LONDON, May 9 (APP): A former top Indian Air Force official has conceded that IAF face difficulties in maintaining aircraft of different origins in its fleet.
Air Chief Marshal S.P.Tyagi who recently retired as the Chief of Air Staff, IAF, was speaking on Air power & India's security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies on Tuesday.
"It is the biggest nightmare to run an Air Force with planes of different origins," he said in reference to India's fleet of warplanes manufactured in France, Britain and Russia.
India which is in process of ordering some 126 new planes to replace its ageing fleet of different variants of MIGs has the fourth largest Air Force in the world with 45 squadrons.
As a former Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, ACM Tyagi said the Indian Government has now decided in principle not to go for multiple origin planes. He said the process for the bidding of 126 new planes would be transparent.
He said the Indian Government was also keen on indigenous production of warplanes and referred to the manufacture of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)."No nation can be a super power by buying planes from other countries," he remarked.
Responding to a question, he said IAF has no role in the Central Asian States as it has not stationed any combat aircraft in the region while adding that India has helped Tajikistan in the construction of a runaway
of an airbase.
He said in the changing scenario, peace and stability was key for the
economic growth and IAFâs objectives are to protect the economic interests of India.
He noted his countryâs growing trade relations with China. As for relations with Pakistan, Tyagi said, these were on the mend and the Kashmir issue will take time to resolve.
