IAF is making optimal use of its existing fighter jet fleet to ensure its combat capabilities remain robust, despite ongoing concerns regarding squadron depletion, said Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) on Friday. The military official was speaking at a National Security Summit.
"Depleted squadron anxiety is there with us also. We are trying to utilise the resources in the best possible manner. We have more simulators. We are trying to reserve the flying hours. We are trying to get a larger number of people. We have also increased the sortie generation rate. It means each aircraft will be used for six sorties in one day. These kinds of things we are doing so that the amount of air effort required for a medium-duration war, we should be able to cater to”, Air Marshal Dixit cited.
"We are trying to work and ensure that combat capabilities do not falter in any way," he added.
On being asked of India’s industry sector is seeing a situation where they can install their own defence installations and if the government is working in that direction, Dixit said, "In air defence, there is an MHA directive that for small drones, which are originating within the country, which are looking to create nuisance or maybe damage theater or stadium, for that they can install. But for something coming across the border, for that we are responsible."
The small systems won’t be able to decide the course of wars in the future, the Air Marshal said, adding, "But I think people will have to use anti-drone systems, which are against drones that create a nuisance."
Further addressing the fifth-generation fighter jet program, he cited, "We have been tinkering with the fifth-generation program for a very long time... Your question relates to the gap between now and the delivery of the fifth-generation capability. There is a gap there. There will be an eight, nine, or ten-year gap. We are thinking of filling that gap."
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