Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh stated on Friday (February 28, 2025) that the Indian Air Force must acquire 35 to 40 fighter aircraft annually to address the current shortage. He further stated that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) had committed to the production of 24 Tejas Mark-1A aircraft in the upcoming year.
While advocating for self-reliance, he stated that the production rate that was promised was inadequate and that there was a necessity to explore alternative solutions to address the gap. The Air Chief advocated for a more substantial involvement of the private sector in this regard.
Samir V. Kamat, Secretary-Research and Development and Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), stated at a separate event that the current defense acquisition processes were excessively lengthy. He also mentioned that a new, more efficient acquisition cycle could be implemented by the end of the year. According to the Defence Minister, 2025 will be the “year of reforms” in the Ministry of Defence, with the acquisition cycle being the most critical reform. “The Defence Secretary is responsible for this matter, and I am confident that we will achieve a significantly faster acquisition cycle by the end of the year.”
“We require 35-40 aircraft annually, which translates to the addition of two squadrons annually.” The capacity cannot be achieved immediately… During his address at the Chanakya Dialogues conclave, Air Chief Marshal Singh expressed his satisfaction with HAL’s commitment to manufacture 24 Tejas Mark-1A aircraft next year. “This objective is not insurmountable.”
“Private participation can provide us with 12-18 jets annually.” I am capable of making a commitment to refrain from purchasing any items from external sources. However, we are significantly underfunded in terms of our financial resources. The numbers that were promised are sluggish, necessitating the search for an alternative to fill the gaps.
Currently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has 31 fighter squadrons, which is less than the sanctioned complement of 42.5 squadrons. Although the Light Combat Aircraft-Mk1A deliveries were postponed, the Jaguar, MIG-29UPG, and Mirage-2000 fighter aircraft will also be phased out by the end of this decade.
The Air Chief did not anticipate a significant change in platforms in response to a query regarding the IAF’s anticipated force structure by 2047; however, he did state that “technology would undoubtedly evolve.” “I anticipate that all aircraft will be at least 4.5 generations old.” The most basic aircraft that we will possess will be either an upgraded Su-30 or a Rafale. This aircraft will be surpassed by all others. The communication networks, or “op” networks, that we employ will be interoperable with ground forces, land forces, and maritime forces. We should be able to communicate with one another, transmit data, and transfer targets in real time. That is the essence of my vision.
Air Chief Marshal Singh elaborated that the IAF will be a more powerful force in terms of aircraft, “in terms of enablers and technology.” I am optimistic that we will eventually achieve parity with our global counterparts.
He stated that India’s aspiration is to become an aerospace power by 2047, and that “our interest in space has always been present.” Our enablers are located in space, including GPS and communications. We have already taken a step toward educating our people to be more space-oriented.
He emphasized the importance of supporting indigenization, stating that their primary focus was on home-grown systems. “I am content with the prospect of obtaining homegrown technology that is 90% as capable as foreign platforms,” he stated. He also emphasized that in order to maintain a protracted conflict, it is imperative that we have the ability to guarantee a consistent supply of weapons and equipment.
Failures in the field of research and development
Dr. Kamat identified a significant obstacle in research and development: the likelihood of failure was extremely high for cutting-edge R&D and investment in new technologies. He highlighted the Finance Minister’s announcement that 25% of DRDO’s R&D budget will be allocated to fund R&D in the private sector and academia, stating that the private sector in our country lacked risk appetite.
“The most critical reform that we must implement is the manner in which we address this failure.” In order to accomplish this, it is necessary to establish a distinct chapter in the Government Financial Rules (GFR) that permits failure. R&D is classified as acquisition under the current GFR. Speaking at the Business Standard conclave on Thursday, he stated, “If I have given you money, you must provide me with something.” He further stated that the government had recognized the issue and had established a committee to investigate the possibility of modifying the GFR or incorporating a new chapter to address R&D failures.
