The Indian Air Force (IAF) is keenly focused on its future combat readiness, with a strong emphasis on indigenous platforms like the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk2 and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). However, as Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, recently highlighted, these advanced projects will naturally take time to fully mature. Therefore, a critical immediate priority for the IAF is to effectively bridge its current fighter jet capability gap.
Speaking at the Aero Tech India 2025 event, organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry in partnership with the Centre for Aerospace Power and Strategic Studies, Air Marshal Bharti addressed concerns regarding the squadron shortfall following the retirement of the MiG-21 fleet. He reiterated the IAF’s commitment to the LCA Mk2 in the coming years and its significant investment in the AMCA program, which promises to be a cornerstone of India’s future indigenous combat aviation. He assured that active steps are being taken to address the short-term needs.
In a recent development, a contract for an additional 97 LCA Mk1A aircraft for the Indian Air Force was signed just last week, underscoring the ongoing efforts to bolster the fleet.
Driving Towards Self-Reliance
Air Marshal Bharti passionately emphasized India’s remarkable progress towards self-reliance within the defense sector, particularly in meeting the operational demands of the IAF. He outlined an ambitious vision: for India to develop its own aero engine within the next 10-12 years, a goal that demands collaborative and sustained efforts from both the defense industry and governmental stakeholders.
He pressed industry leaders and policymakers on the crucial importance of true indigenization, stating that a mere 99% indigenous content isn’t enough if critical, import-dependent components remain. “If the supply chains for those vital components are disrupted, our ability to scale up production when necessary would be severely compromised,” Mr. Bharti warned, urging manufacturers to pursue 100% indigenization within clear, ambitious timelines. He stressed that achieving strategic autonomy in critical technologies is paramount for the IAF’s future capabilities. While progress from initial concept to full operational deployment can be slow, accelerating innovation through robust R&D infrastructure is essential. Future conflicts will demand persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, real-time situational awareness, sophisticated cognitive command and control systems, and ironclad secure communication protocols.
The Frontier of Weapon Seeker Technology
Among various technological advancements, Air Marshal Bharti identified weapon seeker technology as the single most critical gap needing urgent attention. He observed that considerable effort is channeled into developing diverse weapon systems, yet significantly less focus is placed on the underlying seeker technology that makes these weapons effective.
The Deputy Chief urged manufacturers to explore and invest heavily in several cutting-edge areas: quantum computing for unbreakable communications, scramjet engines to power next-generation hypersonic missiles, foundational aero engine technologies for both fighter and transport aircraft, advanced directed energy weapons, and robust counter-drone capabilities. While acknowledging the rapid expansion of the unmanned aerial systems sector, he advised entrepreneurs to shift their focus from mere numbers to enhancing the fundamental capabilities of these platforms, improving their survivability, and seamlessly integrating their sensor arrays.