IAF needs to acquire more modern aircrafts: Air Chief Marshal Naik

NEW DELHI - Indian Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, said on Thursday that there is a need to replace old aircrafts with better and modernized ones in the Air Force.

Interacting with media after launching the IAF personnel Wives Welfare Association website, here, Air Chief Marshal Naik underlined the need of new aircrafts for the Force.

“These replacements, which are being planned now, towards modern aircraft, there will always be a gap because the older aircrafts will start getting phased out, getting more old. We would like to replace them early, but it’s okay. But now the process has been set in motion and a new aircraft will gradually replace the older aircraft. It s a routine process,” Air Chief Marshal Naik said.

” Definitely, it is a routine cycle. Life of every aircraft is 30 to 40 years. So, by about 20 years of its life, we have to start planning for further purchases. Now what has happened is that 20 years ago, our country did not have money, so we could not afford to buy as many aircrafts of planned replacement,” he added.

On Wednesday, replying to a question in Parliament, Defence Minister A K Antony also raised concern about increasing loss of men and aircrafts.

In last four years India lost 61 aircrafts and 28 pilots in crashes.(ANI)