By WAM
Abu Dhabi : The Indian Air Force (IAF) has initiated a major transformation process at a cost of US dollars 70 billion over the next few years.
The IAF needs to replace and augment nearly 100 per cent of its fighter, transport and helicopter fleets for the simple reason that all of them are around 20 years old or more, and would need replacement even after their useful lives are extended by around 10 years or so with new onboard avionics and missiles as the airframes and engines remain the same, a report published by the Indian Strategic Magazine said.
“The process to transform the force had begun and that the next 10 years would be important in this regard as there would be positive all-round changes,” the Magazine, published from New Delhi, quoted the Indian Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major as saying.
From aircraft to airbases with precision approach and surveillance radars, there would be visible changes by the year 2015, he noted, adding that the emphasis was on all-weather, round-the-clock operational capability.
The problem for the overall transformation has arisen because nearly all acquisitions for the armed forces and intelligence agencies were stopped by the then government in 1990, and the process to re-equip was triggered only after the 1999 Kargil War.
The Air Chief Marshal said that the IAF started upgrading its combat fleet a few years ago to enhance their operational capability.
“Of the available fleets, the Mig 21Bis, Mig 27 and Jaguar aircraft have already been upgraded and upgrades of the Mirage 2000 and Mig 29 aircraft is being processed,” He added.
“A number of procurement schemes are being progressed and we will, in future, have a mix of indigenous and imported aircraft to meet our operational requirements, which includes heavy and medium-lift and utility helicopters. These helicopters will be inducted in a phase manner during the next two 5-year plans.? the Air Chief Marshal noted.
The Air Chief said that IAF was “actively pursuing a comprehensive plan to upgrade its helicopter fleet by upgrading older machines and inducting new ones.” “Within the next 10 years though, there would be a transformation of the helicopter fleet,” he said, pointing out that newer machines with state-of-the-art glass cockpits, mid-flight refueling capability and night operations were needed to meet the contemporary and future requirements.
The Air Chief pointed out that the demands on the IAF transport fleet are growing due to the enhanced national and international commitments and that they will only increase in future.