by : The financial express Denying strongly the reports of armed forces defying government over the pay commission issues, the chief of Indian Air Force (IAF) has said that in a decade’s time, the face of the force would be completely changed with its modernisation programme going full steam. “The pace at which we (IAF) are going ahead with our modernisation plans, the world will see a very capable and different air force in seven to 10 years,†chief of the IAF, Fali Homi Major said during the annual media interaction ahead of the Air Force Day next week. As a precursor to this, the Indian Air Force plans to acquire 126 multi role combat aircrafts was on track with technical evaluation of the bids submitted by six contenders expected to be completed by this year end and the flight evaluation of the selected lot of aircraft early next year. The chief pointed out that the “The IAF’s endeavour is to launch on a growth profile, not just through acquisitions of new technology and equipment, but also through the way we operate, refining basic philosophy, doctrines, tactics and our war-fighting ways.†With the IAF in a continuous phase of modernisation, the chief pointed out that the air superiority Su-30 MKIs which are the most potent aircraft in the IAF, 230 of the platforms would join the fleet by 2014 with HAL trying to speed up licensed production of the Russian fighter. In response to a query he said that “We would like to increase the number of Sukhois produced to 23 from the current number of 15 aircraft a year. Hence, we have asked for speeding up the production. Every single effort is being made to increase production rates,†he said. Since plans are afoot to operate Sukhoi aircraft from the North Eastern states by end of 2009, modernising some select airfield in the region has started. “IAF is implementing a comprehensive infrastructure programme in the North-East for its select airfields,†Major said.
