Need Own Weapon Systems To Deal With Security Challenges: IAF Chief On Need For Indigenisation

Ahead of Indian Air Force (IAF) Day, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh highlighted the pressing need for India to develop and rely on its indigenous weapon systems to effectively meet its security challenges. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the IAF chief emphasized that depending on foreign weapons creates vulnerabilities, as shifting geopolitical interests could lead to a “choke point” for the country in times of conflict.

“When it comes to conflict situations, if you are relying on getting your weapons from outside, there will always be different interests and changing interests, which can create a choke point for you,” said Air Chief Marshal Singh. “If you need to fight the war, you have to have weapons being manufactured in India. You cannot afford to buy them and rely on that supply chain forever. These things will have life, and if we keep stocking up, we’ll face wastage.”

Air Chief Marshal Singh urged Indian manufacturing agencies to ramp up production rates to build the necessary capacity for the country’s defense needs. He said that indigenous manufacturing is critical to avoiding potential shortages during conflicts, which could jeopardize national security. “It is imperative that we have these systems produced in India, as we cannot rely on foreign supplies in times of need,” he said.

In his remarks, Singh also addressed the Agnipath recruitment scheme, adding that the Indian Air Force could absorb more than 25% of Agniveers if required. “Our feedback on Agniveers has been very positive. We were asked if we could absorb more than 25%, and we said we could. The decision, however, rests with the government.”

When questioned about the IAF’s capability to conduct strikes similar to Israel’s operations against its adversaries, Air Chief Marshal Singh confidently responded, “We have the capability to strike our enemies in foreign lands, and we demonstrated it during the Balakot air strikes.”