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Pulling up the government for long delays in the development of indigenous Light Combat Aircraft and the upgradation programme for MiG 21s, the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on Thursday called for immediate phasing out of the ageing MiG fleet, notwithstanding the enormous costs involved.
Pointing out with concern that between 1991-2000, 221 MiG 21s worth Rs 2385 mn were lost and 100 pilots lost their lives, the PAC in its 29th reported tabled in Parliament said "the nation can ill afford to carry on with this aging fleet any longer."
"The IAF is saddled with a sad compromise between what the nation can afford and what ought to be discarded," the parliamentary committee said and asked the government to vigorously pursue the indigenous LCA project.
The committee has taken exception to the continued slippage on the MiG 21 BIS upgradation programme and asked the government to ensure that there were no further delays.
PTI
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