Crystal Gazing Into IAF’S FIGHTER INVENTORY 2040
Indian Air Force has a long history similar to many Air Forces including the USAAF of using Aircraft well past their initial prescribed life with various Mid-Life Upgrade Packages. The venerable B52 bombers are still operating with the American Air Force.
So Aircrafts, currently serving with Indian Air Force as frontline fighters will certainly get a life extension and will serve well into 2040s. After all two fight a two front war without getting into a desperate situation the IAF needs to reach a strength if 63 fighter squadrons at the earliest feasible.
A quick calculation reveals that 30 squadrons minimum are required for pure gapless air defence of the entire airspace. Then we will need to earmark squadrons for providing close air support to the Army and the Navy. So with just 45 squadrons as sanctioned presently, there will be nothing much left to strike back. To hold both the fronts in a proper manner and strike nice and proper one of them, we need 54 squadrons. To strike deep into the hearts of both China and Pakistan at the same time without resorting to “ jugar”, the IAF needs to have 63 Squadrons.
Due the above reasons Su-30MKI, Rafale and Tejas will be serving Indian Air Force in 2040s along with our Fifth Generation Combat Aircraft the AMCA. We have to ensure that Tejas Mk2 gooes into full production from 2024 and the first AMCA squadron is in service by 2030.The line up in 2040 should look like this :
*12x Squadron of AMCA
*15 × Squadrons of SU30MKI
*15x Squadron of Tejas Mk2 / Mk1A
* 6x Squadrons of Tejas Mk3
*6xSquadrons of Rafale
*6xSquadron of SU57MKI
*3× Squadrons of Mirage 2000 retiring
The prototypes for Sixth Generation Aircrafts as replacement of LCA Tejas starting with Mk1A and as replacement of HCA SU30 MKI should be rolling into production. A few more squadrons of AMCA should be in to replace the slots vacated by the Mirage 2000s. The sixth generation HCA should start replacing the first of the SU30 MKIs.
The first of the Mig-21s joined the IAF some time before the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War and the last of the Mig-21 avatar the BISON is still in service that is total of more than 50 years
Till date the Indian Air Force has never managed to reach its maximum sanctioned strength of 45 squadrons due to the apathy of those elected to govern and ensure security of India and the unaccountable bureaucracy who have been ruling the dark world of foreign Arms Procurement. With Atmanirvarta, the last of the imports in the fighter variety should be the additional 4x squadrons of Rafale and the six squadrons of the SU57 MkI.Even these can be under MAKE IN INDIA.
