Indian Air Force faces historic shortage, has only 31 squadrons available against 42: Report

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is facing a severe shortage as the number of aircraft has fallen to a historic low, according to a report.

Against the sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons, the IAF currently only has 31 squadrons, according to The Economic Times.

The news of the shortage comes at a time when India is facing increased threats from the China-Pakistan combine. India has long been concerned about a simultaneous conflict with China and Pakistan. Even in such a threat environment, the situation is such that while China has been adding warplanes as well as ships to its military, India’s fleet is constantly depleting.

Even though the IAF formally has 31 squadrons, the effectively strength of the fleet is 29 squadrons, as per the ET.

The newspaper noted that two of 31 squadrons are of ageing MiG-21 fighter planes and these squadrons are carrying out minimal operations for the sake of preserving the aircraft.

More from India

'First Assam visit after Op Sindoor': PM Modi inaugurates projects worth Rs 18,530 cr India to host fifth Coast Guard Global Summit in Chennai in 2027

These MiG-21 fighter planes have long reached end of their lives and their retirement is being postponed for years as the IAF awaits the delivery of LCA Mk1A fighters, according to the newspaper.

‘We’ll fight with whatever we have’

Amid such shortage, Air Chief Marshall Amar Preet Singh has said that the IAF will fight with “whatever we have”.

“It is not a short term [thing] that, you know, overnight we can buy stuff. It takes time, not only just selection, but induction also takes time. And along with that, even if we induct, let’s say two squadrons or three squadrons, certainly training takes time to be able to utilise them, so what we are focusing on at the moment is to be able to fight with whatever we have immediately,” said Singh, as per ET.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

'New dawn': PM Modi meets Manipur violence victims in first visit since 2023 unrest

CP Radhakrishnan takes oath as Vice President of India

Even as Singh expressed confidence in the IAF’s abilities, he stressed the dire need for new aircraft.

Flagging the slow production of Tejas aircraft, Singh said that the production needs to be hastened and the IAF needs more multi-role fighter planes “as of yesterday” but no decision has yet been taken, according to the newspaper.

Since reaching the peak of 41 squadrons, the IAF’s numbers have consistently come down as ageing planes such as MiGs and Jaguars have been phased out over the years. The gradual phasing out of aircraft coupled with decades of stalled procurement means that the IAF’s numbers have kept plummeting over the years.