Indian air force has much less combat jets than authorized

Indian Air force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne said Friday that the present strength of the combat jets is much less than the officially authorized 42 fighter squadrons in the country. Addressing a press conference ahead of IAF Day on Oct 8, Browne said: "the authorization is for 42 fighter squadrons. Presently, we have much less than that. In the 12th and 13th Plan periods (2012-2022), we have to maintain a certain force level because that is where the maximum draw down is taking place," the IAF chief. Air Chief stressed that it was necessary to induct proposed medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) by the year 2017 otherwise, he warned that if the combat aircrafts are not procured the level of the force will reduce rapidly, "that we have to prevent. The force levels need to be maintained to keep up the country's deterrent capabilities," Browne noted. It has already been reported that Indian Air Force is in the process of procuring 126 Rafale combat aircraft from French firm Dassault Aviation. Besides, the air chief said that Indian Air Force is planning to increase its attacking capabilities in the Ladakh sector in disputed Kashmir, adding, it can be done by deploying fighter planes in the region. Browne also said that Indian air force was upgrading Advance landing grounds (ALG's) in the country's northeast area. "These (ALGs) were lying disused for a number of years. Funds have now been released. We expect that by 2016, most of them will be ready," he Browne added