The IAF is monitoring infrastructure development in China and has plans to counter contingencies, Air Chief B S Dhanoa said here on Wednesday against the backdrop of reported presence of more than 50 Chinese fighter jets in Tibet. Asserting they were not a threat, he, however, expressed concern over the depleting strength of fighter jet squadrons of the IAF.
At present, the IAF has 31 squadrons(one squadron has 18 to20 jets) against the approved 42 squadrons to fight a two-front war with Pakistan and China simultaneously. In this backdrop, Dhanoa said “the depleting fighter jets is an issue.” The induction of 83 indigenously developed and manufactured Tejas light combat aircraft(LCA), 36 Rafale besides Sukhoi-30s will arrest the drop down from the existing 31 squadrons, he said.
As regards China, the Air Chief, while addressing annual news conference ahead of the Air Force Day on October 8, said “we are watching infrastructure development in China. They have been saying airports are coming up there for improved regional connectivity and not offensive.” However, the IAF has plans in place to meet any threat, Dhanoa said.
He made this point when asked about China building airports especially in the border regions at a rapid pace thereby posing a threat to India. Fielding another question about the reported presence of more than 50 fighter jets in Tibet, Dhanoa said “it is not a threat.” The Air Chief also said India is also undertaking infrastructure development hinting at better airports and advanced landing grounds(ALG) in border areas facing China besides strategic roads to maintain logistical support to the armed forces.
A few weeks back Dhanoa had said China was significantly increasing its air power including deploying fighter jets in Tibet and India must modernise its air force to match the capabilities of its “adversaries”.
India was facing a unique situation of having two nuclear armed neighbours — China and Pakistan — on its borders and the intentions of the adversaries could change overnight, he said.
“China has approximately 1,700 fighter aircraft of which 800 are fourth generation jets. A large number of these can be expected to be brought against us in the Tibet Autonomous Region in case of hostilities,” he had observed while addressing a seminar.
The Air Chief also said though India was facing a grave security threat, its combat squadron has come down to 31 from sanctioned strength of 42 which is a matter of concern. Each fighter squadron has 16-18 aircraft.
“Indian armed forces are operating in a unique environment. Presently, there are very few countries which are facing security challenges as grave as ours,” he said, referring to threats from Pakistan and China. “India’s neighbours are not sitting idle.... We have a unique situation of having two nuclear armed neighbours on our borders. No other country in the world has this kind of a situation,” Dhanoa said.
China has significantly developed and upgraded infrastructure in Tibet Autonomous Region and that fighter jets and surveillance jets have been permanently stationed in airfields in the area bordering India, he said adding “We have to match the force level of our adversaries so that we can fight simultaneously on two fronts.”