New Delhi: The Indian Air Force highlighted the shortage of aircraft faced by it due to delays in induction of modern aircraft and informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about how the Rafale and the indigenous LCA Tejas would help it in meeting its requirements in future. 

The presentation to the Prime Minister was made by the Indian Air Force during the recently-held combined commanders’ conference in Jodhpur last week. 

“In the presentation made by the Air Force, the service highlighted the shortages faced by it and how the inclusion of the Rafale and indigenous LCA and the futuristic Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft. (AMCA) would help it meet the shortages around 2035,” sources told MyNation. 

The project for acquiring 110 multirole fighter aircraft was also highlighted by the service as critical programme for meeting its requirements.

The Indian Air Force has been highlighting the shortage of planes to fight a two-front war even though it will start getting two squadrons of the Rafale combat aircraft from 2019 onwards.

As per the government reply in Parliament, the IAF will have 32 Fighter Squadrons and 39 helicopter units by 2020. The force is already finding it difficult to arrest the falling squadron strength due to delays in the induction of the indigenously manufactured LCA Tejas planes.

10 squadrons of IAF equipped with MiG-21 and MiG-27 aircraft are scheduled to retire by 2024 on completion of their total technical life, the government said. Due to lack of inductions in the force, the Su-30MKI has become the mainstay, as 11 to 12 squadrons would be deployed by 2020.