Top Indian Air Force Officer Air Marshal Sandeep Singh on Wednesday said the force is mulling to take on lease training aircraft and Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) for short term until the
homegrown platforms that are under development are inducted into the service .
The recently released Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 allows leasing of military platforms.
Speaking at a webinar organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Deputy Air Chief stated: “The IAF is in the process of sending out Request for Information (RFI)
for leasing trainer aircraft for relatively short period.”
The IAF is already exploring options of leasing mid-air refuelling aircraft, which it is in urgent need of.
With Kiran trainers being obsolete and indigenous HTT-40 being developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in advanced trails, the IAF is looking to fill the gaps for a short term through
leasing.
About 20-30 aircraft could be leased for up to five years.The indigenous LUH, being developed by HAL, has completed development trials and its limited series development is expected to begin soon.
What Indian Navy Needs?
The IAF presently has six Russian IL-78 tankers and has been looking to procure six new aircraft but the deal has been repeatedly delayed.
Vice Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Ashok Kumar has also revealed that the Indian Navy is looking to lease operational support assets and auxiliaries to enhance operational capabilities and avoid huge
investments in manning and maintaining them.
“The Indian Navy is planning to lease certain assets in the medium term to mitigate critical operational capability gap,” he stated during a webinar. On leasing of mid-air refuellers, Air Marshal Singh said that even before the DAP-2020 was issued, they had sent out preliminary RFIs for wet and dry lease of such aircraft.
The IAF presently has six Russian IL-78 tankers and has been looking to procure six new aircraft but the deal has been repeatedly delayed.
Vice Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Ashok Kumar has also revealed that the Indian Navy is looking to lease operational support assets and auxiliaries to enhance operational capabilities and avoid huge
investments in manning and maintaining them.
“The Indian Navy is planning to lease certain assets in the medium term to mitigate critical operational capability gap,” he stated during a webinar.
On leasing of mid-air refuellers, Air Marshal Singh said that even before the DAP-2020 was issued, they had sent out preliminary RFIs for wet and dry lease of such aircraft.