Tejas Delays Are Hurting IAF, Says Air Chief as Fighter Squadrons Fall to 29

Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, said on Saturday that prolonged delays in the induction of the Tejas combat aircraft are hurting the Indian Air Force (IAF) at a time when its fighter squadron strength is below the sanctioned level and air power is becoming increasingly important for dealing with security challenges.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Air Force Day, he said the IAF requires the induction of at least 36 to 40 fighter aircraft every year for the next few years. He expressed hope that the situation would improve with the delivery of indigenously built Tejas Mark-1A aircraft and the Rafale jets to be procured under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme.

The Air Chief said India hopes to finalise the MRFA deal within the current financial year if negotiations proceed as planned. In February, India cleared a long-pending proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets under a government-to-government framework with France, described as the country's largest-ever defence acquisition push. Price negotiations and other critical issues relating to the project are still being finalised.

"I think if things go well, we should be able to sign it in this financial year. That's what my hope is. But it is a two-way process," he said, referring to negotiations between the Indian and French sides.

Air Chief Marshal Singh also flagged concerns over delays in the supply of Tejas Mark-1A jets by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Responding to a question on the delays, he said, "It is going to hurt us."

In February 2021, the Defence Ministry signed a ₹48,000 crore agreement with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets for the IAF. The first batch of aircraft was to be delivered in March 2024. However, not a single jet has been supplied to the IAF so far. In September last year, the Ministry signed another deal worth ₹62,370 crore with HAL to procure 97 Tejas Mk-1A light combat aircraft.

The IAF has been pressing for faster inductions as the number of its fighter squadrons has come down to 29 against the officially sanctioned strength of 42.

The Chief of Air Staff said the IAF is looking forward to receiving the Tejas Mark-1A jets, aircraft under the MRFA programme, Tejas Mark 2 aircraft and the combat planes under the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. At the same time, he said the IAF may have to look at procuring another platform if the AMCA programme faces delays. Russia has offered Su-57 jets, he noted, but no decision has been taken on the offer.

On the proposed theatreisation plan, Air Chief Marshal Singh indicated that the proposed structure is being examined with a fresh perspective following Operation Sindoor. "I have made it clear that the Indian Air Force is not against theatre commands. We have been working towards it, and we have been a part of discussions throughout," he said.

He said that following Operation Sindoor, discussions on the theatreisation plan have taken a "slightly different direction", as the force gained first-hand experience during the operation.

The government had announced the theatreisation plan in 2019 to ensure greater synergy among the three services — the Army, the Air Force and the Navy — by integrating their capabilities and using their resources optimally for wars and operations. However, no visible forward movement has been made on the proposal since.

According to the Air Chief, the government will take decisions on what kind of organisation for theatreisation will have to be created, in what sequence it should be formed, and whether it should be done in one go or incrementally. "Those decisions, I am sure, the government will take when we project it to them that these are the options that we have," he said.