The Air Force will not face a shortage of fighter jets

New Delhi: The fighter jets that have been deployed in the Indian Air Force fleet for a few decades are now nearing retirement. With the term of these fighter jets coming to an end, concerns are being raised that the Air Force will face a shortage of fighter jets. But the Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, assured that the number of fighter jet squadrons would never be allowed to fall below 31. This assurance by the Air Chief assumes significance when there are reports of China increasing the deployment of its air force in the area near the LAC in Ladakh.

China has significantly increased its air force deployment in the region near the LAC in Ladakh. China has deployed twice as many new fighter jets as previously deployed here. There were also reports of Chinese planes flying over the area. This indicates that China is looking to establish its dominance in the region by increasing the capability of its air force.

Against this backdrop, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, has made critical statements about the capabilities of the Air Force. Under any circumstances, the number of fighter jet squadrons in the Indian Air Force will not be allowed to fall below 31. The Air Chief Marshal also informed that 114 fighter jets would be purchased for the Indian Air Force in the coming days. 96 fighter jets will be manufactured domestically under the’ Make in India’ initiative. The Chief of Air Staff said 18 fighter jets would be purchased from abroad.

India is said to be in talks with French and US companies in this regard. India has adopted a firm stand regarding technology transfer and manufacture in India under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. There have been reports that the companies initially refused this and are now ready to accept India’s demand. US company Boeing is reportedly involved in this. At the same time, France’s Rafale company is considered to be at the forefront of the process.

Along with the Air Force, the process of procuring fighter jets for aircraft carriers of the Navy is also underway. For this, the planes of the French company Rafale have been tested and at present, the tests of the aircraft of the American Boeing company are underway. While buying fighter jets for the Air Force, the contract for fighter jets for the Indian Navy has also drawn the attention of the world’s leading companies.