Indian Air Force options uncertain as replacement crisis looms large

摘要

Beginning next year the Indian Air Force (IAF) is expected to withdraw 15 squadrons of legacy aircraft - mostly Mikoyan MiG-21 and MiG-27 models - but without any concrete plan at present for replacing them. The collapse of New Delhi's Medium MultiRole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme is the chief cause, say several Indian defence specialists. The programme officially began in 2007, but was declared over with on 30 July when Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar informed the Indian Parliament's upper house that the USD10.5 billion tender for 126 aircraft had been withdrawn.