The MMRCA of Indian Air Force - Quest For A Better Plane
The Indian Air Force has always been a force to reckon with, easily the most powerful air force in the entire South Asian region. While the Indian Air Force has been able to maintain its superiority over the region ever since 1947, there have been times when it has only done barely. The current period is one such time when the IAF is barely keeping up its superiority. As against the sanctioned strength of healthy 44 squadrons, the force currently maintains just 34 squadrons which allows it to barely maintain operational readiness, and has significantly impacted the same. This figure is also well below the minimum operational strength of 39.5 squadrons.

There have actually been many factors that have given rise to such a condition. First and foremost is that the major part of the Indian Air Force consists of Mig 21s of Soviet origin. Nearly every single plane of this category is more than 30 years old. The fact that the sheer age of these planes is so much is not the only concern here. Significant questions have been raised about the overall maintenance and upkeep of these planes. In the last few decades, the Mig planes have seen a huge number of crashes, air accidents and other problems. A huge number of fatalities occurred because Migs were used for training despite the fact that these planes are extremely unforgiving.

Another cause has been the economic problems faced by India during the early 1990s. The credit lines were dry and Indian economy was facing its worst period ever because of stagnation induced by a very tight socialistic system which favored the powerful and the wealthy. Since the Indian government had various other places where the money was needed, it decided to drag its feet as long as possible with regard to purchase of new aircraft. As a result, India stayed at third generation fighter aircraft whereas the world moved on to the fourth generation.

India has also been working on development of an indigenous Light Combat Aircraft for many years but due to lack of funding or international sanctions, the plane was significantly delayed. The sanctions covered engines and the fly by wire control systems, both of which are crucial components. By the time India developed its own engine and fly by wire systems, the aircraft had been delayed too much to be of much use to the air force.

In addition to this, the ever expanding People's Liberation Army Air Force of China and Pakistan Air Force's acquisition of F16 variants from United States have necessitated the need for Indian Air Force to acquire new plane really fast. Hsence the Indian Air Force Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft competition has been launched.
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