IAF modernization plan envisages spending over Rs two lakh crore in the next 10 years; India successfully test-fired the nuclear capable Agni IV and Agni-III missiles
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    • According to reports, in its bid to modernize, the Indian Air Force is planning to spend over Rs two lakh crore in the next 10 years which includes procurement of fighter jets such as the 126 multi-role combat aircraft. IAF Deputy Chief, Air Marshal R K Sharma said, "We are on path of modernising our assets. In the last five year plan, IAF procurements were around Rs 1.5 lakh crore and over next two Plan periods, we envisage to procure assets worth more than Rs two lakh crore.” He was addressing a seminar on 'Energising Aerospace Industry' in India. The IAF’s plan includes signing a number of big ticket deals in the near future including the 126 MMRCA expected to be worth over Rs 50,000 crore, the fifth generation fighter aircraft deal with Russia which is expected to cross the Rs one lakh crore mark and a number of other projects above the range of Rs 5,000 crore. The Air Marshal also welcomed private participation in this process and said that the DRDO and Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) must not see the private sector as a competitor but as a partner in developing an indigenous defence industry in the country. 1

    Reports noted that India on September 19, successfully test-fired the nuclear capable Agni IV missile from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) managed missile launching centre located at the Wheelers Island off the coast of Bhadrak district in north Odisha. According to sources , the slick and lighter 20 metre long surface-to-surface ballistic missile was launched at 11:45 am from a mobile launcher parked on the launch pad number four of the premier missile testing centre. Indigenously designed and developed by the DRDO, Agni IV has the capability to hit a target at a distance of 4,000 km, carrying both conventional as well as nuclear warheads weighing around one tonne. 2

    In another development, reports noted that within three days, India successfully test-fired a second surface-to-surface nuclear weapons capable ballistic missile on September 21. Agni-III was fired for its full range of 3,000 km from the Wheeler Island, off the Odisha coast. In Friday’s mission, personnel of the Strategic Forces Command fired Agni-III from a rail mobile launcher at 1.20 a.m. after it was randomly picked up from the production lot. The 17-metre tall missile zeroed in on to the pre-designated target in the Indian Ocean with a two-digit accuracy after a 15-minute ballistic flight. It met all the mission objectives and there was no deviation from the parameters, official sources said. The trial was conducted as part of regular user-training. It would be worth noting that Agni-III, which has already been inducted into the Services, is capable of carrying a payload weighing 1.5 tonnes. It is equipped with an advanced guidance and navigation system to ensure accuracy. 3

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