IAF growth slows as Pak catches up
As India struggles to beef up its fighter aircraft fleet due to slow induction of new jets, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is narrowing the gap with the Indian Air Force.
The IAF has 33 fighter squadrons compared with almost 25 units, including those for training, of the neighbouring country, translating into a combat ratio of 1.3 to 1, defence experts say. A squadron usually has 16 to 18 fighters. This is a significant dip from 3 to 1 in IAF’s favour in the 1980s. Five years ago, the figure stood at 1.6 to 1. “I don’t recall the combat ratio being below 1.8 to 1,” says air chief marshal Fali Major, who headed the IAF in 2007-08.
He, however, said a squadronto-squadron comparison wasn’t fair. “The more important thing is how many aircraft are available for missions at any given time. The IAF’s serviceability is way better than the PAF’s.”
UP IN THE AIR
The IAF hopes to strengthen its combat units with the induction of the Tejas light combat aircraft, more Sukhoi-30s, Rafale warplanes and Indo-Russian fifthgeneration fighter aircraft (FGFA) and possibly a mediumweight fighter that could be built in India in collaboration with a foreign player.
The upgrade plan, however, has hit a few hurdles.
The fate of the FGFA appears uncertain. “We do need the platform but where is the money,” an IAF officer said on condition of anonymity. There is a sense within the IAF that the FGFA programme is too expensive for the force. A final decision would be taken by the government after a three-member panel submits its cost analysis report.
Plans to build fighters in collaboration with foreign military contractors are yet to take off.
These proposals are covered under the government’s strategic partnership model that is still being fine-tuned. The 36 Rafale fighter planes ordered from France also fall short of the IAF’s original requirement of 126.
TECH EDGE
Fighters such as the Rafale, Su-30, and the upgraded Mirage2000s were superior to any fighter in the Pakistani arsenal, former chief Major said.
“The PAF’s planes such as the F-7s and older French Mirages aren’t relevant today. In terms of technology, they really don’t match us,” he said. The PAF operates more than 80 F-16s, including second-hand F-16A/B Block 15 jets bought from the Royal Jordanian Air Force. It is also inducting JF-17 Thunder fighters, sometimes compared with the Tejas. Developed jointly with China, the PAF has nearly 90 JF-17s in its fleet.