LCA Mk-1A, stealth fighter are highest priority, says new IAF chief

The new IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, has made indigenous air power the centre of his modernisation plan. His highest priorities are the Tejas LCA Mk-1A, the more advanced LCA Mk-2, and the AMCA, described as a fifth-generation stealth fighter. He also prioritised Indian weapons and sensors. This matters because the IAF faces a serious fighter shortage.

The programmes cover different needs. The Mk-1A is nearing service and will replace retired MiG-21s. The Mk-2 is intended to replace Mirage 2000s, MiG-29s and Jaguars. AMCA is strategically urgent because China has deployed J-20s and is rolling out J-35 stealth fighters. Indian systems are meant to strengthen self-reliance.

Dixit said restoring combat strength through indigenisation would be his foremost task. He wants the IAF to fight with Indian solutions and hold them in sufficient numbers. The immediate focus is operationalising the Mk-1A, while accelerating Mk-2 and AMCA development, alongside networked command, artificial intelligence and counter-drone capabilities.

The LCA Mk-1A is the first Tejas light combat aircraft variant expected to enter IAF service under Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit. It is an indigenous fighter programme led by India’s defence industry, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited holding the production orders. Its importance goes beyond adding aircraft: it supports the IAF’s push for self-reliance while addressing a critical shortage of fighter squadrons.

The Mk-1A will replace the MiG-21s, which retired last year after more than six decades of service. The IAF has placed two orders with HAL for 180 Mk-1A fighters, worth a combined ₹1.1 lakh crore. The aircraft is therefore intended to restore numbers as well as modernise the fleet.

The programme has missed several deadlines, but is finally nearing induction. Dixit identified operationalising it as his immediate priority, with the first aircraft expected to enter service by year-end. Timely induction is crucial because the IAF is trying to prevent its fighter strength from falling further below the sanctioned level.

The IAF’s sanctioned fighter strength is 42.5 squadrons, but its numbers are expected to fall below 30. That implies a gap of at least about 12.5 squadrons if the force reaches the level described in the article. The shortage is significant because squadrons provide the organised fighter units needed for air defence and combat operations.

The article links the gap to the need for timely aircraft induction. The LCA Mk-1A is expected shortly, while 114 additional Rafales are also being counted on to shore up the fleet. The Mk-1A will replace retired MiG-21s, which had served as the IAF’s workhorse for more than six decades.

The exact current number is not stated, so 12.5 is a comparison based on the article’s “below 30” figure, not a precise present shortfall. Dixit has made restoring combat strength to the sanctioned level his foremost task, with indigenous programmes central to that effort.

If the LCA Mk-1A, Mk-2 and AMCA are delayed, the IAF could struggle to restore its fighter strength. The force is already expected to remain below 30 squadrons against a sanctioned strength of 42.5. Fewer available fighters would make it harder to sustain readiness, replace ageing aircraft and meet operational demands.

The programmes have linked roles. The Mk-1A is meant to replace retired MiG-21s. The Mk-2 will replace Mirage 2000s, MiG-29s and Jaguars. AMCA is intended to provide a fifth-generation stealth capability. Delays would postpone these replacements and slow the shift toward Indian weapons, sensors and aircraft.

The strategic pressure is also rising. The article notes that China has already deployed J-20 fifth-generation fighters and is rolling out J-35 stealth fighters. Without timely programmes, India could face a wider technology and numbers gap. Dixit therefore connects fleet restoration with credible air power that can deter conflict.

Restoring the fighter fleet is a shared national effort. The IAF identifies operational requirements, places orders, and plans to move the LCA Mk-2 procurement case. Its chief has made indigenisation the central route to rebuilding combat strength. The aim is to field Indian aircraft, weapons and sensors in useful numbers.

HAL is the main industrial actor named in the article. It has two IAF orders for 180 LCA Mk-1A fighters worth ₹1.1 lakh crore. HAL has also built the LCA Mk-2 structure and completed coupling, joining the front, centre and rear fuselage sections. The airframe is ready, with a first ground run targeted for March 2027.

The wider Indian defence industry contributes the systems around the aircraft, including weapons and sensors. The IAF also wants innovation in technology, AI-enabled command and control, counter-drone defence and maintenance. The article presents this cooperation as essential for restoring numbers and reducing reliance on foreign solutions.

The main alternative named in the article is 114 additional Rafales. The IAF is counting on their timely induction, together with the LCA Mk-1A, to shore up its fighter fleet. This matters because the force’s numbers are expected to fall below 30 squadrons, compared with a sanctioned strength of 42.5.

Rafales would provide an additional source of fighter capacity while India’s indigenous programmes advance. The Mk-1A is nearing induction but has missed several deadlines. The Mk-2 remains in development, and AMCA is a longer-term programme. Bringing in Rafales could therefore help address the immediate numbers problem rather than waiting for every Indian design to mature.

The article does not provide a delivery schedule for the 114 Rafales. It presents them as part of the plan to keep combat squadron numbers from falling further. In parallel, Dixit wants the IAF to build lasting strength through Indian aircraft, weapons and sensors.

A fifth-generation stealth fighter is designed to reduce how easily enemy radar and other sensors can detect, identify and track it. Low observability is central, but it works alongside advanced onboard sensors, data processing and secure links. Together, these features can give the aircraft a clearer picture of the battlefield and make it harder to target.

Networked command systems extend that advantage. An aircraft can share information with other fighters, radars and command centres, allowing forces to coordinate rather than operate separately. AI-enabled command and control can help process large amounts of data, while long-range precision weapons may let aircraft engage from greater distances. These mechanisms can change air warfare by improving speed, awareness and survivability.

The article identifies AMCA as India’s fifth-generation stealth fighter programme. It also highlights networked, AI-enabled command and control, but does not describe AMCA’s specific design features. The explanation of fifth-generation capabilities here uses established general knowledge beyond the article.