New IAF chief prioritises rapid induction of Tejas fighters, force multipliers

NEW DELHI: Faster induction of indigenous Tejas fighters and force-multipliers like AEW&C aircraft and mid-air refuellers, while dealing with continuing military challenge from China, will be among major thrust areas of new IAF chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh .

Singh, 59, a fighter pilot with over 5,000 hours of flying on a variety of aircraft and helicopters, took over from ACM V R Chaudhari Monday, at a time when IAF is making do with just 30 fighter squadrons when at least 42 are "authorised' to tackle China and Pakistan. IAF plans to progressively induct almost 300 Tejas Mark-1A and Mark-2 fighters over the next 10-15 years to make up its depleting numbers, but the slow annual production rate of single-engine jets by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) is a major concern.

Though delay in delivery of 99 GE-F404 aero-engines by US firm General Electric is one of the main reasons dogging slow production rate of Tejas fighters, there are internal HAL production issues as well. Singh is well-versed with the nuts and bolts of Tejas fighter because he earlier served as the project director (flight test) for the home-grown jet at National Flight Test Centre in Bengaluru.