The Indian Air Force today said that 50 per cent of its systems and equipment were obsolete and steps were being taken to bring down the obsolescence levels in the next four to five years. "The obsolescence percentage is 50 per cent," Air Chief Marshal P V Naik said here adding that "by 2014-15, it would come down to 20 per cent".
The IAF chief was addressing his annual press conference on the Air Force Day held on October 8 every year. Asked which was the most critical area for the force in this regard, Naik said, "Air Defence.
That will be the only word." The Air Chief made it clear that even with 50 per cent obsolete equipment, the IAF was capable of handling threats from the medium of air and space.
"We are fully capable of defending the country from any threat." At present, IAF relies mainly on its Russian-origin air defence systems such as the OSA-AK and Pechora and the shoulder-fired Igla missiles, which have been in service for over two decades.
In the recent past, the IAF has been working on developing its air defence network and is looking to procure various systems in this regard. It has already ordered for over six squadrons of the indigenously-made Akash air defence systems and the Spyder Medium-range Surface to Air Missile (MR-SAM) system from Israel along with aerostat radars to prevent any aerial attacks.
The force is looking at deploying low-level and medium-level transportable radars at different locations and is also planning to procure radars for being deployed in high altitude areas along the borders with China and Pakistan.
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