Indian Air Force does not have enough squadrons and the numbers are worrisome

The Indian Air Force lacks the required number of squadrons to guard the Indian skies and the numbers are worrisome.

The IAF needs at least 42 squadrons of fighters to safeguard western and northern borders of India with Pakistan and China.

As per a report published in NDTV, the IAF has just 32 squadrons of fighters - the lowest in a decade.

Reportedly, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has raised the concern with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the operational difficulties that the IAF faces because of the depletion in fighters.

NDTV reported that the air force de-commissioned three of the aging Russian-made MiG 21 squadrons from 34 to 31. Also, an additional squadron of the Russian-made Su-30 MKI has been raised.

By 2019 -2020, as per reports, it will lose another 14 squadrons of the vintage MiG 21s and MiG 27s. There are 16-18 planes in one squadron.
Presently, the IAF depends on Su-30 MKI and MiG 29s.

The picture , the British-made Jaguar and French-made Mirage 2000s. An upgrade of the Jaguar fighters being carried out by the public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited or HAL has been delayed by two years.

Even the 36 French-made Rafale fighters deal is being worked out.

"Its performance at Baharin was however encouraging and we hope the FOC comes through soon," a senior officer told NDTV, adding, the "IAF is ready to induct as many Tejas fighters as possible to plug the gaps."