Air Force Chief again questions speed of fighter jet production

With the Indian Air Force (IAF) struggling to maintain the desired numbers in its fighter jet fleet, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has raised questions on the speed of domestic production of fighter jets in the country, saying “even the 40 Tejas jets ordered in 2016 have not been delivered”.

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This is the second time in three months that the IAF Chief made a blunt remark questioning the pace of production and suggested reforms in production by inviting the private sector. He was speaking at a seminar in the national capital on Tuesday.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a public sector undertaking controlled by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), is the maker of the Tejas. Besides the 40 jets mentioned by the IAF Chief, the MoD has contracted HAL to make 83 Tejas Mark1A jets. Deliveries were to commence in March 2024, but not even the first plane has been handed over to the IAF.

The IAF Chief spoke about immediate need to get fighter jets. “Some short-term solution is needed when we are well short of the kitty. I need certain things to remain relevant and to deter,” he said.

He said the second option was that India was a big-enough buyer and the manufacturer is ready to make in India and even sell to other countries from India. That option needs to be looked at. He was obviously referring to the pending proposal to make fighter jets in India in collaboration with a foreign partner.

The IAF is running short of fighter jet squadrons and is now having 31 squadrons (16-18 planes in each) against the need for 42 squadrons to tackle a collusive threat from Pakistan and China.

In October last year, Air Chief Marshal Singh had said the HAL needs to match the promise of making 24 jets every year saying “HAL made a promise that production rates will increase to 24 aircraft per year. If that promise is kept, the delays can be caught up with”.

At yesterday’s seminar, the IAF Chief spoke about the focus of self-reliance and attempts to stop imports. “We cannot say that from tomorrow, we will not buy anything from abroad,” he said in an obvious reference on the need to bridge the technology gap in the fighter jet fleet vis-à-vis China.

Also, he added, the nation needs to identify what we get under self-reliance. “Are we working in mission mode? I don’t see that energy either in us, designers or manufacturers.”

The target of R&D needs to be specific. Do we need things already being made elsewhere or should we invest in niche technology, he added. “We cannot afford to be lingering lest the adversary has something bigger and better within the same time,” he said.

At the event, DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat said, “We invest only 5 per cent of our defence budget on R&D. This has to increase to 10-15 per cent if we have to achieve all our goals.”

Going ahead, Kamat said we would need a 6th generation aero engine and the country would have to invest close to $4-5 billion. That’s Rs 40,000-50,000 crore.