NEW DELHI, May 1:
The Indian Air Force is fast losing its edge over its primary rivals-Pakistan and China- not only in terms of number of fighter jet’s squadrons but also in the pilot-cockpit ratio, a parliamentary panel has revealed. China and Pakistan both have gained an edge over the IAF as far as pilots availability for their fighter jets is concerned, the Parliamentary standing committee attached to the Defence Ministry said in its latest report, tabled in both the Houses earlier this week.
According to the report, IAF does not have even one pilot each for its fighter aircraft. “The Committee was astonished to find that the existing ratio is just 0.81 for fighter planes,” the report said. The Committee came to know that the sanctioned pilot to cockpit ratio in the IAF is 1.25 for fighters, 1.5 for transport planes and just 1 for helicopters.
The problem of pilot-cockpit ratio will further compound after the proposed induction of 36 Rafale fighters, which will come in flyaway condition in next two years. The ratio is 2:1 in the U S and is 2.5:1 in Pakistan. The Committee took serious view of the fact that squadron strength was already short of authorised strength, and that insufficiency in number of available pilots in the Air Force further deteriorates India’s operational capabilities.
“This attains even greater seriousness as during war time attrition rate is also higher. Our sanctioned strength for pilots is less than that of our adversaries and furthermore the existing strength is even much short of the sanctioned strength,” the Committee said. “The Committee earnestly wants that the situation be overhauled and the Ministry of Defence should turn a blind eye to the miserable condition of the service. The pilot to cockpit ratio in Indian Air Force for all types of planes/helicopters merits urgent attention and therefore, the Committee wants all initiatives to be taken in this regard and the same be brought to their knowledge,” the report said.
In the context of pilot to cockpit ratio sanctioned in Indian Air Force, the representatives of the Air Force, during an oral evidence in the committee said, “For every cockpit, there are 2 pilots in the US, 2.5 pilots in Pakistan. They are better off because in war, you are going to undergo attrition. We were authorised 1.25 and are down to 0.84.”
The Committee also found that the required and existing strength of Air Force are not analogous. The IAF today has 35 active fighter squadron as against a Government authorised strength of 42 squadrons. With regard to this, the representatives of Air Force deposed before the Committee that a drawdown has already begun and by 2022 Air Force will be around just 25 squadron thereby losing even the slight edge over the rival neighbouring nation.
“The IAF requires at least 45 fighter squadrons to counter a two front collusive threat,” the committee was informed. IAF has contracted 272 Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft to form 13 squadron. The delivery of Su-30 MKI will continue till 2030, resulting in equipping three more squadron in the next 4 to 5 years. Further, induction of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) is also planned.
The IAF has accepted the first Series Production LCA earlier this year and the second aircraft is expected to be inducted soon. On the other, Pakistan is going to increase its fighter squadrons to 25, which is on the level of 21 active combat squadrons at present. “We have 35, a drawdown has already begun and by 2022 we will be around 25. So it is a one-to-one match with them. Now we have to look at the threat vis-Ã -vis China,” an IAF official deposed before the committee. (UNI)
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