Thursday, October 01, 2020

IAF will have 37-38 fighter squadrons in a decade, says deputy chief

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF), which is facing a decline in its fighter squadrons, will have around 37-38 fighter squadrons in a decade, said the Deputy Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Sandeep Singh. He also said the 114-fighters deal under way has to meet the growing Make in India aspirations incorporated in the just-released Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020.

“We are already aware [of] what is supposed to come in the DAP 2020, and we have already realigned our Statement of Case to seek higher levels of production technology, and use of indigenous systems and materials where possible,” he said on the 114-fighters deal, addressing a webinar jointly organised by the Centre for Air Power Studies and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers.

The IAF is expected to soon approach the government for an accord on the Acceptance of Necessity for the 114-fighters deal, after which the formal procurement process would begin. The new DAP 2020 comes into effect from October 1.

On the fighter modernisation, Air Marshal Singh said that the rate at which the phasing out was taking place, the Mig-21s would “have to go”, but life of other fighters was being extended and made “more capable”. The IAF is in the process of phasing out the remaining squadrons of Mig-21s.

30/09/10 Dinakar Peri/The Hindu

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

0 comments:

Post a Comment