IAF is Doing Obsolescence Management For Jaguar Aircraft To Strengthen Its Fleet, Says Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa
The Indian Air Force is revamping its Jaguar ground attack fighters. Air Chief Marshal Birendra Singh Dhanoa while speaking to reporters today said that IAF is doing obsolescence management for the Jaguar aircraft.
New Delhi, July 27: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is revamping its Jaguar ground attack fighters. Air Chief Marshal Birendra Singh Dhanoa while speaking to reporters today said that IAF was doing obsolescence management for the Jaguar aircraft. The IAF chief said, “We are doing obsolescence management for the Jaguar aircraft, from wherever we'll get the spares, we have to keep our fleet flying, its a good deal.” India is mulling over acquiring old and mothballed Jaguars from other countries to bolster the existing fleet of the aircraft.
The IAF is currently facing a shortage of fighter jet squadron. The force has only 33 fighter squadron against the authorised strength of 42 squadrons, and most of the Mig fighter jets are expected to retire over the next few years. India has also signed a deal with France to acquire 36 Rafale jets in 2016. The first fleet of these jets is expected to be delivered in 2019. Besides this, the IAF has also issued a request for information (RFI) to acquire 110 fighter jets.
In response to the RFI, six global defence manufacturing companies have responded. The companies which responded are Boeing (which makes the F/A-18), Lockheed Martin (F-16), Dassault Aviation (Rafale), Eurofighter consortium of BAE Systems, Airbus Group and Leonardo (Eurofighter Typhoon), Russian Aircraft Corp (MiG 35), and Saab (Gripen).
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 27, 2018 04:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).