Ageing fleet worries Air Force

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force's disquiet about its dwindling fighter fleet has been compounded by the delay in the ratification of the Indo-US nuclear deal and Pakistan's success in procuring fighters from the US and China.

The government had planned to acquire 126 fighters from America to offset the IAF's fleet loss caused by the retirement of several fighter planes.

The purchase would have enabled the force to retain its advantage over Pakistan and maintain its force level along the Chinese border.

The government had delayed the proposal till November, when the US legislative process for expediting the nuclear deal was expected to conclude.

But now the IAF fears that it could lose its conventional edge over Pakistan for the first time since independence. Several Russian fighters, bought in the 70s, are due for retirement over the next few years.

The IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi, conveyed the worrying scenario in a strongly worded letter to the defence minister recently.

Sources say the government is now beginning to think of quicker means to purchase new fighters. One of the proposals being considered is fast-track acquisition of Mirage 2000 fighters.