New Delhi: The Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, yesterday said 200 to 250 more fighter aircraft were required to be inducted in the next 10 years to meet the air force's operational requirement.
India has sufficient number of aircraft in the heavy category in Sukhoi-30s, whereas gaps in the medium and lightweight categories needed to be filled, he told the media here.
The IAF chief said that 36 Rafale jets being bought by India from France were not enough.
"We are still inducting Sukhoi-30s; it will last us for another 40 years. The Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas) will fill some void in the lightweight category... Rafale is an excellent aircraft. But we have just 36 aircraft; we require more aircraft in the medium-weight category," Raha said.
"To fill the gap, one more line of production is needed in India," he said, adding that a decision on the matter is likely soon, and the file is at present lying with the Defence Ministry.
