India’s air force is gearing up for a big boost in firepower. Officials are pushing to expand the Indian Air Force (IAF) beyond its long-standing goal of 42 fighter squadrons, driven by rising tensions in South Asia and shaky geopolitics.
A defense insider shared with that top leaders see the current 42-squadron target as too low. “The regional challenges demand more,” the source said. An internal review backs this up, hinting at a potential jump in numbers soon.
This move follows Operation Sindoor, a tense four-day clash four months ago. Army leaders view it as China using Pakistan as a stand-in to test its weapons in real battles. At a New Delhi event, Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Rahul Singh warned that Beijing treats these conflicts like a “live lab” for its gear. “We need to take this very seriously,” he stressed.
With threats of a two-front war looming—against both China and Pakistan—discussions are heating up to supercharge the IAF’s fighter jet fleet. Sources suggest the squadron count could rise by 25-35%. Keep in mind, each squadron packs 16-18 jets, so that’s a lot of added muscle. Any new plan would require approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security.
But the IAF faces tough hurdles right now. It operates just 31 fighter squadrons today, and that drops to 29 on September 26 when the aging MiG-21 jets finally retire. This marks the smallest fleet in five or six decades, a steady decline since the mid-1990s.
Delays are piling on the pain. The homegrown Tejas Mark-1A fighter jets, meant to fill gaps, are way behind schedule. HAL was supposed to start deliveries last March, with 16 planes a year. Yet, not a single one has arrived. Air Force Chief Amar Preet Singh called out these holdups earlier this year, voicing frustration over HAL’s slow pace.
As India eyes stronger defenses, these steps could reshape its air power in a volatile neighborhood.
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