The Indian Air Force is in dire need of fighter jets to make up for its depleting squadron strength. However, it may take another two years before the deal for 110 fighter jets is sealed. While the government signed a deal to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets with French aviation major Dassault in 2016, the increase in fighter jet numbers is insufficient given that the original deal included a purchase of 126 fighters

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force is in dire need of fighter jets to make up for its depleting squadron strength. However, it may take another two years before the deal for 110 fighter jets is sealed- a report in Bloomberg has indicated. Citing a senior official of Boeing, one of the companies in the fray for India's approximately $15 billion order for 110 fighters jets, besides Lockheed Martin, SAAB, and BAE Systems, the report said that it could be two years before India picks up the winner of its fighter jet deal.

A lot is likely to change in the course of reaching the conclusion of the deal given that India goes to general elections in 2019. While the IAF has a sanctioned squadron strength of 42 in order to face a two-front war against Pakistan and China, it is operating much below the stipulated number, thanks to retiring aircraft and delays in the acquisition of new jets. 

While the government signed a deal to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets with French aviation major Dassault in 2016, the increase in fighter jet numbers is insufficient given that the original deal included a purchase of 126 fighters. Add to it, the aircraft that would be retiring over the coming years. In the longer run thus, the IAF would be dependent on the existing aircraft- the Sukhoi-30MKIs, LCA Tejas and the soon to be inducted Rafale.

The tender for 110 fighter jets involves building 85 per cent of the components from the Indian market and Boeing had, in April, said that it would partner with state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Mahindra Defence Systems for manufacturing its F/A-18 Super Hornet in India.