, Mig 21Bisons and Jaguars in its fighter aircraft inventory.
Last month, the IAF decommissioned seven swing-wing MiG-27 fighters, whichplayed an important role during the 1999 Kargil War with Pakistan. -Sputnik
