Describing depleting fighter strength of the Indian Air Force as "worrisome", a senior Air Force official on Tuesday said that the force had taken adequate steps to "maintain equilibrium" against threats from Pakistan.
"Though falling squadron strength is a cause of worry," Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Air Command Air Marshal P S Ahluwalia said that IAF had the resources and platforms to get the better of any threat from the western sector.
"We are in two-minute reaction time readiness," the air marshal, who has just taken over the key post, told reporters in Delhi disclosing that plans were now being finalised to form a land and air integrated warfighting machine in the entire northern, western as well as south western command areas.
Ahluwalia said though the depletion had its effects on defensive elements, IAF had taken steps in the shape of augmenting technology and weapons systems in its offensive elements to deal with any threat.
The air marshal said that IAF was presently negotiating for upgradation of its frontline fighter aircraft like Mig-29 and Mirage-2000.
"The deal for upgrading airborne sensors and missiles and mounting more lethal precision-guided weapons onboard the Mig-29s would be worked out within a week or two," he said.
On mid-life upgradation of the French Mirage 2000, Ahluwalia said the deal was still under negotiation.
"With these upgrades IAF would boost up its capabilities," he said.