200-250 more fighters needed in next 10 years: IAF chief

NEW DELHI: The IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, said on Wednesday that an additional 200-250 fighter aircraft needed to be inducted in the next 10 years to meet operational requirements, even as he termed the disappearance of an AN-32 transport one of the “worst memories” of his career.

India has sufficient numbers in the heavy category in Sukhoi SU-30s, while gaps in the medium and light categories needed to be filled, Raha, who retires on December 31, said at his farewell press conference here.

The IAF chief said that 36 Rafale jets being bought by India from France were not enough.

“Over the next 10 years, we must have 200-250 aircraft. It has to be balanced out. In the heavy spectrum, we have enough. But in the medium category, we need to have more. Yes, about 200 will be very good,” Raha said.

“We are still inducting Sukhoi-30s; it will last us for another 40 years. The light combat aircraft (Tejas) will fill some void in the lightweight category... Rafale is an excellent aircraft. But we have just 36 aircraft; we require more aircraft in the medium-weight category,” Raha said.

“To fill the gap, one more line of production is needed in India,” he said.

On September 23, India signed a 7.87 billion Euro (about Rs 59,000 crore) deal with France to buy the 36 Rafale fighter jets to meet IAF’s critical operational requirement for a multi-role combat aircraft and enhance its strategic reach.

Raha also emphasised the need for inducting more midair refuelers since its present fleet of Ilyushin IL-78s faced maintenance problems. India had floated a global tender for six midair refuellers in 2007 but it was scrapped twice in the final stages.

Raha also said the AN-32 wasn’t the “best aircraft” to fly over the Bay of Bengal.

“The AN-32 is not the best aircraft to fly on this route.. The altitude at which AN-32 flies is not so good in terms of weather,” Raha said.

He said the aircraft “unfortunately” did not have an underwater locator beacon and IAF has taken up the case with the government and a large number of ELTs (Emergency Locator Transmitters) will be procured. — IANS