Now that we all know that that by the end of 2019, IAF will be down to just 30- 32 squadrons as against the sanctioned strength of 42; it’s high time that the Govt. of India (GOI) & HAL should focus on addressing the issue of falling fighter squadrons of Indian Air-Force (IAF). HAL that has been tasked with producing the indigenous LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) Tejas Mk-1 & 1A has just produced 16 of the first 40 Tejas Mk-1s. So ironically, HAL has failed to produce even 1 full squadron of Tejas jets despite passage of 1 & ½ years which is very slow.
While our threatening neighbors Pakistan & China are adding new fighters in considerable numbers every year. The latest news about Pakistan was that, it would start getting JF-17 block-III from July-August this year. Similarly, China too is adding J-20 5th generation fighters at a good pace while India lags behind in this race. Now HAL says that it isn’t easy to produce Tejas Mk-1 and later Mk-1As as the first one has to be built from scrap while the 2 nd one is much different in terms of parts, engines & aerodynamics, etc. HAL also blames lack of proper infrastructure to produce the Tejas jets at a faster pace.Read More…
