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Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has hinted at large scale induction of home grown fighter Tejas into the Air Force to meet the shortfall in authorised strength of squadrons due to proposed decommissioning of ageing fleet of Mig-21s. In an informal interaction with reporters during a reception hosted by Chief of IAF Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha on the occasion of the Air Force day, Mr Parrikar said projected acquisition of 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) was basically to replace the aging Mig-21 fighters.
“I am convinced that our Tejas is superior than JF-17 aircraft being acquired by Pakistan from China,” he said, in an informal chat, as Air Chief Marshal Raha also heard him curiously. When his attention was drawn to the Air Chief statement, who had said at least six more squadrons of Rafale or its equivalent were needed to fill the critical operational gaps, Mr Parrikar said, “let 36 Rafale come first.” The Defence Minister said indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which was named as Tejas by former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, can replace Mig-21 fighters.
Although, he accepted that there some limitations which single engine aircraft inherently come with. “We know that Migs were facing problems but nobody can deny that these aircraft were very versatile machine,” he said. Mr Parrikar said the IAF would be needing four plus half or fifth generation aircraft to replace Mirages and home grown Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), which is under development or fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA),
which India proposes to develop jointly with the Russians can be the answer. He said over 100 Tejas will be inducted into the IAF in coming years. “IAF has prescribed some of the basic capabilities it wants in Tejas. HAL in collaboration with ADA will configure Tejas according to requirements of IAF,” he said. In his annual press conference on October 3, Air Chief Marshal Raha has said the proposed acquisition of 36 Rafale fighter jet was not enough to fill the gaps, which will be created after the decommissioning of obsolete aircraft.
Let 36 Rafale come first: Parrikar | Central Chronicle
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“I am convinced that our Tejas is superior than JF-17 aircraft being acquired by Pakistan from China,” he said, in an informal chat, as Air Chief Marshal Raha also heard him curiously. When his attention was drawn to the Air Chief statement, who had said at least six more squadrons of Rafale or its equivalent were needed to fill the critical operational gaps, Mr Parrikar said, “let 36 Rafale come first.” The Defence Minister said indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which was named as Tejas by former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, can replace Mig-21 fighters.
Although, he accepted that there some limitations which single engine aircraft inherently come with. “We know that Migs were facing problems but nobody can deny that these aircraft were very versatile machine,” he said. Mr Parrikar said the IAF would be needing four plus half or fifth generation aircraft to replace Mirages and home grown Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), which is under development or fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA),
which India proposes to develop jointly with the Russians can be the answer. He said over 100 Tejas will be inducted into the IAF in coming years. “IAF has prescribed some of the basic capabilities it wants in Tejas. HAL in collaboration with ADA will configure Tejas according to requirements of IAF,” he said. In his annual press conference on October 3, Air Chief Marshal Raha has said the proposed acquisition of 36 Rafale fighter jet was not enough to fill the gaps, which will be created after the decommissioning of obsolete aircraft.
Let 36 Rafale come first: Parrikar | Central Chronicle
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