TIA correspondent
NEW DELHI: The Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal P.V Naik on Monday revealed that about half of IAF’s equipment is obsolete. He however maintained that his forces were fully prepared to meet any threat from ‘any corner any time’.
The Air Chief said that steps are being taken to bring down the obsolescence levels in the next four years.
Addressing the annual press conference on the Air Force Day to be held on october 8, Naik said that country would acquire 200 to 250 Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft in a few years time. He said that these ultra modern aircraft will have all round situation-awareness with advanced avionics and stealth capability.
The IAF has ordered several new weapons systems like the indigenous Akash Air Defence System and the Israeli Spyder Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MR-SAM) system for its armoury, it currently relies heavily on ageing Russian-made Pechora and OSA AK Air Defence Missiles and Shoulder-fired Igla Surface to Air Missiles (SAM).
The Air Chief said the percentage of modern equipment in the IAF would go up to 80 per cent with the induction of new systems.
He also revealed that India will order 200-250 fifth generation fighters that are being jointly developed with Russia, adding the first of these fighters would be inducted by 2017.