Tuesday, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari stated that the Indian Air Force was moving through with its plan to purchase an additional 97 Tejas Mark 1A Light Combat Aircraft. The purchase will increase the 83 already under contract for these cutting-edge fighter aircraft, bringing the fleet’s total number of LCA Mark 1A aircraft to 180.
The IAF’s choice to purchase more LCA Mark 1A aircraft is a result of its continuing modernization initiatives, which aim to improve its operational capabilities and preserve a decisive advantage in the changing regional environment. According to the Air Chief Marshal, the IAF will progressively transition from its outdated MiG-21 fighter planes to the more advanced and capable LCA Tejas by the year 2025.
One MiG-21 squadron will be retired in about a month, and the last one will follow suit after that, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari announced at a news briefing in front of Air Force Day.
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The IAF is continually keeping an eye on the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), particularly in eastern Ladakh, according to the Chief of Air Staff.
We continually use intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to keep an eye on the situation across international borders. Our operations plans are flexible and adapt as circumstances change. Whereas we cannot outnumber our enemies, we will nevertheless defeat them through superior tactics. We continually update our ISR plans in response to input provided by numbers, Chaudhari said.
He also emphasised the Indian Air Force’s crucial role in handling the opportunities and challenges posed by the Indo-Pacific Region’s changing geopolitical landscape.
“Having a strong and credible military has become imperative due to the volatile and uncertain geopolitical landscape in our region,” said Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari.
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“The Indo-Pacific Region offers us both difficulties and opportunity,” he continued, “and is the new economic and strategic center of the world. With its innate ability to see farther, reach faster, and strike harder, the Indian Air Force will be crucial in overcoming these obstacles and will continue to serve as a focal point for demonstrating India’s power in the area.
