Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 02:39pm on 03 Oct 2026,Saturday International
The Indian Air Force needs to induct 36–40 fighter aircraft every year to prevent its fighter squadron strength from falling below 30 and move towards the sanctioned strength of 42, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said. Speaking ahead of Air Force Day, Singh said the IAF could induct 30–35 jets annually if planned programmes progress. HAL is targeting up to 24 Tejas Mk1A deliveries each year, while the proposed 114-aircraft MRFA programme could add around 12 jets annually. An additional Su-30 procurement could further raise the numbers. The IAF also plans to strengthen its BVR capability through Astra missiles and longer-range foreign systems. (PC: The Indian Express)
