The Indian Air Force declared on Tuesday that it was considering inducting military equipment costing Rs 2.5 to 3 lakh crore as part of a significant push toward indigenisation of military assets.

 

What is IAF planning?

 

The Indian Air Force commander, VR Chaudhari, named a huge acquisition of 97 extra LCA Mark 1A aircraft, in addition to the 83 previously bought, as one of the largest projects on this list on Tuesday, noting that the purchase will cost roughly Rs 1.25 lakh crores. Another project on this list is the intention to modernize the Su-30MKI combat aircraft at a cost of more than Rs 64,000 crore.

 

According to Chaudhari, the IAF also wants the 166 Light Combat Helicopters, which would be utilized by both the Air Force and the Army. He declared that the IAF will receive 66 of these helicopters, while the Army would receive 90. According to Chaudhari, the Indian Air Force plans to induct these weapon systems during the next seven to eight years, which will significantly improve its capabilities.

 

The list of indigenous weapon systems and military assets includes 180 Light Combat Aircraft Mark 1A, 156 Light Combat Helicopters, Light Utility Choppers, and several additional weapon systems that are expected to be deployed in the following years.

 

The LCA Mark1A alone is expected to cost more than Rs 1.2 lakh crore and is expected to have a significant influence on the development of a fighter aircraft manufacturing ecosystem in the nation. Officials said that support for building a major defense industry is critical to achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi's goal of a USD 5 trillion economy, and that as the defence forces' 'Aatmanirbharta' (self-reliance) program takes off, the agenda of acquisition-related meetings is quickly becoming 'Indian' in the true sense.

 

The Air Force is getting 180 LCA Mark 1A aircraft, for which the first contract for the acquisition of 83 aircraft has already been signed, and the project for the remaining 97 aircraft is set to get clearance from the Defence Ministry soon, according to officials sharing details of the made-in-India projects in the pipeline. The Indian Air Force is undertaking a significant initiative to modernize the Su-30MKI fighter jet fleet as part of a Rs 65,000 crore project. The project will be carried out entirely in India by a combined team of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and the Indian Air Force, using indigenous radars, avionics, and upgraded armaments for the fighters.

 

The proposal has been transferred to the Defence Ministry and will be addressed at a high level very soon.The upgrade effort would begin with around 90 aircraft and then be implemented on the remaining 160+ aircraft, eventually getting them very near to 5th generation capabilities.Following the development of the Airborne Early and Control Aircraft needs through a couple of indigenous proposals, the Indian Air Force is also focusing on constructing a spy plane capable of picking up on whole enemy activities.ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance) aircraft may provide the IAF with a powerful tool for achieving combat transparency and situational awareness.

 

In terms of rotary wing capabilities, the Indian Air Force will receive a significant increase in firepower, providing a corresponding boost to the local sector.

 

The IAF is in charge of obtaining 156 light combat helicopters, for which the services expect to spend roughly Rs 45,000 crore.The Air Force would also back the indigenous Light Utility Helicopter, which would replace the Air Force and Army's Cheetah/Chetak helicopter fleets. It would also be helping Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's ambitious Indian Multirole Helicopter program.

 

The Indian Air Force's 'Project Kusha' was recently cleared by the Defence Ministry, under which it will receive five units of the Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LR-SAM), which will be similar to the capabilities of the Russian-origin S-400 air defense missile systems, three squadrons of which have already been inducted into service.The Defence Ministry has approved 'Project Kusha,' which is estimated to cost roughly Rs 21,700 crores.

It will be undertaken in collaboration with the commercial and public sectors by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).The Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile Project has already been finished, and a few missiles have been deployed.The project is valued at Rs 14,500 crore.

 

The Indian Air Force is also seeking final approval for its over Rs 7500 core project for Close in Weapon Systems, which is being manufactured for it by the private sector industry.

 

The DRDO is also developing the 'Pralay' ballistic missiles, which will be employed by the IAF in conventional missions and as warheads. The Air Force has also inducted the C-295 transport aircraft, marking the establishment of the first private-sector joint venture for the production of transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force.The project will cost more than Rs 22,000 crore and would result in the production of 40 or more aircraft in the nation. The Indian Air Force is also going to get the basic trainer aircraft in the HTT-40, which is being built by the HAL at a cost of Rs 6,100 crores.