Giving a boost to self-reliance in defence manufacturing, the IAF plans to procure weapon systems including aircraft helicopters and missiles worth over Rs 2.5 lakh crore to Rs 3 lakh crore in the next six to seven years, IAF chief VR Chaudhari said here on Monday.
He also said the IAF is keeping a close watch on China as it has ramped up its deployment of a vast array of radars along the Line of Actual Control(LAC)capable of looking deep into Indian territory.
Making these assertions here on the occasion of the 91st anniversary of the IAF on October 8, Chaudhari said the IAF's operational plans are very dynamic and it will deal with challenges along the LAC through better tactics and training in places where it cannot counter the "numbers or the might of the adversary.”
He said the IAF will continue to remain deployed along the frontier in the region till complete disengagement takes place in the remaining contested areas.
Outlining the plans to procure weapon platforms manufactured by Indian industry, IAF chief said a contract to procure 97 Tejas Mark 1A aircraft at a cost of around Rs 1.15 lakh crore will be concluded soon. In February 2021, Defence Ministry sealed a Rs 48,000-crore deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd to procure 83 such jets.
Chaudhari said the IAF is looking at inducting military platforms, equipment and defence hardware worth Rs 2.5 lakh crore to Rs 3 lakh crore in the next seven-eight years adding most of the equipment will come from Indian industry. He also said this year alone there will be a cash outflow of nearly rS 42,000 CRORes.
He said modern warfare is constantly undergoing a transformation due to rapid advancements in technology and that his force has embarked on a journey of transformation and is progressing in a planned and systematic manner.
"Our focus is on force multipliers in the form of AI (artificial intelligence)-based decision tools, electronic warfare equipment, robust networks and harnessing space and cyber capabilities.
"While adding newer and more potent equipment, platforms and weapons to our arsenal, we are also committed to Atmanirbhar Bharat and are contributing extensively towards enhancing indigenisation and defence production, fast-paced development and operationalisation of indigenous aerospace projects," he said.
Chaudhari said persistent surveillance capability, sharpening of sensor-to-shooter time, long-range precision weapons and development of multi-domain capability are the main focus areas of the IAF.
To a question on China's rapid expansion of military infrastructure and enhancing deployment of air assets along the LAC, he said the IAF is constantly monitoring the situation across the borders through ISR (Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) mechanisms.
"We make note of the build-up of resources and capabilities across the borders. Our operational plans are very dynamic and keep changing based on the situation that we perceive that is developing across any front," he said.
"So in places where we cannot really counter the numbers or the might of the adversary, we will counter it through better tactics and through better training," he said.
Air chief said the IAF does not have a fixed mindset in terms of the deployment of assets in key areas along the LAC. "Our focus will remain to be dynamic at all times and not have a fixed mindset in terms of deployment of assets in particular areas. But we have very very flexible and dynamic war plans which we keep revising every now and then based on the ISR inputs that we get," he said.
Chaudhari said the IAF is in the process of deploying mountain radars to improve surveillance along the borders.
"The situation continues to remain what it was in the last one year. There have been disengagements in certain contested areas. But complete disengagement has not yet taken place," he said when asked about the ground situation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.
"We will continue to remain deployed till complete disengagement takes place," he said.
Answering a question, Air Chief said the IAF received three units of S-400 missile systems from Russia and it is hoping to receive the remaining two by next year.
He described the Indo-Pacific region as the "new economic and strategic centre of gravity" of the world that offers both challenges and opportunities.
"The Indian Air Force with its inherent capability to see the farthest, reach the fastest and hit the hardest will be critical in mitigating these challenges and will remain a fulcrum in projecting India's might in the region,"
he said.
"Owing to the volatile and uncertain geopolitical landscape in our region, the need to have a strong and credible military has become an imperative," he said.