The Indian Air Force is clearly disappointed with the pace of development and delivery of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
In a submission made before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, the IAF said it has got only one LCA as of date though it has been promised this aeroplane since 2009.
“In January this year, they had given one LCA… which had not completed its flight testing. They handed over the papers to us. We do not make a squadron with one aeroplane. That is where we are. They had been promising us since 2009. This is 2015 and we have not been able to form a combat squadron. These steps are not really in the hands of the Air Force. There is nothing we can do,’’ the Vice-Chief of the Air Force told the committee when asked about the fleet strength of the youngest of India’s defence services.
The Vice-Chief’s statement was endorsed by the Defence Secretary who said one aircraft would not serve any purpose. According to the Secretary, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has been told that the LCA has to be developed and delivered on a war-footing. “The government is fully seized of the matter and the government fully agrees with the Air Force that all three categories of aircraft have to be inducted on a war-footing to make sure that the depletion in their combat capability does not occur.’’
The IAF, as per the Ministry’s estimates, requires at least 45 fighter squadrons to counter a “two-front collusive threat’’ from Pakistan and China. “The IAF today has 35 active fighter squadrons as against government-authorised strength of 42 squadrons,’’ the Ministry informed the Committee. With the drawdown having already started, the Vice-Chief submitted that the IAF would be down to 25 squadrons by 2022 at the current pace of acquisitions.
