*New Delhi, August 23, 2025* — Former Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief, AirChief Marshal (Retd.) R.K.S. Bhadauria, has warned that the traditionalpractice of carrying out fighter jet upgrades over decade-long cycles is nolonger sustainable in modern air combat.
Speaking at an aerospace industry event, Bhadauria emphasized that rapidadvancements in avionics, weaponry, and electronic warfare (EW) systemsdemand much shorter upgrade intervals — ideally every 2 to 3 years.
“The pace of technological change is unprecedented. If we continue withlong-drawn upgrade cycles, we risk flying platforms that are already behindthe curve,” Bhadauria said.
He stressed that *Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)* and other defenseindustry stakeholders must swiftly adapt to faster upgrade models tomaintain India’s aerial edge in a region witnessing rapid militarymodernization.Call for Agile Upgrades
Traditionally, major mid-life upgrades for fighter jets have been carriedout over a span of 10–15 years. However, Bhadauria pointed out that withartificial intelligence (AI), network-centric warfare, and next-gen EWsuites evolving rapidly, such timelines could leave frontline fightersoutdated before upgrades are even completed.
“Global air forces are shifting towards modular, plug-and-play upgradeframeworks. India must embrace this change if we are to stay competitive,”he added.Implications for India’s Air Combat Fleet
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The retired Air Chief’s remarks come at a time when India is in the midstof multiple modernization programs, including the induction of the *LCATejas Mk-1A*, the upcoming *Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)*project, and upgrades to the *Sukhoi Su-30MKI* fleet.
Defense analysts believe Bhadauria’s comments highlight the urgency ofcreating a *continuous, agile upgrade ecosystem* rather than relying onlong, one-time modernization packages.Industry Response Needed
For HAL, the challenge will be adapting its manufacturing and R&D models tosupport *shorter, iterative upgrade cycles*. Experts say this would requiredeeper integration between the IAF, HAL, private industry, and globaltechnology partners.
“If HAL does not adapt quickly, India’s air combat edge could graduallyerode against regional adversaries,” Bhadauria cautioned.