'IAF on right track but pace must improve', says Air Chief AP Singh

Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh on Wednesday said the IAF’s transformation was moving in the “right direction” but needed to gather pace, calling for faster induction of capabilities, greater capacity and more combat mass as the force confronts rapidly evolving technology and a shortage of fighter squadrons.

Addressing air warriors and veterans on the eve of the IAF’s 94th anniversary at the Air Force Auditorium in Subroto Park, Singh said the force had shifted in recent years from a “platform-centric” approach to a “capability-centric” one, with greater emphasis on integrating different elements of air power.

‘Can be faster’

Singh said he was satisfied with the direction of the transformation but questioned whether the pace was adequate to meet emerging operational requirements.

“I am happy that we are progressing in the right direction, but whether we are progressing at the correct pace, is something for everybody to judge. Yes, we can be a little faster than we are today,” he said.

The Air Chief said there were areas where the IAF needed “greater capacity, faster induction and more combat mass”. His remarks came against the backdrop of delays in key modernisation programmes and continuing pressure on the service’s fighter strength.

Singh specifically referred to delays in the LCA Mk-1A programme, an issue he has repeatedly flagged while stressing that timely induction is crucial to arrest the decline in fighter numbers.

29 fighter squadrons

The IAF currently has around 29 operational fighter squadrons against an authorised strength of 42.5, making the fighter shortfall one of the most pressing challenges facing the service.

At his annual press conference ahead of Air Force Day, Singh had said India needed to induct roughly two fighter squadrons every year. That translates into around 36 to 40 new fighter aircraft annually merely to stop squadron strength from declining further and begin rebuilding towards the authorised level.

The requirement has become more urgent following the retirement of the MiG-21 fleet in 2025 after more than six decades of service.

The IAF is counting on several programmes to reverse the decline, including the LCA Mk-1A and Mk-2, additional Su-30MKIs, the proposed Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft procurement and, over the longer term, the indigenous fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.

LCA delays hurt

The IAF has placed orders for 180 LCA Mk-1A fighters under two contracts. The first order for 83 aircraft was placed in 2021, followed by another order for 97 aircraft in 2025, taking the combined value of the orders to around Rs 1.1 lakh crore.

The first Mk-1A under the 2021 contract had originally been scheduled for delivery in March 2024, but the programme missed successive deadlines. Delayed supplies of GE Aerospace F404 engines and certification-related issues were among the factors that affected deliveries.

The IAF and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited now expect inductions to begin by the end of 2026. HAL is targeting production of around 20 Mk-1As annually once the production pipeline stabilises.

Singh has warned that delays in induction have direct operational consequences, describing the situation earlier this week as one that would “hurt” the Air Force.

114 fighters planned

The IAF is also looking to the proposed acquisition of 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft to bolster its combat fleet. Singh has indicated that the process could move forward during the current financial year.

If the programme progresses as planned, the IAF expects deliveries from the MRFA programme to supplement indigenous fighter production. Combined with LCA Mk-1A production and additional Su-30MKIs, the aim is to bring annual fighter inductions closer to the 36-40 aircraft that Singh has said are required.

The longer-term plan centres on the AMCA, India’s indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter. Its first prototype is expected to fly towards the end of the decade, although the IAF has stressed that delays in the programme could force it to examine alternative options to ensure that capability gaps do not widen.

Lessons from Sindoor

Singh said the IAF’s move towards a capability-centric and integrated approach had demonstrated its value during Operation Sindoor.

Rather than assessing combat strength solely by the number of aircraft or individual platforms, the approach brings together fighters, sensors, air-defence systems, weapons, surveillance assets, electronic warfare and command-and-control networks.

Singh said military operations had tested the IAF, exercises had stretched its capabilities, humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief missions had taken it beyond India’s borders, while “air diplomacy” had widened partnerships with other countries.

The force is simultaneously incorporating drones, loitering munitions, artificial intelligence, long-range weapons and increasingly networked air-defence systems as technological changes alter the nature of warfare.

Final IAF Day as chief

Thursday’s 94th Air Force Day will be Singh’s final anniversary celebration as Chief of the Air Staff. He is due to retire on October 31.

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit has been named his successor and will take charge as the next Chief of the Air Staff. The transition will come at a critical stage for the IAF as it attempts to accelerate fighter induction while simultaneously investing in indigenous weapons, unmanned systems, air defence and next-generation combat aircraft.

For Singh, the central challenge is no longer simply identifying the capabilities the IAF requires, but ensuring they arrive quickly enough. His message on the eve of Air Force Day was that the direction of transformation was correct, but speed and scale would determine whether the service could close its capability gaps.