IAF struggles with much less jets than sanctioned strength: Browne

New Delhi: The IAF is operating with “much less” aircraft than its authorised strength of 42 combat squadrons and in case of any further delay in the proposed 126 fighter jet deal, the force levels in the service will “go down rapidly”, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne said today. “The authorisation is for 42 squadrons of fighter aircraft. Presently, we are much less than that… In the 12th and 13th Plan (2012-22), we have to maintain a [caption id=“attachment_1153231” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne. Image courtesy PIB[/caption]certain force level because that is where the maximum draw down is taking place. So, we lose a number of squadrons in these two plan periods,” he said in New Delhi in his annual press conference. “In case, MMRCA (Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft) does not come to us in the end of the 12th Plan (2017), then our force levels will to go down rapidly. That is what we have to prevent. We have to maintain force levels to provide deterrent capabilities to the country,” Browne said. The Air Force is in the process of procuring 126 Rafale combat aircraft from French firm Dassault Aviation and had chosen it after an extensive trial phase in April 2012. Asked if the recent death of joint secretary Arun Kumar Bal, who was dealing with acquisitions, may result in delay in the project, Browne said, “We have lost a big player. It is a setback for us not only in the MMRCA (project) but everything we are procuring. Now, whosoever comes in his place, will take three-four months to settle down.” Bal passed away on Tuesday after suffering a heart attack and was the in-charge of all the procurement projects of the IAF in the defence ministry. To a query on a possible timeline for the completion of the project, he said the IAF cannot set one as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Dassault Aviation have to sign a joint cooperation agreement for producing the aircraft in the country.