Responding to a question on the depleting strength of fighter squadrons, Air Chief Marshal Singh said the IAF needs at least 36 to 40 aircraft annually over the next few years. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
India expects to finalise the much-awaited Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) deal by the end of the current financial year, provided the ongoing process progresses as planned, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh said on Saturday (October 3, 2026).
The proposed acquisition of 114 fighter aircraft is at the price negotiation stage, with discussions also underway on other critical aspects of the programme. Once concluded, the deal would be the Indian Air Force’s largest fighter aircraft acquisition.
In February, the government cleared the long-pending proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets from France through a government-to-government framework. The proposal was part of India’s efforts to augment the IAF’s depleting fighter fleet and came nearly two decades after the requirement was first initiated.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Air Force Day on October 8, Mr. Singh said the IAF could also look at acquiring another fighter platform if the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme encounters delays.
“Russia has offered us Su-57 jets, but no decision has been made on it,” he said.
The comments come against the backdrop of the IAF’s declining fighter squadron strength and the long-term requirement to induct additional aircraft. The Air Chief Marshal said the force would require at least 36-40 fighter aircraft every year over the next few years.
He underlined the importance of air power in the overall military capability of the country and said India needed to further strengthen its air power.
On the modernisation of the force, the IAF chief said artificial intelligence would have an important role in future operations.
“We have to have an AI-augmented force,” he said, while stressing that self-reliance was critical for overall combat readiness. He also underlined the need for India to develop and manufacture a fighter aircraft engine domestically, an area that has remained a major challenge for the country’s aerospace industry.
Separately, Air Chief Marshal Singh praised flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar for his conduct during a recent emergency, describing his actions as “exceptionally brave”.
“What he has done is exceptionally brave. He showed great physical and mental resolve. It is a lesson for us,” he said.
The IAF chief said the incident demonstrated the importance of maintaining both physical and mental strength while dealing with situations involving grave danger. Captain Machchhar’s actions have received appreciation from several quarters, with his family members also being felicitated by public representatives.
Published – October 03, 2026 02:52 pm IST
