Run down in IAF combat aircraft strength and public concerns

Over the past decade, some ten squadrons of the Indian Air Force have been number plated owing to obsolescence of the aircraft in their inventory and this process will regrettably continue as some present aircraft types will be phased out over the next few years including the remaining squadrons of MiG-21s (save the ‘bison’) and MiG-27s. Although a squadron worth of HAL-built Su-30MKIs will be added annually to the IAF’s order of battle over the next three years, and the two Rafale squadrons will join the IAF in 2019-2022, the IAF’s official figure still gives the IAF only 32 squadrons by 2022. The media debate on suitability and availability of enough Tejas LCA Mk.I/IAs to equip six squadrons by 2027 is moot, but the IAF are understandably concerned and therefore want the Government to identify and order 114 ‘single-engine’ fighters from abroad to make up the deficit, leading to some ill-informed debate in the press.