IAF is short of trainer aircraft too, says Parliamentary panel report

New Delhi: Not only the fighter squadrons, the Indian Air Force is short of trainer aircraft too, top officials have told a panel of lawmakers.

The IAF is deficient of 130 trainer aircraft as the force has only 238 such planes to take the rookie pilots to the sky as against the sanctioned strength of 368, officials said while appraising the panel.

They also said the number of fighter squadrons has dropped in the recent years due to phasing out of ageing variants of MiG-21, MiG-23 and MiG-27 aircraft.

Briefing the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, the officials said the IAF was deficient of trainer aircraft for which a contract was signed with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Bengaluru for the supply of 70 HTT-40 indigenous trainer aircraft. The delivery is to start from September 2025.

Once the first batch of HTT-40 aircraft are operationalised, the IAF plans to procure an additional 36 indigenous trainers, according to the Parliamentary Standing Committee report that was tabled on Tuesday.

Between 2017-18 and 2021-22, the IAF experienced 34 crashes including 21 fighter jets and seven helicopters. The accident rate, however, declined from what it used to be at the turn of the millennium.

On the procurement of helicopters, the officials said the defence ministry approved 156 light combat helicopters – 90 for army and 66 for air force – for which technical evaluation was going on. Also contract negotiations are on for 12 light utility helicopters Mark-1, six each for the army and air force.

In addition, development work has begun for 353 multi role helicopters and 66 deck based multi-role helicopters. Also, plans are afoot to procure six tanker aircraft, three signal intelligence and communication jamming platforms and 12 airborne early warning and control systems.

On the issue of depletion in squadron strength, the officials informed the committee that the number of fighter squadrons has reduced in the recent years due to phasing out of ageing variants of MiG-21, MiG-23 and MiG-27 aircraft.

To make up for the dwindling combat fleet, the IAF contracted HAL for 83 LCA Mk-1 whose supply was to start from February 2024, but is now delayed. The ministry has approved buying another 97 aircraft subsequently. The force currently operates two LCA squadrons.

The report doesn’t mention India’s existing squadron strength, but defence ministry sources said the IAF is currently operating with just about 31 squadrons – the lowest since the 1965 war – even though the sanctioned strength is 42 squadrons.