IAF to have 42 fighter squadrons by 2022: Antony

New Delhi, Feb.18 (ANI): The Indian Air Force will have 42 squadrons by 2022, Defence Minister A K Antony told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

"During the period 2007-2022, the strength at the end of 11th, 12th and 13th Plan periods is expected to increase to 35.5, 35 and 42 squadrons respectively," Antony said in his written reply to the Upper House.

As of now, the IAF has been sanctioned a total of 39.5 fighter aircraft squadron.

He said that with the induction of Su-30 MKIs, Jaguars, Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft (M-MRCA), Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) and the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), the IAF would achieve peak strength.

Antony said the IAF was in the process of carrying out upgrades in its existing fleet of Mirage 2000, MiG 21, MiG 27, MiG 29 and Jaguar fighter aircraft and adding force multipliers such as the Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) and mid-air refueling aircraft.

He also said that the Light Combat Aircraft would be inducted in the IAF by 2010-11. (ANI)