Upgradation takes off with 260 aircraft

‘‘The Mirages, Jaguars, MiG-21 upgrades and Su-30s will also have mid-air refuelling capabilities, and by next year we will acquire the first of the six mid-air refuellers based on the IL-78 platform,’’ he said. Krishnaswamy also spoke of acquisition of additional radars and unmanned aerial vehicles.

‘‘This is a recognition of the role of air power,’’ IAF officials said. The Air Chief said that the IAF was geared to sustain prolonged operational deployment in Operation Parakram and had even modified training to suit the deployment. In case of conflict, there would be no sanctity of the LoC and the use of air power did not mean escalation in conflict, he said.

Krishnaswamy said that just as the Army used artillery guns whenever the need arose in J-K, there could be no restrictions on the use of air power to hit targets along the LoC.

The Air Chief said the technical feasibility project of the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) had been completed and commercial negotiations were on.

On the AJT, Krishnaswamy said the IAF had considered the Czech L-159s and submitted its report to the government. ‘‘Both the Czech and the British AJT meet our requirements. The Italian aircraft at this stage does not. It is now for the government to decide. I am told a decision is expected before the end of the current financial year,’’ he said.

He said India’s UAV that was shot down by a Pakistani F-16 had performed well and passed on information real time. More UAVs were being acquired.