page_title: Future of the Indian Air Force
section_title: Fighter Aircraft
hierarchical_section_title: Future of the Indian Air Force / Under procurement / Fighter Aircraft
caption_attribution_description: IAF Tejas full size
context_page_description: The Indian Air Force has been undergoing a modernization program to replace and upgrade its aging and outdated equipment since the late 90s to advanced standards. For that reason it has started procuring and developing aircraft, weapons, associated technologies, and infrastructures. Some of these programs date back to the late 80s. The primary focus of current modernization and upgrades is to replace aircraft purchased from the Soviet Union that currently form the backbone of the Air Force.
  The Indian Airforce plans to attain 45 squadrons strength by 2035 & deploy 450 fighter jets each along the Northern & Western borders with Pakistan, China & Eastern Borders with China. The IAF will also acquire large numbers of stealthy autonomous UCAVs, swarm drones and unmanned aircraft to transform into a fully advanced Network-Centric Force capable of sustained multi role operations along the entire spectrum.
context_section_description: HAL Tejas MK1/MK1A
  HAL has already received orders for 40 aircraft of MK 1 variant which will be delivered by 2021.
  The DAC approved procurement of 83 advanced Tejas jets of MK 1A variant with advanced multi-mode UTTAM AESA Radar, Jammers, superior avionics, next gen BVR missiles, better payload and enhanced combat range.
  The induction of 123 Tejas MK1/MK1A will be completed by 2026.
  The Final Operational Clearance of the aircraft was completed in 2019.
  Dassault Rafale
  On 10 April 2015, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Paris, it was announced that India would buy 36 Dassault Rafales in fly-away condition.
  The IAF plans to acquire 114 additional Rafales by 2030. The deal was finalised in November 2015. However, it got stalled for a considerable amount of time in terms of price negotiation. Finally, the deadlock has been resolved.
  On 23 September 2016, India's Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian signed the contract for the purchase of 36 Rafales in a deal worth 7.8 billion Euros. The first Rafale warplanes are slated to be delivered roughly within three years of the signing of the deal. The first aircraft was delivered to the IAF in 2019, with the full complement of aircraft to be delivered by 2022 and five new Rafale aircraft reached India in July 2020. India has also make deal with France to buy Hammer missiles to use with Rafale.
caption: HAL Tejas
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