Air Force Facing Supply Chain Breakdown Issue Due to Wars, Says Air Chief
Indian Air Force Friday said India would require more air defence systems in the times to come as air strikes have come as a potential danger in the ongoing wars even as full deliveries of Russian S-400 are yet to be made.
New Delhi: Indian Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh Friday said due to the two ongoing wars between Russia and Ukraine as well as Israel and Hamas, the force is facing issues concerning a breakdown of supply chains. He also said that the standoff situation with China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh remains the same and that it is developing the infrastructure there rapidly.
“Today nations are more and more getting into contestations and competition… The importance of airpower comes out very clearly in both these wars. We also understand where we need to be as Indian Air Force because a lot depends on us for our interests against our adversaries,” Singh said addressing his first press conference after taking charge.
“In terms of maintaining our aircraft we have issues of supply chain breaking down because of these wars. We have components coming from this region but so far we were able to do what we want to,” he added.
He said the force is managing in a “realistic environment.” Therefore, stressing on self-reliance or Atmanirbharta, he said, "We are working on projects like Tejas, Tejas Mk2, AMCA, ASTRA, and large long-range weapons. Surface-to-air guided weapons like MRSAM and AKASH are also a priority.”
“The Indian Air Force should have the entire inventory produced in India by 2047,” he underlined.
The Air Force is ready to take on any kind of intrusions. There is operational readiness.
He said in certain areas, surface-to-air guided missiles are “kept ready” in certain border areas.
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IAF Chief AP Singh On India-China Border Standoff In Eastern Ladakh
On the issue of the India-China border standoff in eastern Ladakh, the Air Marshal said, the situation remains the “same there” but infrastructure development from the Chinese side is taking place at a rapid pace.
"We are enhancing our own capabilities by building more Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) and new air bases to ensure preparedness in this sensitive region," he said.
Talking about the depleting squadron strength of the force, he said, "We are focusing more on training and preserving the assets we have, especially as the production of Tejas has been delayed," the Air Chief Marshal admitted.
He also said there is a need to learn from the past when it comes to programmes like the Medium Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA).
"We have made our requirements very clear and we are waiting for responses. Importantly, these aircraft must be made in India," he added.
On being asked about India’s preparedness, he said, there is a need for more but as of now, India is well covered with S-400, three units of which have been delivered, while the remaining two got delayed due to the Ukraine war. He said the remaining units will be delivered by 2025.
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