Tue Oct 08 02:12:28 UTC 2024: ## India to Increase Fighter Squadron Numbers as Focus Shifts to China

**New Delhi, October 7, 2024:** The Indian Air Force (IAF) is considering a significant increase in its fighter squadron numbers, acknowledging a shift in military focus from Pakistan to China. The current target of 42 squadrons, previously deemed sufficient for a two-front war, is now being reevaluated, according to a senior IAF official.

The move comes amid concerns over the IAF’s dwindling fighter fleet, currently standing at 31 squadrons, or roughly 200 aircraft short of the target. Low production of the indigenous Tejas LCA and lengthy procurement timelines for foreign aircraft have contributed to this deficit.

“We factored in the 42 fighter squadron requirement when our military forces were Pakistan-centric. Now our focus has shifted,” stated the IAF official, highlighting the growing strategic importance of the China border.

The IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, acknowledged the technological gap with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) but emphasized the IAF’s superior training and expertise.

“We have exposure much better than them,” he said, adding that the IAF has a significant advantage in pilot training and operational experience. “We are way ahead of them. As far as technology is concerned, we may be not so good as of now. We have lagged.”

Despite the gap, the IAF is actively strengthening its capabilities. The force is participating in 4-6 air exercises with foreign countries annually and actively pursuing the development of indigenous weapons systems.

The IAF aims to achieve an entirely Indian-made inventory by 2047, emphasizing the importance of self-reliance in facing future security challenges.

The announcement comes amidst heightened tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, where China is rapidly building infrastructure. The IAF is responding by matching this development and maintaining its capability to strike enemy targets abroad, as demonstrated by the Balakot airstrikes.

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