The Air Force has been stressing the shortage of planes to fight a two-front war. In its presentation to the prime minister, the Air Force highlighted the aircraft shortage faced by it. IAF has said process of acquiring 110 multi-role fighter jets is critical. Force failing to cover up shortage due to delay in induction of LCA Tejas planes. Ten squadrons of IAF will retire by 2024

The Air Force has told Prime Minister Modi that the Rafale jet and the indigenous LCA Tejas will help it in doing away with its aircraft shortage. In its presentation to the prime minister, the service highlighted the shortages faced by it and how the inclusion of the Rafale and indigenous LCA and the futuristic Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) will help it meet the shortages by 2035," top sources said.

The project for acquiring 110 multirole fighter aircraft was also highlighted by the IAF as critical for meeting its requirements. The Air Force has been stressing the shortage of planes to fight a two-front war even though it will start getting two squadrons of the Rafale combat aircraft from 2019 onwards.

As per the government reply in Parliament, the Air Force will have 32 fighter squadrons and 39 helicopter units by 2020. The force is already finding it difficult to arrest the falling squadron strength due to delays in the induction of the indigenously manufactured LCA Tejas planes.

Ten squadrons of IAF equipped with MiG-21 and MiG-27 aircraft are scheduled to retire by 2024 on completion of their total technical life, the government said. Due to lack of inductions in the force, the Su-30MKI has become the mainstay, as 11 to 12 squadrons would be deployed by 2020.