Union Minister for Defence Rajnath Singh with Defence Secretary Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh show the report of the Empowered Committee for Capability Enhancement of the lndian Air Force (IAF), in New Delhi, on March 3, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Empowered Committee for Capability Enhancement of the lndian Air Force, headed by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, identified key thrust areas and made recommendations for medium- and long-term measures in its report presented to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday (March 3, 2025) .
In the report, the IAF had listed priorities for addressing the shortfall in fighter jet numbers, an official source said. The recommendations will be looked at in a holistic manner and the government was open to take necessary measures, the source added.
Also read: What is India’s dilemma over fighter jets? | Explained
The high-powered was constituted on the back of huge delays in fighter induction in the IAF amid rapid modernisation efforts by adversaries.
“The report also underscores the need for impetus to enhance ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in the aerospace domain with the private sector complementing the effort of Defence Public Sector Undertakings and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO),” a Ministry statement said.
The Defence Minister appreciated the work of the committee and directed that the recommendations be followed up in a time-bound manner, it stated.
Indigenisation will be a key aspect in any steps taken, with significant involvement of the private sector to bring in efficiency and quickly ramp up capacities, sources stated adding that the measures needed in the near and short term will be time-bound.
The committee was formed on the directions of the Defence Minister to “holistically” examine all issues and prepare a clear plan of action, the statement added. It was chaired by the Defence Secretary, with the Vice Chief of Air Staff; Secretary, Defence Production; Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO; and the Director-General, Acquisition as members and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff as Member Secretary.
The report was originally meant to be submitted by the end of January but saw some delay.
The IAF is currently at 31 fighter squadrons as against the sanctioned strength of 42.5 squadrons. While deliveries of the Light Combat Aircraft-Mk1A were delayed, several of the existing fighter jets, such as the Jaguar, MIG-29UPG and Mirage-2000, will also be phased out by end of this decade. The bigger and more capable LCA-Mk2 is under development while the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), the country’s fifth generation jet, is atleast a decade away.
The IAF must add 35 to 40 fighter jets every year to fill the shortage in numbers, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh had said last Friday. He added that the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited had promised to produce 24 Tejas Mark-1A jets next year. The company had assured delivery of 12 LCA-Mk1As this year.
Published – March 03, 2025 10:43 pm IST