NEW DELHI: In a transparent message to DRDO, defence PSUs and different businesses amid the persevering with delay within the supply of Tejas fighters and different indigenous weapon techniques, IAF vice chief Friday stated nationwide safety and operational readiness can’t be sacrificed on the altar of self-reliance. “Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) is what we’re using on…However this atmanirbharta can’t be at the price of the nation’s defence.The nation’s defence comes in the beginning,” Air Marshal A P Singh stated.
“If IAF or Indian forces need to experience on this aatmanirbharta, it’s only attainable if everybody – DRDO, defence PSUs and personal trade takes us to that path and doesn’t allow us to deviate from that path,” he stated. This comes at a time when there was a delay within the supply timeframe of the 83 Tejas Mark-1A jets contracted from defence PSU HAL beneath the Rs 46,898 crore contract in Feb 2021.
The primary “improved” Tejas was to be delivered to IAF by March 31 this 12 months, with all of the 83 fighters by Feb 2028. Nevertheless it’s anticipated to take no less than a month extra for the primary jet to be prepared, and HAL is unlikely to ship the primary 16 within the 2024-25 fiscal as promised. This when IAF is making do with simply 30 fighter squadrons when 42 are “sanctioned” to take care of the risk posed by China and Pakistan.
“The speed at which our adversaries are constructing their numbers whereas imbibing new applied sciences, the potential hole is constantly rising. I exhort DRDO, defence PSUs and the personal trade to deal with progressive applied sciences, out of the field options, and improve functionality in addition to capability,” the IAF vice chief stated.
Referring to the continued Russia-Ukraine battle and different conflicts, Air Marshal Singh stated, “If geopolitics has a lesson – it’s to be self-reliant. Atmanirbhar Bharat mustn’t simply be a buzzword – it ought to be our overriding concern and pursued holistically in letter and spirit.”
“If IAF or Indian forces need to experience on this aatmanirbharta, it’s only attainable if everybody – DRDO, defence PSUs and personal trade takes us to that path and doesn’t allow us to deviate from that path,” he stated. This comes at a time when there was a delay within the supply timeframe of the 83 Tejas Mark-1A jets contracted from defence PSU HAL beneath the Rs 46,898 crore contract in Feb 2021.
The primary “improved” Tejas was to be delivered to IAF by March 31 this 12 months, with all of the 83 fighters by Feb 2028. Nevertheless it’s anticipated to take no less than a month extra for the primary jet to be prepared, and HAL is unlikely to ship the primary 16 within the 2024-25 fiscal as promised. This when IAF is making do with simply 30 fighter squadrons when 42 are “sanctioned” to take care of the risk posed by China and Pakistan.
“The speed at which our adversaries are constructing their numbers whereas imbibing new applied sciences, the potential hole is constantly rising. I exhort DRDO, defence PSUs and the personal trade to deal with progressive applied sciences, out of the field options, and improve functionality in addition to capability,” the IAF vice chief stated.
Referring to the continued Russia-Ukraine battle and different conflicts, Air Marshal Singh stated, “If geopolitics has a lesson – it’s to be self-reliant. Atmanirbhar Bharat mustn’t simply be a buzzword – it ought to be our overriding concern and pursued holistically in letter and spirit.”
