Question : Acquisition of Fighter Aircrafts

(a) whether the Government proposes to acquire more aircraft to replenish the depleting inventories of the Air Force;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the LCA Tejas Mark IA Advanced fighter jets acquired and ordered so far during the last five years and the current year;
(c) the details of Expression of Interest (EOI) and Request for Proposal (RFP) floated and response received so far; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to decommission MIG-27 aircrafts and if so, details thereof and the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE (SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)
IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
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(a) & (b): To overcome the shortage of fighter aircrafts in the IAF, two pronged approach has been adopted i.e. midlife upgradation of legacy aircraft to retain their operational relevance and induction of new aircraft.

IAF has already contracted for 40 LCA Mk 1 aircraft with HAL of which 16 LCA Mk 1 aircraft have been delivered. IAF is in the process of acquiring additional 83 LCA Mk 1A aircraft for which contract negotiations are in progress. Delivery of LCA Mk 1A aircraft would commence three years from the date of signing of contract.
(c) RFP for 83 LCA Mk 1A was issued to HAL in December, 2017.
An RFI for procurement of 114 Multi Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) was issued in April, 2018.
(d) The MiG-27 fleet has been decommissioned on 31 December, 2019 due to obsolescence and completion of Total Technical Life.
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