Way behind China in production pace, warns IAF Chief

In a blunt assessment vis-à-vis China, Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Friday said India needed to "catch up" on technology as on production speed of military equipment "we are way behind" the neighbour.

On the much-delayed production timelines of the indigenous fighter jet programme, the Tejas, the IAF Chief, who was addressing a press conference ahead of the Air Force Day (October 8), said Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) needed to match the promise of making 24 jets every year.

Answering questions on countering China, he said, “We have our plans in place.”

Air Chief Marshal Singh, who took over as IAF Chief on September 30, said, “In terms of quality of manpower, we are way ahead of them. As far as technology is concerned, we may not be so good, as of now. We were better than them, we need to catch up.”

“In term of production rates, we are way behind,” he added.

On HAL and production of indigenous jets, he said, “It made a promise that production rates will be increased to 24 aircraft per year. If that promise is kept, delays can be caught up with. HAL has a third production line at Nashik, which is yet to churn out an aircraft.”

On the dwindling fleet of fighter jets, the Chief said, “Our first aim is not to let aircraft strength remain below 30 (squadrons).”

Each squadron has 16-18 jets. The Cabinet Committee of Security has laid down the need for 42 squadrons to tackle a simultaneous two-front threat from China and Pakistan. The IAF presently has 32 squadrons with several scheduled to be phased out over the next few years.

The IAF has placed an order with HAL for 83 Tejas Mark-1A jets. Deliveries were to start in March this year, but so far, not a single plane has been delivered.

On future production of indigenously designed fighter jets, he said the force was looking at 97 more Tejas Mark-1A, and also six-seven squadrons each of Tejas Mark 2 and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

Asked how to produce so many planes, he said, “Private players have to come in. I don’t think we can continue relying only on one agency (HAL) that may have limitations of doing things in a specified time frame.”

On the future of a multi-role fighter aircraft (MRFA) programme that would plan to make 114 jets with a foreign partner and India partner JV producing jets in India, the IAF Chief said, “ We needed the MRFA as of yesterday”.

“If the Tejas Mark 2 gets into production, as planned, by 2028, and MRFA is signed, we are not too badly off. If these timelines are getting pushed, we have to look at alternatives,” he said.

On the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, the IAF Chief said, “The situation is the same as it was a year ago or so.”

"The Chinese are creating infrastructure on their side of the LAC at a rapid pace. We are matching up and adding capacities," he added.