New Delhi: In a bid to boost its combat capabilities through indigenisation, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on Sunday said that the India Air Force is planning to induct Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), Light Combat Aircraft MK-1A and MK-2, along with 114 multirole fighters under 'Make-in-India' drive, news agency ANI reported. The IAF chief said that this move will not only strengthen the Air Force but also boost the Indian Aviation industry as part of Aatmanirbhar initiative.
"On the aircraft front, we are looking ahead for the AMCA and the LCA MK-1A and also the LCA MK-2 a few years from now. The case for 114 MRFA is also progressing well. With this, it will not only strengthen the Air Force but also bring a huge boost to the Indian Aviation industry," ANI quoted the Air Chief Marshal as saying.
"We have already committed for seven squadrons of AMCA. The numbers for the LCA MK-2, we will take a call as and when the first production model comes out and we start inducting the aircraft into the airforce and we can always increase the quantity based on its performance and rate of induction," he added.
Talking about the timeline of the induction of S-400 air defence system from Russia, the IAF chief said that deliveries should be completed by the end of next year.
"The induction program of S-400 is going as per the schedule. The first firing unit has been inducted and deployed. The second unit is also in the process of getting inducted. Delivery schedules are on time, hopeful that by the end of next year all deliveries will be completed," he said.
Asked about the threats on the borders, the IAF chief said, "The threat of multiple fronts always exists. The capabilities of the Air Force in handling two fronts at a time will necessarily have to keep getting bolstered by the induction of various platforms. On the ground, we will need more radars, and additional SAGW systems and all of these are going to come from indigenous sources, for which the action is already at hand."
"We are fully in sync with the government's push for Aatma Nirbharta (self-reliance) and Make In India. In the DPSUs, we have had project management teams, which have been synchronising our efforts along with those of the industry. The result of this has been the quick induction of platforms such as the light-combat helicopter and aircraft, and radar systems," he further said.
The Air Chief Marshal also said he was fairly confident in the Indian industry and said that although it might take a little longer, they will definitely deliver.