New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will not create a separate force to operate drones and will use them alongside fighter aircraft, air-defence systems and other weapons, the IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, said on Saturday. He said the IAF is increasing the number and types of drones and loitering munitions, but they will remain part of the wider military setup.
Speaking at the IAF’s annual press conference in New Delhi, ACM Singh said drones are not a new capability for the force but are becoming more important in modern warfare. “Drones are not revolutionary to the Indian Air Force, but evolutionary. We are growing the number of drones and loitering munitions,” he said.
ACM Singh said the IAF has used drone technology for decades and is now expanding its capabilities. Loitering munitions are unmanned weapons that can stay over an area, identify a target and then attack it, which makes them useful against enemy positions and equipment.
The air chief said these systems should not be used separately from other weapons because they are more effective when different capabilities work together. “They should be a part of the same setup, and we have to be operating together,” he said.
Explaining why the IAF does not plan a separate drone force, he said, “We cannot be operating one type of weapon separately somewhere and another type of weapon separately. So we have not thought of having a separate drone force.” He said the IAF already has specialized units dealing with such systems, and their numbers can be increased if required.
The air chief also addressed concerns over the force’s fighter strength. He acknowledged that the number of aircraft is declining and that some aircraft expected to join the IAF have arrived more slowly than planned.
The IAF is looking at several fighter programmes to strengthen its fleet, including the Tejas Mk1A, a multirole fighter and the future Tejas Mk 2. These aircraft are expected to help fill the gaps created by ageing aircraft and delays in new inductions.
ACM Singh also spoke about the advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA), India’s planned next-generation fighter. He said the IAF may have to look at other options if the programme faces further delays.
Russia has offered its Su-57 fighter to India as one possible option, but ACM Singh said no decision has been taken on the proposal. He also called for a “whole-of-nation approach” to major aircraft programmes so that new platforms are delivered on time and brought into service without further delays.