Indian Air Force News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

[Karan M]

I burst out laughing when I read your comment.

https://x.com/livefist/status/1871090831614243128 ---> Damn! How will China survive this new Indian committee.

[fanne]

Still it does not explain why HAL cannot deliver first 40 ioc/foc planes ordered in 2010. 20 were ordered in 2006 and next 20 in 2010 to be delivered all by 2016. It is 2024 and 40 have not been delivered. This is inexcusable

[sajaym]

Still it does not explain why HAL cannot deliver first 40 ioc/foc planes ordered in 2010. 20 were ordered in 2006 and next 20 in 2010 to be delivered all by 2016. It is 2024 and 40 have not been delivered. This is inexcusable

On the contrary, HAL can be excused. HAL had built up a great partnership with Safran which enabled them to get the know how to manufacture the engine which was required for their Helicopter programs. Today you can see the result of that....upwards of 300 of their Helicopters are in service and they have progressed from ALH to LCH to LUH and now moving to IMRH.

For the LCA, some smart asses decided 1. to go with an engine from GE very well knowing it was an American engine ...and 2.Allowing an unknown agency GTRE to build an engine, which they are still at ! And so we are HERE...

Had HAL been allowed to partner with Safran or Snecma (with whom they anyways had a good working relationship!) to develop a fighter engine in the same way they did for the helicopter engine, we wouldn't be HERE...

[fanne]

But we had 75 engines delivered way back, enough for 40 LCA and LSP and PV and testing etc. This one is on HAL.

[srai]

^^^
Will the IAF accept with used engines?

[Yagnasri]

Most of them are extensively used for testing purposes. Not really suitable for new fighters by any logical reason

[fanne]

We had 40 new engines for 40 planes. It’s not that after 32 there was no new engine. This is of course logical deduction (not a fact statement, even the statement that all other engines are cat b engines is speculative). I would imagine any org, let alone a big and mature one like Hal will not keep 40 new engines for 40 new planes. They had delayed the delivery of first 32. Please refer to the first page of this thread to see their historical delivery rate. They have merely continued on that path, got further delayed (because it was 2 seater plane). Now it is further slowed because of yet another design -mk1a. I think any org will take time to do something different, only that Hal is taking way longer. Maybe because they are more focused on process (making copies in triplates, more chai biscuit and clearances and what not). Who knows but the pace is slow.

[fanne]

Year-Over-Year Tejas Mk1 Production & Production Line Performance
*Based on First Flight

• 2014: One Aircraft (Line 1)
• 2015: Zero Production
• 2016: Two Aircraft (Line 1)
• 2017: Three Aircraft (Line 1)
• 2018: Six Aircraft (3 from Line 1 and 3 from Line 2)
• 2019: Four Aircraft (2 from Line 1 and 2 from Line 2)
• 2020: Two Aircraft (Line 1)
• 2021: Seven Aircraft (4 from Line 1 and 3 from Line 2)
• 2022: Seven Aircraft (4 from Line 1 and 3 from Line 2)
• 2023: One Aircraft (from Line 1)

[fanne]

33 aircrafts in 10 years, average of 3.3 planes per year. Yes, low order of 40 does not transform into high production capacity. But this is sloooowww.

[VinodTK]

The way HAL program managers have planned and executed the work is beyond appalling.
HAL used the lack of orders as reason for slow rollout; the cat is out of the bag even with orders rolling in they did not or cannot execute.
Issue of GE engines was not raised till late in the game, looks like all the delivery dates promised are past the retirement date of the person publishing the dates

[VinodTK]

#IAF Modernisation Requires Intense Private Industry Participation, says DG, CAPS | #indianairforce

India Air Force’s depleting squadron strength continues to cause concern. It’s an issue that the IAF has flagged repeatedly in the past, without a time-bound solution in place. With the slippages in LCA Tejas production, the chasm between the desired capability and available resources is becoming difficult to manage. What is worrying is that such shortages are not limited to availability of fighter aircraft alone, but extends to refuellers, AWACS, data links, communications, SDRs and other areas. The requirement is to commit more resources and enhance production facilities.

The future too does not look too bright. The proposed Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft or AMCA is at least a decade away. India needs induct platforms keeping in view current and mid-term requirements. Parallelly, the IAF has to focus on our weapon systems, and other related issues.

According to Air Vice Marshal Anil Golani (retd), himself a fighter pilot and now Director General of the Centre for Air Power Studies or CAPS, feels the best way out is to incentivise induction of private players. Companies like Tata are already part of the global supply chain in the Aerospace Sector. More competitors are required to get the best results. The private sector’s role need not be limited to production alone, but be extended to cover research and development, also.

He pointed out that one major shortcoming is the lack of India’s own aero engine.

The big Indian advantage is the availability of high-quality manpower that could enhance IAF’s pace of progress. Notwithstanding the deficiencies of the IAF, foreign air forces are opting to train and exercise with the IAF, AVM Golani pointed out, which he said was a major plus point. Tune in to watch this discussion between Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale AVM Golani.

[pravula]

Intense participation needs orders. Private industry doesn't hire idiots and they are not in the business of loosing money...

[williams]

The way HAL program managers have planned and executed the work is beyond appalling.
HAL used the lack of orders as reason for slow rollout; the cat is out of the bag even with orders rolling in they did not or cannot execute.
Issue of GE engines was not raised till late in the game, looks like all the delivery dates promised are past the retirement date of the person publishing the dates

We need to privatize, privatize, and privatize more. There is no way one PSU can handle so many programs. I am coming to the conclusion our PSU culture simply does not match with the modern production capacity of our enemies. We are going to lose our conventional deterrence at an alarming rate if things don't get corrected quickly.

[Karan M]

The way HAL program managers have planned and executed the work is beyond appalling.
HAL used the lack of orders as reason for slow rollout; the cat is out of the bag even with orders rolling in they did not or cannot execute.
Issue of GE engines was not raised till late in the game, looks like all the delivery dates promised are past the retirement date of the person publishing the dates

The rate looks low because there were a lot of changes thanks to late change requests submitted by the IAF program management team to ADA which then made changes and submitted revised drawings to HAL.

When IAF rejoined the program late, they raised a whole lot of changes based on their interpretation of SQRs as versus actual achieved by ADA, HAL. Many SQRs were broad or just referred to foreign MiL and other standards. Each and every change was then considered, many, including those which were necessary, taken up. ADA, HAL both wanted Mk2 and didn't push back.

This is apart from the fact there are 4 "on paper" configurations there. Three sets of single seaters, IOC 1 and IOC2, and FOC. One set of two seaters, FOC standard. All split amongst a mere 40 unit orders. HAL program managers put up with this chaos.

[Karan M]

The way HAL program managers have planned and executed the work is beyond appalling.
HAL used the lack of orders as reason for slow rollout; the cat is out of the bag even with orders rolling in they did not or cannot execute.
Issue of GE engines was not raised till late in the game, looks like all the delivery dates promised are past the retirement date of the person publishing the dates

We need to privatize, privatize, and privatize more. There is no way one PSU can handle so many programs. I am coming to the conclusion our PSU culture simply does not match with the modern production capacity of our enemies. We are going to lose our conventional deterrence at an alarming rate if things don't get corrected quickly.

This has little to do with PSU culture or otherwise, this has to do with constant changes and a literal low volume production run that did not make it viable for HAL to run the whole setup fast. Besides which they didn't own the program either to do so.

They now own (most of) the Tejas Mk1A program.

Any huge delays there that are not caused by complex design or system changes can be attributed to them if they delay in terms of assembly, test and check, or due to systems they should have developed but didn't.

[vimal]

^^ Anyone who has worked on any engineering project is aware of how disruptive any late scope change is to a project. We are talking about a fighter jet which possibly the most complex of all modern engineering projects.
It’s for this exact reason that all stakeholders agree on a MVP (Minimum Viable Product) before asking for more. Clearly IAF does care about engineering aspects they are like me-lords asking for everything under the sun and no active participation.

[ramana]

IAF plans to be an agile and adaptable force ACM A.P. Singh

https://www.sps-aviation.com/story/?id= ... -Air-Force

[ramana]

The way HAL program managers have planned and executed the work is beyond appalling.
HAL used the lack of orders as reason for slow rollout; the cat is out of the bag even with orders rolling in they did not or cannot execute.
Issue of GE engines was not raised till late in the game, looks like all the delivery dates promised are past the retirement date of the person publishing the dates

Keeping a line viable is very cost effective to stop and restart.
With 40 aircraft of which 8 are trainers, and two lines to produce the aircraft HAL workforce would become idle and IAF is so hung up getting imported aircraft that they can't count on further orders.

Yes IAF supported Tejas but barely.
It was RM Parrikar that made the decision for them. They tried to fool Sitaraman by requiring HAL to add cost of Engine factory in the price for 83 aircraft. This led to delay till 2019 elections are over. And the squadrons were number plated with a vengeance.
Israeli radar was insisted when Uttam radar is coming along fine.
EW pod was not good enough for Tejas. But great for SU-30MKI.

One chief said he likes Gripen display!

In any other administration there would be dismissals for mendacity.

[Rakesh]

A lesson for the MoD Babus, the PMO and the Air Marshals @ Air HQ who suffer from brochuritis. A must read twitter thread...

https://x.com/_HistoryNerd/status/1880347774455349422 ---> World War 2 was won in factories, not just on the front lines. Ford built bombers. Kaiser built ships faster than anyone imagined. Boeing changed the skies forever. Here’s how mass production won the war—and reshaped the modern world.

[sanjayc]

The rate looks low because there were a lot of changes thanks to late change requests submitted by the IAF program management team to ADA which then made changes and submitted revised drawings to HAL.

When IAF rejoined the program late, they raised a whole lot of changes based on their interpretation of SQRs as versus actual achieved by ADA, HAL. Many SQRs were broad or just referred to foreign MiL and other standards. Each and every change was then considered, many, including those which were necessary, taken up. ADA, HAL both wanted Mk2 and didn't push back.

This is apart from the fact there are 4 "on paper" configurations there. Three sets of single seaters, IOC 1 and IOC2, and FOC. One set of two seaters, FOC standard. All split amongst a mere 40 unit orders. HAL program managers put up with this chaos.

The modus operandi of generals is now clear -- SQR is their main tool to delay development and induction of any Indian system. This is where they do mischief. First, they make unachievable SQRs (best of the best in the world, on par with Western systems). They don't give a rat's ass about actual Indian capability in the area. With very high SQRs, they hope Indian company will never to be able to achieve these. If a product is developed despite all their attempts to derail it, they keep adding to the SQRs through last minute requests for changes and demanding extra capabilities. Parallelly, generals keep pressuring the Government for imports citing "urgent necessity" as the Indian company is not able to deliver. Government needs to understand this modus operandi, and be very strict with the SQRs being drafted by generals. Make sure SQRs are moderate for quick development and induction. This is where defence ministry slips up. As they say, SQRs are too important to be left to generals.

[Aditya_V]

A lesson for the MoD Babus, the PMO and the Air Marshals @ Air HQ who suffer from brochuritis. A must read twitter thread...

https://x.com/_HistoryNerd/status/1880347774455349422 ---> World War 2 was won in factories, not just on the front lines. Ford built bombers. Kaiser built ships faster than anyone imagined. Boeing changed the skies forever. Here’s how mass production won the war—and reshaped the modern world.

What changed between 1965 and 1971 wars, among the many weapons, I feel the most crucial was 100plus Su7bs and 100 plus Mig 21s , these overwhelmed the PAF and made us complacent. I hope right decisions and we can build a MIC. Otherwise we will always be stuck.

[RCase]

^^^
I think the majority of the aircraft involved in 71 war were Hunters and Gnats. The MIG 21's were relatively new. Apart from the iconic bombing of the Dhaka Governor's house and bombing of the runways of East Pak airfields, I do not recall any significant operations of the MIGS. Same for the Su7s. Most of the dogfights involved Gnats and Hunters. The IAF was able to attain air dominance over East Pakistan fairly quickly. The Pakis were operating the Sabres and Starfighters.

[titash]

RCase ji

That is incorrect

The 6 squadrons of approx 140 Su-7 were rushed into induction just before the 1971 war

These aircraft carried out the bulk of A2G sorties, delivered the bulk of A2G ordnance, and suffered disproportionately at the hands of ack-ack

They were also retired very early into their service lives and replaced by the MiG-23/27 types. Basically use & throw - after having done thier job

[Kartik]

The way HAL program managers have planned and executed the work is beyond appalling.
HAL used the lack of orders as reason for slow rollout; the cat is out of the bag even with orders rolling in they did not or cannot execute.
Issue of GE engines was not raised till late in the game, looks like all the delivery dates promised are past the retirement date of the person publishing the dates

Keeping a line viable is very cost effective to stop and restart.
With 40 aircraft of which 8 are trainers, and two lines to produce the aircraft HAL workforce would become idle and IAF is so hung up getting imported aircraft that they can't count on further orders.

Yes IAF supported Tejas but barely.
It was RM Parrikar that made the decision for them. They tried to fool Sitaraman by requiring HAL to add cost of Engine factory in the price for 83 aircraft. This led to delay till 2019 elections are over. And the squadrons were number plated with a vengeance.
Israeli radar was insisted when Uttam radar is coming along fine.
EW pod was not good enough for Tejas. But great for SU-30MKI.

One chief said he likes Gripen display!

In any other administration there would be dismissals for mendacity.

Ramana sir, I think BRF has made it a habit to try and cover up for HAL's messing up of the Tejas production. I am guilty as well in the past.

The truth is that HAL signed contracts with the IAF to deliver 20 Tejas IOC fighters (16+4 trainers) in 5 years from contract signature. They missed that deadline by over 3 years just for fighters, not even talking about trainers. Similar mess was with the order for 20 Tejas FOC fighters.

Someone had mentioned how in October 2023, HAL officials stated that by March 2024 all 8 trainers would be delivered to the IAF. Now we're in Jan 2025 and there are still 2 trainers yet to be delivered from the first 40.

The Tejas Mk1 is a really good fighter. But HAL has really struggled with scaling up it's production and hiding this or trying to defend it will only lead to a greater risk of this continuing with the Tejas Mk1A, Mk2, TEDBF and AMCA.

The optimist in me hopes that all the learning (and it's definitely been a steep learning curve from simply license manufacturing other OEM's designs) from the Tejas Mk1 and scaling up to build Tejas Mk1As will help in streamlining their production and leading to on time deliveries going forward.

[Aditya_V]

But that's the case with soo many importers as well,

Apache's are delayed, GE 404 engines are delayed, Scorpenes were delayed, INS Vikramaditya was delayed, etc, if we plonked money in our own MIC we would have started making stuff on time. Rather for 77 years we have splurged money on shiny Best of brochure stuff which has left us in a mess.

The problem was if the initial orders in 2010 or earlier were for 200 LCA with MMR we would have achieved something, all this drip drip orders then summer, winter High, low altitude stuff for domestic stuff, but import stuff which does not work well in Indian conditions. Imagine MOD, GOI, IAF expected HAL to develop an aviation ecosystem with 20 IOC and 20 FOC aircraft- those orders were given for HAL to fail not to deliver.

Quite frankly the Initial orders for 20 IOC and 20 FOC should be considered under Section 56 of the Indian Contracts Act.

Now that we have got somewhere lets pump money into LCA Mk1A, Mk2, TEDBF, ORCA, AMCA- it is better than throwing money at imports.

We have signed deals with Boeing that they would develop Wind tunnels as part of C-10 Globemaster offsets which they cheated on, does it mean we abandon all deals. I think you are holding HAL and Indian suppliers to a different standard- if we had ordered a significant fraction LCA in F-35 or F-16 quantities in 2008-12 period rather than chasing 189 rafales which were never affordable, we would not be in this mess.

Lets stick with what we have and persevere, we can't afford imported Maal with equipment and weaponry in the numbers we need. A full Rafale Loadout with Scalp, Meteor, MICA, AASM could cost USD 15 Million dollars, good luck fighting war based on those. We cant afford the 189 of them which was talked earlier. Thats why in Kargil R-73 and Israeli LGB was fitted by Jugaad by the IAF.

[konaseema]

When HAL signs a contract with IAF, the aircraft production rate is discussed / decided and the cost is determined by that rate. This in turn drives the amount HAL has to invest on creating the infrastructure that it has to spend. These are all inter-linked. If IAF is ready to pay more per aircraft, HAL can invest more on this infrastructure to churn out more Tejas, but there is also a limit what the various suppliers of HAL can churn across the board. Is HAL solely responsible for the delays? I doubt it. With the delay in Mk1A delivery, for the order for 73 single seaters, the follow on order for 97 will also be delayed. Will the existing Mk1A jigs be modified to Mk2 specs? If yes, how much of it and how much of Mk1A jigs will be left for maintenance/ mid-life upgrades / additional orders (if any).

[RCase]

The truth is that HAL signed contracts with the IAF to deliver 20 Tejas IOC fighters (16+4 trainers) in 5 years from contract signature. They missed that deadline by over 3 years just for fighters, not even talking about trainers. Similar mess was with the order for 20 Tejas FOC fighters.

These piecemeal low order quantities are inefficient from a manufacturing perspective. Why would any industry take these order quantities seriously and set up the necessary infrastructure for mass production? The IAF while dealing with imported stuff is quite liberal with order quantities. Even for the Rafale, the initial proposal was 100+ to be manufactured in India and later the G2G order was for 36. (The infrastructure to manufacture the Rafale was already established by Dassault for the French Air Force). This is not to let HAL off the hook.

16 fighters and 4 trainers is a job shop order. Even a private company would find it hard to invest in a production line for such low order quantities.

If I recall, the goal post was constantly shifted (please correct me if I am wrong) with new requirements. It almost seemed like IAF had this standoffish attitude towards the program.

[srai]

Timelines of definitive production standard

• 2013 December 20 -> IOC-2 certification
• 2019 February 20 -> FOC certification
• 2022/23? -> FOC Trainer certification (first flight Apr 5th 2023)

Any production timelines critiquing should use the dates above

[SBajwa]

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india ... cked-ship/
Home / India / How an IAF C-17 heavy-lift aircraft executed airdrop 2,600 km away to free hijacked ship near Africa
How an IAF C-17 heavy-lift aircraft executed airdrop 2,600 km away to free hijacked ship near Africa
The aircraft was piloted by Wing Commander Akshay Saxena
article_Author
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, Updated At : 09:28 PM Jan 25, 2025
Combat boats being loaded into the C-17; Wing Commander Akshay Saxena (inset). Photos: IAF
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In the spring of 2024, in a secret mission involving flying undeclared in foreign airspace 2,600 km away, the Indian Air Force C-17 heavy-lift aircraft flew non-stop for 10 hours to carry out a precision drop of Navy commandos and their equipment to help free a merchant vessel seized by pirates in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Somalia in Africa.

The bulk carrier, MV Ruen, had been hijacked by Somali pirates near the Yemeni island of Socotra and was intercepted by the guided missile destroyer INS Kolkata, on anti-piracy patrol under the Navy’s ongoing Operation Sankalp that was launched in 2019 to safeguard sea lanes.

The task to assist the Navy fell on No.81 Squadron, the ‘Skylords’, based at Hindon airbase near the Capital and the IAF’s sole squadron operating the Boeing C-17 Globemaster-III heavy-lift aircraft that can airlift up to 77,000 kg of cargo and has a ferry range of 11,000 km. The mission was time critical and secret, requiring careful planning and execution.

The aircraft was piloted by Wing Commander Akshay Saxena, commissioned into the Flying Branch in June 2006 and on the posted strength of the C-17 Squadron since February 2021. He has been conferred the Vayu Sena Medal for gallantry on the eve of the Republic Day – 2025.

On March 16, 2024, aircraft airdropped two Combat Rubberised Raiding Craft (CRRC) boats and a team of 18 Marine Commandos (MARCOs) with combat load to capture a pirate-controlled ship.

Home / India / How an IAF C-17 heavy-lift aircraft executed airdrop 2,600 km away to free hijacked ship near Africa
How an IAF C-17 heavy-lift aircraft executed airdrop 2,600 km away to free hijacked ship near Africa
The aircraft was piloted by Wing Commander Akshay Saxena
article_Author
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, Updated At : 09:28 PM Jan 25, 2025 IST
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Combat boats being loaded into the C-17; Wing Commander Akshay Saxena (inset). Photos: IAF
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In the spring of 2024, in a secret mission involving flying undeclared in foreign airspace 2,600 km away, the Indian Air Force C-17 heavy-lift aircraft flew non-stop for 10 hours to carry out a precision drop of Navy commandos and their equipment to help free a merchant vessel seized by pirates in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Somalia in Africa.

The bulk carrier, MV Ruen, had been hijacked by Somali pirates near the Yemeni island of Socotra and was intercepted by the guided missile destroyer INS Kolkata, on anti-piracy patrol under the Navy’s ongoing Operation Sankalp that was launched in 2019 to safeguard sea lanes.

The task to assist the Navy fell on No.81 Squadron, the ‘Skylords’, based at Hindon airbase near the Capital and the IAF’s sole squadron operating the Boeing C-17 Globemaster-III heavy-lift aircraft that can airlift up to 77,000 kg of cargo and has a ferry range of 11,000 km. The mission was time critical and secret, requiring careful planning and execution.


The aircraft was piloted by Wing Commander Akshay Saxena, commissioned into the Flying Branch in June 2006 and on the posted strength of the C-17 Squadron since February 2021. He has been conferred the Vayu Sena Medal for gallantry on the eve of the Republic Day – 2025.

On March 16, 2024, aircraft airdropped two Combat Rubberised Raiding Craft (CRRC) boats and a team of 18 Marine Commandos (MARCOs) with combat load to capture a pirate-controlled ship.

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Pirates onboard the ship were not only launching attacks on merchant vessels in the Arabian Sea but had also fired at INS Kolkata and had shot down a naval spotter drone on March 15.

The objective area was near the Somalian coast, 2685 km from Mumbai and about 1,000 km outside the Indian Flight Information Region, that is the area in which Indian air traffic controllers exercise jurisdiction.

“The mission involved real threat of small arms with the pirates over and above the extended mission timelines which involved flying into airspace of another country undeclared and undetected for close to four hours,” the citation for the award states.

The officer, as Captain of the C-17 aircraft, decided to switch off all emitters, fly low level over the high seas in foreign territory and make his drop at dusk to avoid detection. Even after receiving the changed drop location only 90 kms prior to the original drop point, he guided the crew to safely execute a precision airdrop thus resulting in the capture of the pirates and rescue of MV Ruen with its 17-member crew.

The operation to rescue MV Ruen lasted 40 hours and was also supported by the Indian warship, INS Subhadra, Sea Guardian high-altitude long-endurance drones and the P-8I maritime patrol aircraft. The IAF had termed the mission as a remarkable display of jointness and integration, resulting in all 35 pirates being captured.

“Wing Commander Saxena displayed effective inter-service coordination with the Indian Navy while maintaining heightened situational awareness both on ground and in air. All possible measures were taken to maintain secrecy of the almost 10 hours long mission. During the flawless execution of the extremely gruelling mission the officer displayed exceptional courage, dynamic leadership, outstanding professionalism and steadfast determination,” the citation adds

[Rakesh]

VIDEO: https://x.com/alpha_defense/status/1886468320247079114 ---> India to get fourth squadron of Russian S-400 by end of this year: Sputnik India

[srai]

^^^
S-400 lost its aura in the Russia-Ukraine war. Lost count of how many have been damaged/destroyed by drones, SSM and CM.

[Rakesh]

^^^
S-400 lost its aura in the Russia-Ukraine war. Lost count of how many have been damaged/destroyed by drones, SSM and CM.

Please do not make the mistake of equating the S-400 experience in the Russian-Ukraine war, with India.

India is in fact *DOUBLING DOWN* on S-400 type systems in Project Kusha. S-400 (in the Indian context) will be tied into the larger AD network that the Indian Air Force operates.

[Tanaji]

There is also the fact that Nato had overwhelming superiority in C4I which meant that they could pin point most locations of S400 very quickly. Most S400 were taken out by either Atacam or attacks or storm shadows. It will be hard to have that type of superiority in the Indian context.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/livefist/status/1889214958698938873 ---> Indian Air Force signs five-year Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract with @GE_Aerospace for sustainment of the T700-GE-701D engines powering the IAF AH-64E Apache fleet.

[Rakesh]

IAF needs 35-40 jets yearly: Chief calls for private sector participation
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india ... icipation/
28 Feb 2025

These jets are needed to fill in existing gaps and also the gaps that will arise after future phasing of fleets in 5-10 years from now.

[Rakesh]

https://x.com/SJha1618/status/1895706459943636996 ---> Precisely. Which is why both the political and military leadership must make it clear to the domestic supply-chain that the Tejas Mk2 & AMCA projects will have unwavering support. 'Sustaining a long conflict requires not just stockpiles but also the ability to replenish supplies quickly. Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh highlighted the importance of self-sufficiency in wartime production.'

No more hand-me-downs! India gears up to build 40 fighter jets a year, says IAF Chief
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne ... 624712.cms
28 Feb 2025

India is intensifying its focus on self-reliance in defence manufacturing, with Air Chief Marshal A P Singh asserting the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) preference for homegrown systems, even if their performance is slightly lower than global alternatives. Speaking at the Chanakya Dialogues conclave, he stressed the need to produce 35-40 fighter jets annually and highlighted the role of domestic defence industries in sustaining long conflicts. He also pointed to rapid advancements in automation and AI within the IAF.

[Tanaji]

Where does the capacity to build 40 fighters per year come from according to the IAF chief? How many nations apart from US and China build 40 fighters per year?

Or is that for others to figure out and not his problem?

[drnayar]

A lesson for the MoD Babus, the PMO and the Air Marshals @ Air HQ who suffer from brochuritis. A must read twitter thread...

https://x.com/_HistoryNerd/status/1880347774455349422 ---> World War 2 was won in factories, not just on the front lines. Ford built bombers. Kaiser built ships faster than anyone imagined. Boeing changed the skies forever. Here’s how mass production won the war—and reshaped the modern world.

Not to mention the Russians cranked out tanks planes in thousands and hundreds

[sanjayc]

^^ The book "Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II" by Arthur L. Herman recounts how America mobilized its factories and turned to mass production to win the war.

[Manish_P]

Where does the capacity to build 40 fighters per year come from according to the IAF chief? How many nations apart from US and China build 40 fighters per year?

Or is that for others to figure out and not his problem?

To be strictly fair, it's all of them who need to figure it out together - the IAF, the MoD, the MoF, and the ministries for Industry and science.
And the GoI must hold them accountable for their responsibilities.

Trouble is the GoI is fighting it's own battles with both internal and international enemies and is almost completely dependent on 1-2 persons to just about hold the fort.