{"id":65342,"date":"2025-09-27T11:44:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-27T06:14:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=65342"},"modified":"2025-09-27T16:19:28","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T10:49:28","slug":"iaf-restructures-fighter-fleet-after-mig-21-retirement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/iaf-restructures-fighter-fleet-after-mig-21-retirement\/","title":{"rendered":"IAF Restructures Fighter Fleet After MiG-21 Retirement"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>IAF Fighter Fleet Restructuring Latest News<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On September 26, the Indian Air Force formally retired its iconic MiG-21 fighter jets, with the last two squadrons \u2014 No. 23 (Panthers) and No. 3 (Cobras), operating 36 jets \u2014 decommissioned in Chandigarh.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The move marks the end of a Soviet-era legacy but also highlights the IAF\u2019s shrinking squadron strength, underscoring the challenges it faces in modernising its fleet.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>MiG-21: India\u2019s Trusted but Controversial Fighter<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inducted in 1963 as cutting-edge interceptors, MiG-21s became the backbone of the Indian Air Force, fighting in the 1965, 1971, and Kargil wars.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over 700 jets of various variants were procured, with the latest Bison upgrades adding advanced avionics, radar, and missiles.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, engine flaws plagued the single-engine aircraft, contributing to over 500 crashes and 170 pilot deaths in six decades, including more than 20 since 2010.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite this record, many IAF veterans argue the MiG-21\u2019s performance and longevity make its safety record better than often perceived.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>IAF\u2019s Fighter Shortfall and Growing Reliance on Air Defence<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The retirement of the MiG-21s has reduced the <\/span><b>Indian Air Force\u2019s strength to 29 fighter squadrons<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, well below the sanctioned 42 \u2014 a target that has never been met.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This decline poses serious concerns, especially in the event of a simultaneous conflict with Pakistan and China.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While Pakistan maintains an estimated 20\u201325 squadrons, China\u2019s strength exceeds 60, giving both adversaries a numerical edge.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each squadron comprises 16\u201318 jets, making the shortfall significant.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The challenge will deepen in the coming decade, as several older aircraft \u2014 including the MiG-29s, Jaguars, and Mirage 2000s \u2014 are slated for phase-out by 2035.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unless new fighters are inducted soon, India risks falling further behind its regional rivals in air power.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Focus on Air Defence<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Given this reality, military planners are currently focused on bolstering India\u2019s air defence capabilities to offset the shortage of fighters.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advanced systems like the <\/span><b>Russian S-400<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems, despite U.S. opposition, have been inducted into service.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, India\u2019s indigenous Akashteer air-defence system has been deployed.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both systems demonstrated their effectiveness during Operation Sindoor, underscoring their role as critical stopgaps in safeguarding India\u2019s skies until new fighter jets can fill the squadron gap.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Rebuilding IAF\u2019s Fighter Fleet: Indigenous and Global Plans<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To address its shrinking fighter fleet, the IAF is banking heavily on <\/span><b>indigenous aircraft<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Currently operating two squadrons of <\/span><b>Tejas Mk1<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the IAF is set to induct 180 upgraded Tejas Mk1A jets from HAL.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Mk1A brings advanced features such as AESA radar, an electronic warfare suite with jammers, and enhanced beyond-visual-range (BVR) capabilities through Derby and ASTRA missile integration.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, HAL is working on Tejas Mk2 and the <\/span><b>fifth-generation stealth Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), expected to join the IAF in the next decade.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Global Fighter Procurement Plans<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alongside indigenous projects, the IAF is also pursuing the acquisition of 114 fighters from global manufacturers.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Dassault Rafale<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is reportedly the frontrunner, with plans to procure some jets in flyaway condition for immediate reinforcement.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The majority, however, will likely be manufactured in India under a partnership between Dassault and Indian firms, strengthening the domestic defence ecosystem.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Su-30MKI Upgrades<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India also intends to modernise its existing fleet of 84 Su-30MKI aircraft under the \u201cSuper-30\u201d program.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This upgrade aims to extend their service life and enhance combat effectiveness, ensuring they remain a backbone of the IAF until newer platforms are fully inducted.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Persistent Delays in Aircraft Induction<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Indian Air Force continues to grapple with delays in aircraft development and delivery, forcing the MiG-21 to remain operational well beyond its planned phase-out due to the lack of replacements.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>The LCA and Tejas Mk1A Delays<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The LCA program, conceived in the 1980s, has seen repeated setbacks.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Out of 40 Tejas Mk1 jets ordered in 2006 and 2010, only 38 have been delivered so far.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Tejas Mk1A, expected earlier, will see its first two deliveries in October after a two-year delay caused by late procurement of F404 engines from GE Aerospace and issues in weapons and radar integration.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HAL now plans to manufacture 16 aircraft annually, but even then, deliveries may extend into the mid-2030s, beyond the original 2030 target.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Engine and Technology Transfer Challenges<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Negotiations between HAL and GE over co-production of F414 engines for the Tejas Mk2 remain slow, despite a deal signed two years ago that promised 80% technology transfer. This delay hampers progress on the Mk2 program.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>AMCA and Foreign Fighter Procurement Uncertainty<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The AMCA, India\u2019s ambitious fifth-generation fighter project, is still in its development phase, with even a prototype several years away.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the same time, the deal to acquire 114 foreign fighters remains unsigned, further delaying critical reinforcements to the IAF\u2019s dwindling squadrons.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b><strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/as-india-bids-adieu-to-mig-21s-what-lies-ahead-for-air-force-10271623\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/india-air-chiefs-comments-on-delays-in-major-defence-projects-call-for-introspection-on-issues-plaguing-manufacturing-10040085\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Indian Air Force retires MiG-21 after six decades, highlighting squadron shortages and future plans with Tejas, AMCA, Rafale, and Su-30MKI upgrades.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":65456,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[2925,60,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-65342","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-iaf-fighter-fleet-restructuring","9":"tag-mains-articles","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65342","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65342"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65342\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/65456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65342"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65342"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65342"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}