IAF Squadron Strength to Fall Short of 2025-26 Target Amid Fighter Jet Deficit

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is likely to miss its target of adding nine new squadrons to its fleet by 2025-26, despite ongoing efforts to address its fighter jet deficit.

The original plan was to induct nine additional squadrons, but only two squadrons of Rafale fighter jets and one squadron of the Tejas Mk1A are confirmed for induction at this time. The delivery of the Tejas Mk1A has been hampered by production challenges, further hindering the IAF's plans.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the manufacturer of the Tejas Mk1A, has committed to delivering at least six more aircraft by mid-2025, with another squadron's worth to follow in 2026. This development is positive, but even with these deliveries, the IAF will still be short of its target.

The IAF currently needs approximately 108-120 fighter jets to fill its squadron deficit. Even with the planned addition of 12 Su-30MKI aircraft over the next three years, the gap remains considerable.

In an attempt to partially bridge the gap, the IAF is reportedly negotiating with Qatar to acquire 12 used Mirage-2000-5 fighter jets. While this could offer a short-term solution, it doesn't address the long-term need for a modern and robust fighter fleet.

The situation could improve after 2026. If HAL can produce 16 Tejas Mk1A fighter jets annually as promised, the IAF could form one new squadron each year, making significant progress towards resolving its fighter jet shortage.

The IAF's current challenges underline the complexities associated with modernizing a large and intricate air force.

Though the induction of new Rafale and Tejas Mk1A squadrons marks advancement, delays and production shortfalls are creating obstacles. To achieve its long-term goal of a fully modernized fighter fleet, the IAF will need to maintain a strong focus on indigenous production and strategic procurement initiatives.

 

[Anant]

Becuase IAF doesn’t want them, they didn’t like Rafale’s performance after buying 36, it is very simple to understand why they are not buying even one more even after Macron’s repeated pleading, begging and crying for more than 100 times for the last 5-6 years.

They have been pushing for MRFA for a fair while, but the MoD and government are crazily over-optimistic on HAL's so-called capabilities.

 

[Anant]

GOI doesn’t want to spend $10Bln to get just 0ne squadron, this is the main reason why they are hunting for used jets until Tejas is inducted in full speed.

And this full speed will be achieved when, exactly? 2100?

 

[Man-ju]

Instead of Buying 12 old qatari Mirage-2000 For 66 Mn $ India should have gone for 0ne Rafale sqad.India should have Fast tracked MRFA and Fighter would have started delivered by now.

IAF should have done this done that. Let's not talk about probability and live with reality. IAF overestimated HAL. All this wouldn't be needed if Tejas were delivered on time.

 

[Ajath Shri]

YES! Already, PAF have 35 squadrons with at least 300 nos. of 4.5 gen. jets...

Do you mean to say a sqdn in PAF will have only 9 jets ? Where did you get this figure ? Fyi , except for J10 C , JF 17 Blk 2 none of the PAF jets are 4.5 gen. Put together their strength is approx 200 or may be slightly less than that. Don't publish your fantasies here.

 

[PKPRS]

They have been pushing for MRFA for a fair while, but the MoD and government are crazily over-optimistic on HAL's so-called capabilities.

Then why did IAF go to Russia to evaluate SU-57, the main reason they can’t buy 114 Rafale’s for $20Bln budget.

 

[Nvs rao]

They have been pushing for MRFA for a fair while, but the MoD and government are crazily over-optimistic on HAL's so-called capabilities.

Hal not a independent organisation it is totally depended for clearances, permissions, fundings and releases by government.
no body knows how many funds released in last 10 years. But only every day news, Tejas mk1a mk-2, amca like spicy news propaganda by present government. Every time this government interested and eagerd to sell the deffence material to any country but no thing to invest in local manufacturing deffence organisations. Result is now visible.
andhbhskts and political party siders blame IAF and deffence organisations.
but those organisations hands tied by government, which is wants go for costly obselete foreign technology for kickbacks

 

[Dagger]

Hal not a independent organisation it is totally depended for clearances, permissions, fundings and releases by government.
no body knows how many funds released in last 10 years. But only every day news, Tejas mk1a mk-2, amca like spicy news propaganda by present government. Every time this government interested and eagerd to sell the deffence material to any country but no thing to invest in local manufacturing deffence organisations. Result is now visible.
andhbhskts and political party siders blame IAF and deffence organisations.
but those organisations hands tied by government, which is wants go for costly obselete foreign technology for kickbacks

everybody knows the funds released in last 10 years, it is available on all online portals. You are the one who does not care to update themselves and come to give your 10 rupees opinion on the internet. Tell me, why did the IA suddenly increased their demands for specs in the recent WHAP vehicle and opted to test for stryker??
They claim that Whap was not optimized enough, fine. But then they publicly announce even stryker is not optimized but they are still planning to go forward with it. Some babus in these organizations get kickbacks from foreign products and hence such actions
Chamchas like you will do anything but focus on the real issue, which is the ongoing laziness by the govt babus enjoying monthly salaries and no penalties in military departments.

 

[Sandeep]

HAL needs to start assembling the planes at a faster pace as most of the manufacturing of parts and components is done by the private MSME sector and companies who also need to stick to timeline and quality.

If we want to increase our squadron strength very quickly then we need to set up at least 4-6 production lines that are capable of making at least 16-18 jets per year.

At the same time we should just issue a license to several of the private sector companies to manufacture the entire jet as this will be easier and quicker to. They will be better and quicker at making the jet.

 

[rameshsukumaran]

The original need for 45 squadron was set in 1995. At that time the current highly versatile planes like Sukhoi, Rafale, LCA-1 and 2 did not exist. As these planes join the IAF, the number of planes needed for defence reduced as a Sukhoi or Rafale can face up two or three MiG-21 or other planes. Hence harping on 1995 determined strength is not advisable. Most large airforces in Europe have reduced the number of fighters needed as modern fighters join. The Chinese are an exception as they mass produce anything including fighters but these are of second class quality.

The 45 squadron number was decided in the early fifties when the Air Force was flying Tempest fighters which could carry a couple of thousand pounder bombs. This figure has remained static since then. Since then the Air Force has gone supersonic seen drastic changes in fleets and so on. This number has never been revised. Tells you a lot about our planning.

 

[rameshsukumaran]

inducting Su30MKi in 2025 doesn't make any sense , let them die like MiG21s , you don't go around and procure replacement Mig21 if they crash. Let replace Su30MKI with either Tejas/AMCA.

Good for you. You wont be in one of them. Just wonder on what basis such advice is given!

 

[rameshsukumaran]

ONLY ONE to blame is Govt.!! Instead of doing a G2G deal for 126 nos. Rafale jets at lowest costs in 2010, dey tried to do scams in UPA govt. with connivance of IAF ACM Arup Raha. In NDA govt. they kept changing goalposts with no proper plans, and are now asking for an IMPOSSIBLE 100% ToT. NEXT to BLAME is HAL and ADA. They took 20 years to get FOC for MK1 a supersonic trainer jet. And now HAL is not able to manufacture 24 nos. of MK1A combat-battle ready Tejas LCA jets... MUST get 2 foreign vendors to build fighter jets in India in order to save IAF fleets!

On what basis are you accusing ACM Raha? Dont talk when you know nothing. I have served with him. One of the most honest officers around.

 

[Akshat]

As I believe unnamed sources are not reliable so it can be rejected outright I am just mutually agree with you!!
Now things are why MoD or IAF is not punishing hal for not delivering the jets as it's comes under the delivery clauses!!
why they are all trying to save hal I just don't get it why they never put them in the condition where they have to be answerable and pay charges for putting country at risk!!!

2 main reasons. One is of course politics. It would look very bad on behalf of the government if a government entity fails. I here might even be opposition from the officer lobby itself.

Secondly, financial implications. If HAL is fined, its share price crashes. As the biggest owner with over 3/4 shareholding, GoI will face enormous losses.

On top of all this, what will finally, what good will financial penalties even be? The people at the top won’t even get a reduced paycheck. Entire tax burden will be burnt by the GoI and the innocent investors.

That’s why GoInis slowly divesting in HAL and is also creating a competitor. Steps like c295 and MRFA are for that.

 

[PKPRS]

Instead of Buying 12 old qatari Mirage-2000 For 66 Mn $ India should have gone for 0ne Rafale sqad.India should have Fast tracked MRFA and Fighter would have started delivered by now.

or we could buy 21 MIG-29 frames like planned earlier.

 

[R. Singh]

What we can do is start making additional 80-100 Super Su-30MKI powered by AL-41 engines ! and buy 44+ Rafale F4s ! Clear All Hurdles to fast track production of Tejas-1A and Tejas-AF-MK-II simultaneously ! Seek Pvt sector's TATA aerospace's help !