In a bid to bolster its combat capabilities through indigenisation, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on Sunday said the Indian Air Force is looking to induct Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and Light Combat Aircraft MK-1A and MK-2 along with the 114 multirole fighters under ‘Make-in-India’ in the future.
The IAF chief said that the move will not only “strengthen the Air Force” but also bring a “huge boost” to the Indian Aviation industry as part of the Aatmanirbhar initiative of the Narendra Modi government.
“On the aircraft front, we are looking ahead for the AMCA and the LCA MK-1A and also the LCA MK-2 a few years from now. The case for 114 MRFA is also progressing well. With this, it will not only strengthen the Air Force but also bring a huge boost to the Indian Aviation industry,” the Air Chief Marshal told ANI.
“We have already committed for seven squadrons of AMCA. The numbers for the LCA MK-2, we will take a call as and when the first production model comes out and we start inducting the aircraft into the airforce and we can always increase the quantity based on its performance and rate of induction,” he added while speaking about the number of units of the aircraft that the Air Force is planning to induct.
When asked about the timeline of the induction of the S-400 air defence system from Russia into the forces, he said that it will be done as per the schedule adding that all deliveries should be completed by the end of next year.
“The induction program of S-400 is going as per the schedule. The first firing unit has been inducted and deployed. The second unit is also in the process of getting inducted. Delivery schedules are on time, hopeful that by the end of next year all deliveries will be completed,” said the Air Chief Marshal.