Short-staffed for 2-front war: Indian Air Force

The revelation by the IAF comes at a time when the squadron strength of the force has come down to 33 in comparison to the sanctioned strength of 42. Of the 33, a very large chunk is made up of Russian origin Su-30 jets, the front line fighter aircraft of the country. 

It also sought more 5th generation fighter aircraft over and above the 36 Rafales since it was a requirement. However, the serviceability ratio of the aircraft is very poor with the figure hovering around 55 per cent. 

This means that out of 100 aircraft, only around 55 are available at a point of time with the rest being bogged down in service. “Our numbers are not adequate to fully execute an air campaign in a two front scenario. Probability of a two front scenario is an appreciation which you need to do. But, are the numbers adequate? No. The squadrons are winding down,” Air Marshal B S Dhanoa, Vice-Chief of the IAF said addressing a press conference here. 

“We have conveyed our concerns to the government. Government is seized of this problem and the reason why the government signed the 36 aircraft (Rafale) on G2G basis is because of urgency that they felt because of the depletion in squadron numbers,” Dhanoa, a Kargil war veteran said.