Lok Sabha Question No. 247 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: Shortage of Fighter Aircrafts
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Balak Nath, Sangamlal Kadedin Gupta, Sumedhanand Saraswati, Prathap Simha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.247

TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 rd   February, 2021

## SHORTAGE OF FIGHTER AIRCRAFTS

## 247. SHRI BALAK NATH:

SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI:

SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Indian Armed Forces are facing shortage of various types of weapons particularly fighter aircrafts;
- (b) if so, the facts thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has given approval to induct more number of TEJAS fighters into IAF;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the other steps taken to give a fillip to Make in India programme in defence sector?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

- (a)  &  (b):    The  deficiencies  in  number  of  fighter  squadrons  arise  from  time  to  time  due  to obsolescence  and  phasing  out  of  equipment.    These  deficiencies  are  made  good  by  planned induction, which is a continuous process.
- (c) & (d):  The Government has approved induction of four squadrons of indigenously designed, developed and manufactured TEJAS Mk-IA aircraft.  A total of 83 TEJAS Mk-IA are planned to be manufactured by HAL and inducted into IAF.

(e) The salient steps undertaken to achieve self sufficiency in defence sector are as under:-

(i)  Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016 has been revised as Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2020, which is driven by the tenets of Defence Reforms announced as part of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan'.

(ii)    Opened  North  &  South  Defence  Industrial  corridors  to  promote  setting  up  of industries supporting defence equipment.

(iii)    Permitted  acceptance  of  'Suo  Moto'    proposals  from  industry  for  undertaking indigenous design & development for items needed for defence services.

(iv)  Formulated the iDEX (Innovation in Defence Excellence) framework to provide an ecosystem  for Startups/individual innovators/MSMEs  to  engage  with  Ministry of Defence/Academia and other such agencies for manufacture of defence related items.

(v)  Institutionalised the Technology Development Fund and its processes to facilitate the DRDO to engage with Indian industry for technology development needs.

(vi) Army  Design  Bureau  (ADB): Indian Army  (IA)  launched  the ADB  on 31 st August,  2016.    The  role  of  the  ADB  is  to  act  as  a  facilitator  for  research  & development efforts and procurement of indigenously developed weapons and equipment extensive outreach programme for industry, MSMEs, Startups and Academia across the country for promoting 'Make in India'.  The outreach programmes, apart  from generating  awareness  about  the  modernization  requirements,  will  help  to  meet  the technology needs of the IA from within the confines of domestic resources and talent.

(vii) Army  Technology  Board  (ATB): The  ATB  enables  indigenous  Research  and Development efforts in accordance with the operational needs of the IA.

(viii) Technology  Development  Fund  (TDF): TDF  has  been  launched  by  the Government to giving impetus to research and development projects beyond the proof of concept stage.  It has been provided with a budget of Rs.100 crores.

(ix)  The Indian Navy in coordination with Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is pursuing  the  indigenous  development  and  acquisition  of  a  Twin  Engine  Deck  Base Fighter (TEDBF).

(x)  Ministry of Defence has notified a 'Negative list' of 101 items for which there would be an embargo on the import beyond the timeline indicated against them. This is a big step towards self-reliance in defence.  This would offer a great opportunity to the Indian defence  industry  to  manufacture  these  items  using  their  own  design  and  development capabilities to meet the requirements of the Armed Forces in the coming years.

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