As the Soviet-era MiG-21 aircraft finally flew into the sunset, the focus is back on the challenges facing the Indian Air Force (IAF), particularly its depleting air power.
With the decommissioning of the MiG-21s, the fighter squadron strength of the IAF has now come down to 29, as against the sanctioned strength of 42. This doesn’t inspire confidence, given the two-front threat the country faces from Pakistan and China. Pakistan reportedly has a fighter squadron strength of 20–25, whereas China has more than 60. A squadron comprises 16–18 jets.
In view of the expected phasing out of many of its older jets, including the Jaguars and Mirage 2000s, by 2035, the IAF faces the prospect of its air power going down further. This calls for urgent efforts to acquire new aircraft to strengthen the air force. Inordinate delay in acquisitions has been one of the major challenges facing the IAF for decades.
Tardy Tejas
The inordinate delays in the acquisition of modern weapons can be very frustrating for the leadership of the armed forces. The IAF top brass has repeatedly flagged excruciating delays in the delivery of the indigenous ‘Tejas’ fighter aircraft.
This is particularly significant in the light of China’s rapid pace of air force modernisation. It is a matter of concern that the first batch of 40 ‘Tejas’ Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), ordered in 2009–2010, is yet to be fully delivered by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
In fact, the IAF is awaiting deliveries of the LCA Mk1A, which is expected to begin in the next few months after repeated delays. In the meantime, China is believed to have fielded around 1,900 fighters, including more than 1,300 fourth-generation aircraft, as per a 2024 U.S. Department of Defence report. China has also deployed two Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), recently unveiled two more advanced jets, and is likely to supply 40 J-35 stealth jets to Pakistan.
Conceived way back in 1984 as a replacement for the ageing MiG-21 fighters, the LCA project was marred by inexplicable delays, with the first Tejas jet flying in 2001 and its induction beginning 15 years later, in 2016.
The Defence Ministry had signed a Rs 48,000 crore contract with HAL for the supply of 83 MK1A jets. The supply was to start in March 2024, with at least 16 planes to be delivered to the IAF every year. But not a single Tejas Mark-1A has been delivered so far.
Dependence on foreign engines
Tejas has been going through a plethora of technical problems. It is dependent on imported engines. In August 2021, HAL placed an order for 99 F-404 engines with GE Aerospace for Rs 5,375 crore for the 83 Mk1A jets.
The first engine arrived in India only in April this year, and the second engine was delivered early this month. Additionally, a deal for 97 additional jets, estimated to cost Rs 67,000 crore, is expected to be concluded in the next few months. HAL has assured it will scale up production to 24 jets a year.
Given the rapidly changing aviation technology, experts fear that by the time the last Tejas Mark 1A is inducted into the IAF, its relevance may have been diminished.
Lessons for defence PSUs
The LCA saga holds hard lessons for the defence PSUs, which need to pull up their socks and step up their efficiency levels to meet the growing requirements of the armed forces. There is also an urgent need for an increased role for private partnership in developing defence products and providing more funds for Research and Development (R&D).
With China moving at a rapid pace to boost its air power, the critical deficiencies in the Indian Air Force must be addressed on top priority. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence recently urged HAL to accelerate Tejas combat aircraft production and expedite fighter jet procurement to ensure that the IAF’s operational capability was not undermined by its declining squadron strength.
The IAF chief A. P. Singh’s recent criticism of the lackadaisical approach of HAL reflects growing frustration over inordinate delays in the delivery of indigenous weapon systems by the public sector defence manufacturers in the country. The public sector aerospace and defence company is currently pursuing two major contracts – 97 Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas) and 156 Light Combat Helicopters (Prachanda).
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, in its report submitted in December last year, wanted the Defence Ministry to sensitise HAL to augment production of Tejas, a single-engine, fourth-generation multirole light fighter aircraft, so that the operational role of the Air Force is not affected due to depletion in squadron strength.
The report highlighted that the Tejas Mk-1A programme was delayed due to design and development issues, challenges with aero engine availability, and HAL’s difficulty in maintaining the required production rate.
Long-term solutions, such as the induction of Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) and LCA Tejas Mk-1A, along with projects like the LCA Mk-II and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), are either delayed or still years away. There are also delays in the Tejas Mk-1A programme due to design and development challenges, issues related to aero engine availability, and HAL’s struggle to maintain the required production pace. HAL would do well to ramp up production to ensure the timely delivery of the Mk-1A, which is essential to address the fighter shortfall caused by the phase-out of older aircraft.
The success of the ambitious plans drawn up by the IAF will largely hinge on timely production and deliveries. The plan is to induct more than 600 jets over the next two decades, a majority of them being LCA variants.
This includes 180 LCA-Mk1A, over 120 LCA-Mk2, 114 MRFA and at least 120 AMCA. A Twin-Engine deck-based fighter for the Navy’s aircraft carriers is also on the drawing board.
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