India's reliance on foreign aircraft platforms is significantly compromising its air combat readiness.

While India has been a top global importer of defense equipment for decades, this dependence creates strategic vulnerabilities, including supply chain risks and a lack of technological autonomy.

Strategic Vulnerabilities

Relying on foreign platforms creates several key vulnerabilities for the Indian Air Force (IAF):

• Supply Chain Disruptions: In a conflict, suppliers from other countries might halt the delivery of crucial spare parts, maintenance support, or new weapons. This could ground a significant portion of India's fleet, as was seen in the past during various international conflicts and sanctions. This risk is amplified by the fact that India sources its aircraft from multiple countries—like Russia, France, and the US—each with its own geopolitical interests.

• Technological Dependency: Foreign suppliers are often hesitant to share the most advanced technologies, especially concerning critical components like jet engines. India's efforts to produce its own engines have faced significant delays and technological hurdles. This forces the country to continue relying on foreign manufacturers, compromising its ability to develop next-generation aircraft independently.

• Cost and Delays: Foreign acquisitions are not only expensive but also subject to complex and often lengthy procurement processes. This has led to critical delays in modernizing the IAF's fleet, which is operating with fewer squadrons than its sanctioned strength. The IAF's strength, at around 31 squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42, is a major concern.

The Push for Indigenization

To counter these vulnerabilities, India has placed a strong emphasis on indigenization under its "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India) initiative.

• LCA Tejas and AMCA: The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas program, while initially delayed, is a key indigenous effort. Its newer variants are being inducted to replace the aging MiG-21s. India is also developing the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a fifth-generation stealth fighter, to be a cornerstone of its future air power.

• Co-development and Technology Transfer: To bridge the technological gap, India is exploring co-development partnerships with foreign companies, particularly for jet engine technology. These collaborations aim to facilitate the transfer of technology and build India's domestic capabilities.

Conclusion

While India's push for indigenous production is a necessary and strategic long-term goal, the IAF's current reliance on foreign platforms poses immediate challenges to its combat readiness. The squadron shortfall and the vulnerabilities of a foreign-dependent supply chain mean that India's air power is not yet fully self-sufficient. Bridging this gap will require not only a sustained commitment to indigenous projects but also a more efficient and streamlined procurement process to ensure timely modernization.