IAF looking at procurement contracts worth over ₹2.5 lakh crore, says Air chief
October 03, 2023 10:43 pm | Updated 10:45 pm IST - NEW DELHI
The procurement will take the LCA-MK1A fleet strength to 180. IAF is looking at several contracts worth ₹2.5 lakh crore to ₹3 lakh crore in the next few years, said Air Chief Marshal V. R. Chaudhari
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is looking at procuring 97 additional indigenous
Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk1A fighter jets at an estimated cost of ₹1.15 lakh crore, Air Chief Marshal V. R. Chaudhari said on October 3.
The procurement will take the LCA-MK1A fleet strength to 180. The IAF is looking at several contracts worth ₹2.5 lakh crore to ₹3 lakh crore in the next few years, he said.
On the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, he said the operational plans of the IAF were dynamic and can change as per the developing situation. He said that in places where the IAF “cannot counter in terms of numbers”, it will do so through “better tactics”.
The IAF is making note of the build-up of resources and capabilities across the borders, he said on the Chinese build-up along the LAC.
“Our focus will remain to be dynamic at all times and not have a fixed mindset in terms of deployment of assets in particular areas. But we have very flexible and dynamic war plans which we keep revising every now and then based on the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) inputs that we get,” he said.
On Chinese deployment of radars near Mansarovar, he said the Air Force was looking at inducting long-range mountain radars to “see equally deep inside the adversary’s territory”.
Noting that China and Pakistan were transferring technology, he said Pakistan was manufacturing JF-17 fighter aircraft and also inducting the J-10. “We keep an eye on the developments between these two countries.”
In his opening remarks, the Air Chief Marshal said that owing to the volatile and uncertain geopolitical landscape in the region, the need to have a “strong and credible” military has become an “imperative”. The Indo-Pacific region is the new economic and strategic centre of gravity of the world and offers us both challenges and opportunities, he said, adding, “IAF, with its inherent capability to see the farthest, reach the fastest and hit the hardest, will be critical in mitigating these challenges and will remain a fulcrum in projecting India’s might in the region.”
Talking of the role of the IAF, the Air chief said the force had played an important role in all wars fought by India, undertaken “punitive air strikes” when called upon, extricated the Indian diaspora from conflict zones and provided succour and relief through Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions within and beyond the country’s borders.
The IAF carried out Operation Kaveri to evacuate Indian citizens from Sudan, where it flew 22 sorties (for 115 hours), extricated 2,100 persons and carried 58 tonnes of critical load. During Operation Dost to aid Türkiye and Syria, the IAF flew 28 sorties (for 188 hours) and carried 307 tonnes of load.
On the situation along the LAC with China, the Air Chief said the operational plans of the IAF were dynamic and can change as per the developing situation. He said that in places where the IAF “cannot counter in terms of numbers”, it will do so through “better tactics”.
www.thehindu.com
Note- That is why having constant threat to your National security and territorial integrity is a good thing. It forces you to develop your own defence industry at a scale that otherwise wouldn't have happened.
Bangladesh has no serious threat, even if our gdp and quality of life improves significantly in 15-20 years, I doubt we will have a meaningful defence industry.