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Published: August 5, 2025 11:02 PM IST 
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New Delhi: You must have read about the recent reports about how India is facing a massive shortage of fighter jets with some reports taking the number to a need of at least 42 squadrons of fighter planes to maintain balance with two fronts, namely China and Pakistan. In the need to fulfill the requirements, India is looking for options like the Russian Su-57 fighter jets and the US F-35 jet. However, both these deals come at huge cost and geopolitical implications.
What is Indian Air Force planning?
In a major boost to the airpower and air superiority of the Indian Air Force, India is upgrading 200 Su-30MKI fighter jets under a Rs 25,000 crore project, aiming to transform them into near 5th-generation combat platforms.
What’s Virupaksha’ AESA radar?
In order to make the upgrade, the IAF is planning to use the indigenous ‘Virupaksha’ AESA radar, developed by DRDO, which significantly enhances detection range, multi-target tracking, and electronic warfare capabilities.
Alongside the radar, the Su-30MKI fighter jets will receive upgraded engines, new avionics, and advanced Indian-made weapons like Astra missiles and BrahMos-ER, making them more dangerous. This move not only modernizes India’s frontline air fleet but also strengthens the push for defence self-reliance by increasing indigenous components in the Su-30MKIs.
India’s 5th-generation stealth fighter jet gets key clearance
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the Execution Model for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme. The AMCA clearance marks a critical step towards realising India’s goal of joining an elite club of nations in designing and producing its own fleet of next-generation combat aircraft.
The project will be helmed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), said the Defence Ministry in a press release.
The AMCA, widely seen as India’s answer to fifth-generation air power, will give a major boost to achieving ‘atmanirbharata’ in the defence sector and will become a hallmark of India’s growing defence capabilities.
(With inputs from agencies)
