Defence panel recommends DRDO, PSU, private sector collaboration for IAF’s Atmanirbharta

New Delhi: An empowered committee tasked with suggesting steps to enhance capacity of the Indian Air Force has recommended that the private sector work closely with public sector units and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to meet the goal of ‘Atmanirbharta’.

Defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh presented the report of the Empowered Committee for Capability Enhancement of IAF to defence minister Rajnath Singh on Monday.

“The committee has identified key thrust areas and made recommendations for implementation in the short, medium and long-term so as to achieve the desired capability enhancement goals of lAF in an optimal manner,” officials said.

They added that the report underscores the need for the private sector complementing the effort of DPSUs and DRDO. The special committee was formed under the direction of Singh, who had instructed that a clear plan of action must be prepared.

Officials said Singh has directed that the recommendations should now be followed up in a time-bound manner. As reported, the committee was tasked to look at current trends, requirements projected over the years and ongoing procurement cases for modernisation.

Records show current strength of 31 fighter jet squadrons is the lowest that India has had since 1965, when a war was fought with Pakistan. This number steadily increased after the 1965 war and peaked at 41 squadrons in 1996. As the aircraft profile changed, the strength dipped to 35 in 2013 and since then it has gone steadily down.

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