INPUTS: IAF DETERRENCE CAPABILITY

Pic Courtesy: Internet

 

IAF will be Celeberating its 91st anniversary on 08 Oct 2023.

 

It has been a nine decade old journey of touching the sky with glory.

 

It is also the time to reminisce its past, review its present and plan its future trajectory.

 

In the coming week defence journalists will be busy discussing these issues.

 

Views of veterans are also being sought on several aspects.

 

(Views are Personal)

 

1. Possible reasons for the fighter squadron drawdown and delays in regaining the authorised strength.

 

• • The notion that there will be no war.

 

• • Expenditure on development rather than defence.

 

• • Lengthy and cumbersome procurement procedures.

 

• • Scam Phobia – looking for ghosts where there are none.

 

• • Politicisation of defence acquisitions.

 

2. Practical time frames to fill the gaps.

 

• • I do not think in the next 5-7 years we will be able to fill this gap.

 

• • Maybe over 10 years or so, but it is not going to be easy.

 

• • To speed up the process, a multi-pronged approach would be required:-

 

• • • Spend more money on Defence.

 

• • • Speed up indigenous development of LCA MkII, and AMCA.

 

• • • Enhance indigenous production capability.

 

• • • Acquire and Infuse technology.

 

• • • Procure from outside to fill urgent gaps.

 

• • Steps have already been initiated towards it – maybe we have gone into 3^rd or 4^th gear, and we need to step up to 5^th.

 

3. Recommended approach towards capability and capacity enhancement.

 

• • Maintain minimum deterrence value (especially in the face of what has happened in Ladakh due to China’s belligerence).

 

• • Boost self-reliance and indigenous capability.

 

• • Maintain a balance between quality and quantity of platforms.

 

• • Procure from abroad if the minimum deterrence value goes down.

 

• • Procure keeping in mind, maximum bang for the buck and boost to Atmanirbharata.

 

• • Procure in a phased manner.

 

• • Keep the inventory diversity in mind.

 

4. Debate about the redundancy of manned aircraft in view of AI-empowered unmanned platforms.

 

• • This debate has been going on for decades.

 

• • Earlier it was limited to Fighter aircraft vis-à-vis LR Vectors, now it is manned fighter aircraft vis-à-vis no contact warfare with LR Vectors and unmanned platforms.

 

• • Both manned and unmanned platforms have their advantages and disadvantages.

 

• • Worldover (including India), work is going on in the development of 6^th and 7th-generation platforms which will see the integration of manned and unmanned platforms, utilising the strengths of both. It is being called as “Loyal Wing Man concept”, I call it the “Mother Goose Concept”.

 

• • LR vectors and unmanned platforms are useful in two scenarios. Firstly during the initiation of war to create chaos by disruption and second during the long-drawn phase of retaliation and punitive action.

 

• • Relevance of manned fighter aircraft will remain for some time to come.

 

 

5. While trying to reach the authorised strength, there is a need to review the minimum deterrence value required to meet current and future challenges and make long-term plans to achieve it.

 

 

Suggestions and value additions are most welcome

 

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References and credits

To all the online sites and channels.

 

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