India had decided to buy 126 Rafale aircraft from France. PHOTO: AFP
Currently, the Indian Air force, which is technically supposed to have 42 fighter squadrons, has only 34 squadrons, with each consisting of 20 air crafts. Six of these though are based on the ageing MiG-21 fighter jets, which are due to be phased out by the end of 2016.
"The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and the medium multi role combat aircraft (MMRCA) are critical. In case the MMRCA does not come to us by end of the 12th plan (March 2017) then our force levels start to go down rapidly. That is what we have to prevent. We have to maintain our force levels to certain levels," Indian Air Chief Marshal told the reporters in New Delhi.
India had already sanctioned a $15 billion deal to buy 126 Rafale aircraft from France. But many with the government believe that the deal may not go through as the negotiations have been moving very slowly.
Browne said that if India signs the deal next year, they would start receiving the first of the Rafales by the end of 2017. A scenario which is acceptable to the air force, but warned that India can not afford to delay the deal beyond 2014.
The Light Combat Aircraft is an indigenously built Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) air craft in Bangalore, but the project is already running behind schedule by almost three decades because of a serious lack of technical expertise.
As a back up plan plan, India is also looking to extend the life of its existing fleet through mid-life upgrades to its existing fleet. The Indian Chief of Air Staff further said that the MiG 21's Bison-fleet may have to continue till 2025.
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@Asad Khan: Well, keep Dreaming
Indians are cowards they press the eject button when they meet us in combat.
@ lalakiMKaa, well 34 squadrons may or may not be too much for Pakistan, but its certainly not enough to take out Jupiter and Venus...
Mismanagement corruption nepotism indecesion is the hallmark of indian society,as time pass they will be more vulnerable and their poor technical knowledge will be clearly felt.They are not fit to control so many nations in one country everybody harping his own tune
Currently Pak operates 36 Squadrons (of all types), I don't see why 34 sqds of IAF pose so much of problem now when Pak in 65 & 71 have faced and hold it ground while the IAF to PAF force ratio was almost 3:1 in Air Inventory back then........
It gives one a hint about the professional caliber of Directorate of Planning & Procurement when one never ever subject to unjust sanctions, have plenty of resources at disposal but still cant maintain the Sqds strength let alone indigenisation.
regards,
34 squadrons.....man this is too much for pakistan