NEW DELHI // Half of the weapons and equipment used by the Indian Air Force is obsolete and needs urgent replacement, the chief of India's air force said.
Air Chief Marshal PV Naik, pointing to investment by the government in defence, said half of the existing fighter jets, radars, transport aircraft and air defence weapons will be upgraded by 2014-15. The country is reportedly negotiating a $3.5 billion aircraft defence deal with the United States, which will be signed in November when President Barack Obama visits the Indian capital.
Air Chief Marshal Naik said the air force was also likely to agree a $25bn defence deal with Russia by 2010 to buy advanced stealth fifth-generation fighter aircraft. "Around 50 percent of our equipment is obsolete and needs to be replaced," Air Chief Marshal Naik said yesterday, in comments reported by local media. "Ten years ago we had no money for modernisation. This caused some delays. Subsequent planning will fructify by 2014-15," he said.
India's air force is just a third of the size of rival China's and far short of what is needed to to meet the security challenges facing the country, he said. In February, New Delhi announced a $32bn defence budget, a four per cent increase on 2009, when spending was increased by a quarter. The Indian Air Force has also contracted to buy 18 Spyder low-level quick reaction missile systems from Israel and is jointly developing a medium-range surface-to-air missile system with the Israelis.
The US agreement will see the Indian air force buy 10 C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft, which are expected to replace the ageing fleet of Russian Ilyushin IL-76, The Economic Times newspaper of India reported recently.
* AFP
