IAF confonts shortage of spare parts

The government on Monday admitted in the Lok Sabha that the Indian Air Force faces a shortage of spares for maintenance of combat aircraft, specialist support vehicles and equipment.

Minister of State for Defence N V N Somu said this was primarily due to the Russian suppliers' inability to meet the IAF's requirements following the disintegration of the Soviet Union. He, however, assured MPs that the matter had been pursued often with the Russians and the situation has improved considerably since.

In reply to another question, Somu assured the House that pending the indigenous construction of an air defence ship, adequate numbers of aircraft would be maintained over the coasts. The proposed ADS, he said, would cost Rs 17 billion and take ten years to build.

The government, the minister said, recently approved a proposal for construction of two submarines at Mazagaon Docks, to maintain force levels while utilising expertise locally available.

Defence Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav disclosed that defence projects like the main battle tank Arjun, the light combat aircraft, the 5.56 mm Indian small arms system, the pilotless target aircraft were progressing satisfactorily, with the tank, the small arms system and the pilotless target aircraft having entered the production phase. He said these products will be made available to the armed forces during the Ninth Plan. He also mentioned a secret effort, Project Sea Bird, to be completed by 2005, but declined to give details.