A team from IAF is already in Moscow undergoing training. The S-400 air defence system is expected to reach India next month. “The first unit of the S-400 air defence system from Russia is expected to be on time,” Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said. “We are buying old Mirage fighters from France so that we can harvest them for the spare parts,” he explained. Recently, India has bought some Mirage-2000 fighters from the French Air Force and will use these for cannibalizing for spare parts. The phase out plan includes the MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguars and Mirage-2000 over the next few years. The AMCA is a twin engine fighter jet which is still on the drawing board and being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). The deliveries of the LCA are expected to start by 2024.Īccording to the new chief the IAF is committed to the AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft or the AMCA). These include the 83 Mk 1A Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) made by the state owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and 114 fighter jets which too are expected to be made in India. “Before taking off, each aircraft undergoes thorough checks and is fully serviced.”Īs has been reported by Financial Express Online, there are plans to induct around 200 fighter jets over the next few years. To a question related to the MiG-21 Bison, according to the chief there are four squadrons which will be phased out over the next 3-4 years. According to him the 114 aircraft will be under the Make in India Initiative and the IAF is looking at new technologies which will help in integrating the future 5th and 6th generation technologies. “The decision for the manufacturing process will be taken by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)”, he said. Will the new fighters be under the Strategic Partnership model?

To a question on the status of the Request for Information (RFI) for 114 fighter aircraft, the new chief in his first interaction with the media persons said that the responses have been received from the OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and efforts are on to move the case faster.īesides the Dassault Aviation pitching their ‘Rafale’, Sweden has offered Gripen E/F from SAAB F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet by the US based Boeing Company and Lockheed Martin’ F-16V which has been recast as the F-21 and the Russians have offered the MiG-35.

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