'IAF Ready To Absorb More Than 25 Per Cent Agniveers, Full Indigenous Production By 2047': Air Chief Marshal Singh

Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh expressed his readiness to absorb more than 25 per cent Agniveers into the Indian Air Force (IAF) while talking to media on Friday (4 October).

As per the Agnipath scheme, only 25 per cent of Agniveers are absorbed into the armed forces. However, demands were being raised to increase the absorption numbers and it is being considered.

"Our feedback on Agniveers has been very positive. We were asked if we could absorb more than 25 per cent Agniveer and we said that we could. The decision has to be taken by the government," the Air Chief Marshal said.

He also noted that China is swiftly enhancing its infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), particularly in the Ladakh region, while India is also strengthening its own border infrastructure.

During a press briefing ahead of Air Force Day, Singh addressed the rising geopolitical tensions in various regions, emphasising the need for indigenous weapons systems to address future security challenges.

The Air Chief Marshal urged the manufacturing agencies to come forward and increase their production rate and also cautioned against conflict of interests if one relies on exported weapons during conflict situations.

"If you need to fight the war, you have to have them being manufactured in India. You cannot afford to have them being bought and rely on that supply chain. It is imperative that we have these things being produced in India," he added.

"The Indian Air Force should have its entire inventory produced domestically by 2047," Singh expressed his vision adding that weapons should not be massively stocked up, instead should have a system in place for production.

In response to a query, the Air Chief Marshal confirmed that Russia has delivered three units of the S-400 missile system, with the remaining two units expected to be delivered by next year.

"We are looking at inducting the long-range surface to air-guided weapons like the Kusha, a large number of Akash missiles have been inducted and we are now looking at Akash NG," he added.

"Our focus has been on training with war-like situations. Training has been given more push as should we be required to contest with somebody, we should be able to win. We are keeping surface-to-air missiles also ready in some places," Singh said.