The Defence Ministry has set up a committee to address the capability development of the Indian Air Force (IAF) amid critical shortage of fighter jets, weapons, and equipment, government officials told India Today.

Chaired by the Defence Secretary, the committee includes senior ministry officials, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chairman Dr Samir V Kamat, and IAF representatives.

After comprehensive IAF briefings, the panel was tasked with preparing recommendations, which are expected to be submitted within two to three months.

The IAF has been grappling with a lack of fighter jets. It has inducted only 36 Rafale jets, part of the 4.5-plus generation fleet needed to counter threats, particularly from China and Pakistan. China’s potential sale of fighter jets to Bangladesh adds to regional security concerns.

The IAF’s long-pending proposal to acquire 110 4.5-plus generation aircraft remains unresolved. The committee may explore addressing this gap through indigenous production. The disparity in air-to-air and air-to-ground missile capabilities between India and China has widened, along with China’s advantage in long-range surface-to-surface missile systems.

The IAF has been focusing on indigenous projects, but delays in the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 1A program, caused by supply chain issues with US-based General Electric (GE), have slowed the progress. Plans for 114 made-in-India fighter jets in collaboration with foreign manufacturers are seen as crucial to bridging the capability gap.

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