Indian Air Force to acquire more aircraft

Posted on: Oct. 10th, 2006 || Source: timesnow.tv | E-mail Article | Print Article

Indian Air Force to acquire more aircraft

Worried that India might be losing the defensive edge to Pakistan in the air, the Strategic Policy Group will meet on Wednesday (October 11) to finalise a fighter aircraft acquisition plan.

An additional Rs 10,000 crore [$2 Bn]is likely to be set aside in the current budget for aircraft acquisitions. This acquisition plan is geared to counter Pakistan's purchase of 40 F-16s. The delivery schedule will be spread over ten years between 2006 and 2016.

The Mirage and Sukhoi fighter aircrafts are the favourites for the Indian Airforce. The Policy Group that will decide on the plan consists of the Cabinet Secretary, the Defence Secretary and the three Armed forces chiefs. The plan, once finalised by the SPG, will be submitted to the CCS.

Currently the ratio for fighter aircraft numbers is said to be somewhere in the region of 1:2.17 in favour of India. If India’s aged and outdated fleet is discounted, the ratio falls to 1:1.79. But critically, after the induction of 40 F-16s by Pakistan, this ratio will further be reduced to 1:1.15.

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