SOURCE: AFI
As India approaches the centennial of its independence in 2047, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has set an ambitious target of expanding its fighter aircraft fleet to 60 squadrons, a significant leap from its current strength. This goal, articulated by senior IAF officials during recent discussions on modernization and self-reliance, reflects the force’s determination to ensure air dominance and safeguard India’s sovereignty amidst evolving regional and global security challenges.
Achieving this target will require a concerted effort involving indigenous production, strategic acquisitions, and technological innovation, aligning with India’s broader vision of becoming a fully self-reliant defence power by 2047.
The IAF currently operates around 31 fighter squadrons, significantly below its sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons, which is deemed necessary to effectively counter threats on India’s two-front borders with China and Pakistan. Each squadron typically comprises 18-20 aircraft, meaning the IAF’s present fleet translates to approximately 550-600 fighters. The shortfall is largely due to the phased retirement of aging platforms like the MiG-21, MiG-23, and MiG-27, which have not been replaced at a pace matching the rate of decommissioning.
The IAF’s current fighter inventory includes a mix of indigenous and foreign platforms: the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-1, Sukhoi Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, Mirage 2000, Rafale, and Jaguar aircraft. While the Su-30 MKI forms the backbone of the fleet with over 260 aircraft, the induction of modern platforms like the Rafale (36 units delivered) and the Tejas Mk-1A (with 83 ordered and 97 more approved) has been a step towards modernization. However, the slow pace of production and delays in new acquisitions have hindered efforts to bridge the gap in squadron strength.
The IAF’s target of 60 squadrons by 2047 translates to a fleet of approximately 1,080-1,200 fighter aircraft, nearly doubling its current strength. This ambitious goal is driven by the need to counter growing regional threats, particularly China’s rapidly expanding air force, which operates over 1,900 fighters, including advanced fifth-generation jets like the J-20, and Pakistan’s ongoing modernization efforts, including its JF-17 fleet and potential acquisition of Chinese stealth fighters.
Achieving this target will require the IAF to induct around 500-600 new fighters over the next two decades, a daunting but achievable task if planned systematically. The IAF’s roadmap includes a mix of indigenous production, co-development with foreign partners, and strategic acquisitions to ensure a balanced and capable fleet.
Central to the IAF’s vision is the emphasis on indigenous platforms under the “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives. The LCA Tejas program, led by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), is poised to play a pivotal role in this expansion. The IAF has already ordered 180 Tejas Mk-1 and Mk-1A aircraft, with plans to induct the more advanced Tejas Mk-2 (powered by the GE F-414 engine) by the late 2020s. The Tejas Mk-2, designed as a 4.5-generation fighter with enhanced range, payload, and avionics, could form the bulk of the IAF’s light fighter squadrons, with projections of over 200 units being inducted by 2047.
Additionally, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a fifth-generation stealth fighter under development by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and HAL, is expected to enter production in the mid-2030s. The AMCA, with its stealth features, supercruise capability, and advanced sensor fusion, is envisioned as the IAF’s premier platform for air superiority and deep-strike missions. The IAF aims to induct at least 200 AMCA units across its Mk-1 and Mk-2 variants by 2047, forming 10-12 squadrons of stealth fighters.
While indigenous production will form the core of the IAF’s expansion, strategic acquisitions and upgrades of existing platforms will also play a critical role in achieving the 60-squadron target. The IAF is currently pursuing the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program to acquire 114 new fighters, with contenders including the Rafale, F-15EX, F/A-18 Super Hornet, Typhoon, and Su-35. The MRFA deal, expected to be finalized in the coming years, will provide an immediate boost to the IAF’s squadron strength while allowing time for indigenous programs like the Tejas Mk-2 and AMCA to mature.
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