FIGHTER STRENGTH BOTTOMS OUT AT 29

No further depletion in number of operational squadrons if LCA Mk 1A and MRFA programmes kept on track, as the world’s 4th largest air force discards legacy Soviet-origin MiGs

- Vishal Thapar

THE INDIAN AIR FORCE (IAF) FIGHTER AIRCRAFT STRENGTH appears to have bottomed out at 29 operational squadrons with the de-induction of the last of the Soviet origin MiG-27 ‘Flogger’ swing-wing fighter bombers on December 27.

No further depletion will take place in the IAF’s fighter strength over the next five years or so, and longer, if acquisition programmes for the indigenous Tejas Mk 1A and the new foreign-designed Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) are kept on track. The induction of the BrahMos-armed Sukhoi-30MKIequipped No. 222 Squadron at Thanjavur on January 20 – while still in the process of being populated to the authorised number of fighters – is the 30th operational squadron.

And while this is just about two-thirds of the IAF’s sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons to prepare for a two-front war, the hitting of the trough at 29 squadrons marks a big relief for the world’s fourth-largest air force, which can now focus on making up the deficit of required numbers.

At the moment, the IAF numbers comprise 12 squadrons of its frontline Su-30MKI, 6 of the Jaguars, 4 of the MiG-21 Bison, 3 each of the Mirage-2000 and MiG-29UPG and 1 of the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. The 13th Su-30MKI squadron at Thanjavur is work-in-progress.

The next round of de-inductions is due in 2024-25, when the vintage MiG-21 Bison fleet hits retirement. But the loss of four of MiG-21 Bison squadrons will be offset by the scheduled induction of 2 Rafale squadrons, and at least 1 more of both the LCA Mk 1 and the Su-30MKI. Also under negotiation is the acquisition of 1 additional MiG-29 squadron from Russia in a flyaway condition.