Need to have advanced air defence systems like Israel’s Iron Dome: Air Force chief

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Friday emphasised the importance of having advanced air defence systems like Israel’s Iron Dome while speaking in reference to the Israel-Iran conflict.
Air Chief Marshal Singh highlighted the lessons learnt from the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict and how the Indian Air Force (IAF) plans to adapt to ensure India’s security in the coming years.
“We are buying systems similar to the Iron Dome, but we need more of them. Right now, we must strategically identify and prioritise vital areas, as our numbers are limited. This situation underscores the importance of preparing for aerial threats, and we are making the necessary adjustments,” he said.
Air Chief Marshal Singh acknowledged the global supply chain issues caused by ongoing conflicts, impacting military operations around the world.
“We are managing ourselves well despite the challenging war situations globally,” he said.
“Our focus has been on training in war-like scenarios and maintaining operational readiness at all times. Surface-to-air guided weapons are also kept ready in key areas to ensure that we can respond swiftly to any threat,” he added.
The IAF is not only focused on equipment but also on honing its personnel’s skills, the Air Chief Marshal said.
“We conduct a lot of exercises to exchange ideas and learn from others,” he explained, referring to exercises such as Vayu Shakti, Tarang Shakti and Gagan Shakti. The Gagan Shakti exercise alone saw over 7,000 sorties, showcasing the Air Force’s commitment to being combat-ready.
Air Chief Marshal Singh reaffirmed the IAF’s push towards self-reliance, with plans for developing aircraft and weapons systems entirely within India.
“We are working on projects like Tejas, Tejas Mk2, AMCA, ASTRA and large long-range weapons. Surface-to-air guided weapons like MRSAM and AKASH are also a priority,” he said.
The goal is for the entire IAF inventory to be developed and produced in India by 2047, with an emphasis on indigenous technologies, including drones and air defence systems.
Speaking about the Eastern Ladakh situation, Air Chief Marshal Singh noted that while the overall scenario on the India-China border remained stable, the rapid infrastructure development on the Chinese side has prompted India to match the pace.
“We are enhancing our own capabilities by building more Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) and new air bases to ensure preparedness in this sensitive region,” he said.
One of the key challenges for the IAF is maintaining fighter strength amid depleting numbers. “We are focusing more on training and preserving the assets we have, especially as the production of Tejas has been delayed,” the Air Chief Marshal admitted.
He emphasised the need to learn from past delays and push forward with plans like the Medium Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) programme. “We have made our requirements very clear and we are waiting for responses. Importantly, these aircraft must be made in India,” he said.
Air Chief Marshal Singh also touched on the IAF’s efforts to strengthen its space-based systems. “We have a requirement for new satellites as part of the SPS 3 programme, and we are in talks with Isro,” he said.
“Training is already underway at the Centre for Air Warriors in Hyderabad,” he added.
In terms of evacuation readiness, the Air Chief Marshal assured that the IAF is prepared to evacuate Indian citizens from the conflict zones should the need arise. “Broad planning is in place and we will move to specific planning when required,” he said.
On the delivery of S-400 air defence systems, Air Chief Marshal Singh confirmed that three units have already been delivered, with two more expected from Russia next year. Feedback on the Agniveer programme, which inducts recruits into the IAF, has been positive.
“We could retain more than 25 per cent of the Agniveers, but that decision will be up to the government,” he said.