IAF does not fly aged aircraft: Manohar Parrikar

The Indian Air Force (IAF) does not fly any aircraft that has completed its prescribed age, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told the Lok Sabha on Friday.

"The IAF inventory is a mix of old and new-generation aircraft. Ageing of equipment is a natural process and is dealt with through proper maintenance, obsolescence management, upgrades and acquisition of new platforms," Parrikar said in a written reply to a query.

"No aircraft that has completed its prescribed life is in operation with IAF."

He said all the existing fleets have residual life for operational utilisation and every aircraft which is launched is fully airworthy.

 

Upgrade, modernisation and replacement of military aircraft depends upon national security, threat perception, strategic objectives and operational requirements of the defence forces and is reviewed by the government from time to time, Parrikar said.

The reply comes against the backdrop of the disappearance on July 22 of an AN-32 aircraft of the IAF with 29 people on board.

A Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer of the IAF also crashed in West Bengal on August 4. In this incident, both pilots ejected and there was no loss of life.