IAF seeks to use a multi-pronged approach to arrest falling fighter strength
The Indian Air Force chief has warned that the service's fighter squadron strength has fallen to 29 against a sanctioned 42.5, necessitating urgent inductions. Delays in domestic production of the Tejas Mark-1A are cited as a primary cause, prompting the IAF to consider foreign fifth-generation options if domestic programs like the AMCA falter.
Why it matters
The fighter jet shortage impacts India's national security posture, particularly as regional rivals China and Pakistan modernize their own air capabilities.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh delivered a blunt assessment of the fighter shortage plaguing his organisation. The reduction in numbers has been eroding the effectiveness of the force for years and shows no sign of easing soon. Speaking in New Delhi ahead of the 94th Air Force Day, Singh said the IAF's current fighter fleet stands at 29 fighter squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42.5, and that the force needs to induct 36 to 40 new aircraft annually to meet its current requirements. This totals effectively to the induction of two fighter squadrons every year just to arrest the decline.
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