509: Celebrating Fourth BLOGAVERSARY with 500+ Posts

 

Air Marshal’s Perspective

(Candid and to the point – काम की बात)

SELF MANAGED BLOG

 

 

Ranked 14th in the list of Top 25 Indian Defence Blogs and Websites

 

 

 

Hello Readers,

 

It has been four years since the blog “Air Marshal’s Perspective” was launched. The idea of the blog is to share the gained knowledge and new learnings.

 

 

The tagline of the blog “Candid and to the point / काम की बात”, explains the style adopted. In the times of quick fix (Twenty 20 cricket), everyone wants to know the gist of the issue (as one of my gurus used to say “Just tell me the निचोड़”). The written posts cover the topic in bullet form (two to three pages), with a reading time of 5-7 minutes. The lengthier video bytes have a selective viewing option.

 

First and foremost thanks to all the readers who read the blog and provide the necessary encouragement to continue blogging.

 

 

Topics Covered

 

 Leadership, Management, Motivation, and  Growth Mindset
Decision making
Mental toughness
Earning respect
Good  leadership qualities and values
Science of Karma
Good working culture and environment
Listening Skills
Be good, feel good
Healthy working environment
importance of Tolerance
Lessons from Buddha
Difference between strength and courage
Lessons from rich and famous
Leadership lessons from Hollywood movies.
Shark in the tank theory of management
Car wheel theory of management
Aya Ram Gaya Ram syndrome – yes, men.
Calculated Risks
Practical Leadership and Management
Communication skills and body language
Lessons from Nanak
Being Responsible and Tolerant
Growth Mindset
Transferable Skills
Advice to the young generation
Motivational Talks
Importance of self-discipline
Learn from Ganesha
Listen to Krishna
Words of Wisdom
Life in IAF
Convocation Address – lessons from life in IAF
Courage is an essential trait of leadership.
Leadership: A Privilege
Embrace your Journey of Life
Trust and Integrity:  The Cornerstones of Authentic Leadership
Five by Five rule: Assured happiness.
 

China

China’s Brain is differently wired.
China’s strategic thought
China’s military modernisation
China’s Defence industry
China – Pakistan Collusion
China – Art of deception
China: Kill Pigs List
China: Social Score System
China: Active Defence Policy
China’s Joint Strategic Support Force (JSSF)
China – Joint Strategic Support Force.
Dealing with the Dragon
China’s grey zone operations
China: Flavours of military Reform
China: Pillars of Military Reform
China’s new diplomacy – drawing red lines in the sand.
China – demographic analysis.
China through US Prism
China in the South China Sea
China’s Military – Civil Fusion
PLAAF Analysis Strengths and weaknesses
Book review on China Airpower
Dealing with Dragon
Knowing China Better: lie flat and let it rot.
Knowing China, Better social life and customs
Something is not right in Dragon land.
Q&A India China stand-off
China in IOR
What is cooking in the Chinese military cauldron
Dragon at Shigatse
China aircraft carrier development
China’s military reorganisation: a story of evolution and reversion.
 

Geopolitics 

China
Pakistan – National Security Policy, Turmoil
Afghanistan
India’s foreign policy
India’s neighbourhood
Quad
Indo – Russian relations
State of Airpower Assets in Afghanistan
Indo – US relations
Afghanistan: Taliban run over
World in Transition
US-China Shadowboxing over Taiwan
China spoiling Bhutan’s GNH.
Thucydides  Trap, – Dragon challenging Eagle
South China sea
Gini Index and implications.
Multilateralism: Flexible Security Cooperation.
India-Pakistan border issue – tunnels and drones
India-China border talks
China Pak Collusivity
SCO Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: Relevance  and future trajectory
Sri Lanka Economic crisis: lessons and opportunity
Ukraine Conflict
Bangladeshi tango with China
Economic Sanctions
Djibouti: Tug of war between USA and China
The Future of Conflict in the Asian Context
Israel Palestine standoff
India, Pakistan, China Asian triangle
Indo-US Collaboration in Defence
World in Transit
Indo-Russia relations
Indo-Vietnam Cooperation
Many suitors for strategically located Djibouti
Renewed Impetus to Indo-Russia Relations
 

Air Power

 

Airpower in Grey zone operations
Airpower in no war, no peace situation
Air Power & Non-Kinetic Warfare
Air Power in Multi-Domain Warfare
Airpower in HADR ops and aid to civil authorities
Drone Threat: The Big Picture
Fighter aircraft classifications by generations
Emerging Technologies and Air Defence
Air Power in Modern-Day Warfare
S-400 SAM AD System
Combat Aviation most desired – least understood.
Changing nature of warfare
Air Defence operations
Air power strategies: multiple threats and limited resources
Airpower in the maritime domain
Air Power and effect-based operations
Air power concepts: Command / control the air, air supremacy, Air superiority and favourable air situation.
Contemporary airpower thought
How does an aeroplane fly
Air power basics revisited.
Air power and war endurance
Global Wars and lessons for Indian airpower
Classification of fighter jets into generations
Centralised planning decentralised execution
Global Airpower Ranking 2024
Giulio  Douhet: Relevance Today
All About Airpower
Airpower in Indian Context
Airpower Theorists and Their Core Thoughts and Beliefs
Relevance of John Warden’s thoughts on Air Power Application and Air Campaign Planning.
Future trends of fighter aircraft.
Air Campaign Planning
 

Technology

 

Hypersonics and hypersonic weapons
Technology and airpower
Future Trajectory of AI
Artificial intelligence
Future of conflict in new domains (Space, Cyber and deep sea)
Unmanned Platforms and Swarms, Loyal Wingman concept
AI and Fake News
AI: Digital twins and Surrogate models
Military application of quantum technology.
What next after 6th gen aircraft
Technology in the defence forces.
Mission Divyastra MIRV Technology
Technology and the future of aircraft maintenance
Speed Race: Hypersonic weapons
Countering Hypersonic Threat: Difficult but Manageable Problem
 

Security

Collective Security
National Security / Military Strategy
Urgent need for National Security Policy
Collective dealing with non-traditional challenges
 

Cyber Safety and Security

 

Cyber warfare
Digital addiction
Economic Cyber Frauds
Future of conflict in new domains (Space, Cyber and deep sea)
 

Nuclear

 

Nuclear trends, threats and challenges 27 Jun 24
Nuclear aspects revisited
 

Space

 

Space operations
Space warfare and organisation in India
Space-based ISR
Space warfare in the Korean Peninsula
Launch of 50 surveillance satellites by ISRO in 5 years.
Future of conflict in new domains (Space, Cyber and deep sea)
 

Indian Air Force

 

Capability development
Tejas and AMCA project
IAF role in HADR and aid to civil and other agencies
Network-centric operations
PLAAF and IAF comparative analysis
IAF Modernisation
Balakot Operations
Maritime air operations in future
Rafale induction and capability enhancement
S-400 Induction
Fire Power Demo: Ex Vayu Shakti
IAF fighter strength drawdown and mitigation plan
IAF Strategies: past, present and future.
Life in IAF
IAF multi-national exercises
Exercise Bright Star 2023
Strategic evolution of IAF
C-295 ac induction IAF capability enhancement and benefits
Astra AAR BVR Missile
Journey through IAF
Prachand the Himalayan griffin.
Women air warriors in the IAF
IAF challenges and future trajectory.
Discussion on the book by Jasjit Sinh: Defence from the Skies.
 

War and Warfare

 

Types of war
Decoys and deception
Afghanistan Air Assets
Future Wars
Warfare
Grey Zone Warfare
Classification of warfare into generations (Russian Thoughts)
Domains of warfare
C4ISR
Military Balance in the region
Ukraine War: Air Power aspects, a case of dog and bone, Air Superiority aspects, decoding Ukraine war. Lessons.
Operational Logistics
Lesser known facts about 1971the  War
Review of book on 1962 war
Review of the book on the 1965 war
India’s two-front challenge
Douhet theories
Duration of Conflict
Jasjit Singh on Airpower
Galwan standoff
Asymmetric Threat
Accelerating the Paradigm Shift
Multilateralism: Relevance and changes
Aspect – Long-drawn wars
National Security Strategy
HAMAS attack on Israel
Cognitive warfare
India’s readiness for drone warfare
Integrated deterrence
Orchestrating Air Campaigns: Thumb Rules
Russia-Ukraine War: Phase of Engagement with long Range Vectors
Kargil War
 

Military

Military diplomacy
Military spending: trends and analysis.
Collusive Threat and Deterrence: Air and Space Aspects
Integrated Capability Development.
Joint war game training systems
Fighter Pilot: Traits
Agni veer and Agnipath / Tour of duty / making best of the scheme
Andaman and Nicobar Command and Islands
Defining Military Diplomacy
Women in the Indian Defence Services
Joint Operations and Jointmanship
Trends in International Arms Transfer
Global Military Spending – Trends and Analysis (2023)
Women in defence forces: prospects and challenges.
 

Higher Defence Organisation

 

Department of military affairs
Theaterisation
Air defence command
Civil-military fusion
Theatre Command in Indian Context
Reorganisation of HDO in India
 

Flight Safety

Golden rules of safety
Importance of SOPs
A proactive approach to safety
Damage due to Bird Hits and Foreign Objects
Safety and aviation
Good safety Culture
Tool management for safe maintenance
Aircraft Drift – Causes and Concerns
Sathe safety aspects of short landings.
Inculcating safety culture
 

Defence Industry

 

Indigenous defence industry
HAL and DPSUs
Role of the private sector in defence production
Arms Transfer to Afghanistan
Defence Budget issues
Atmanirbharta
Exportability of LCA and Brahmos combined package
IAF and indigenisation
Indian Initiatives to promote self-reliance
Tejas export options
Russia – India Defence contracts past, present and future.
EU’s defence spending
Aero India 2021 & 2023
Arms trade: Trends and Concerns
Arms trade: flow vis-a-vis hot spots
Expanding the footprint of Boeing in India
Decoding US presence at Aero India 2023
Global Military Spending: Trends and Catalysts
 

India

Understanding Manipur Dynamics
Indian foreign policy and defence diplomacy
Meghalaya Dynamics
Transparency, Accountability and Threats to Independent Institutions of Democracy
 

Book Reviews and Endorsements

 

1946: Last War of Independence: Royal Indian Navy Mutiny by Pramod Kapur
1962 Border War: Territorial Dispute and Beyond by Ismail Vergasseri
The Politics of South China Sea Disputes By Nehginpao Kipgen
1965 A Western Sunrise: India’s War With Pakistan By Shiv Kunal Verma
The Game Behind Saffron Terror by Kanwar Khatana
Peer  Review –  “China-The Rising Aerospace Power: Implications for India”
Peer Review –  “MRO as a strategic asset”
Book Endorsement – “Greatest Air Aces of All Time” by Air Marshal Anil Chopra
Book Endorsement – The 1971 Indo-Pak Air War: Reflections and Projections
Peer review of a paper on Global challenges of soft power.
 

Stories

 

My tryst with HT-2 aircraft: The day god flew with me
The day I flew my dad’s car.
Malse Lake: Tale of two-course mates
Flying Tales
Tribute to Air Mshl PK Dey “Remembering Dadu: Self-Made Legend
SHIQURDU: 50 + posts of simplified Deep-meaning thoughts in Hurdu (a mix of Hindi and Urdu)
Remembering Dadu: Self Made Legend

 

Collaborated, Coordinated, Partnered, Assisted, Liaised, Cooperated, and Interacted with:-

 

Distinguished fellow at United Services Institute (USI).

Distinguished Fellow at the Center of Air Power Studies (CAPS).

On the editorial board of the College of Air Warfare Journal.

On the editorial board of CAPS Journal (Blue Yonder).

On the editorial board of News Analytics.

Strategic Advisor – Aerospace and Defence division of the Synergia Foundation.

Advisor – Indus International Research Foundation.

Advisor – Bharat TV Now

Life member: White Canvas Education Council.

Instructed at Peninsula Foundation & CSDR.

Conferred a title by Gems B School: Distinguished Son of India.

Member – Asia Centre Bangalore.

 

Organisation Type of Organisation Type of work
Centre of Air Power Studies (CAPS)

Distinguished Fellow

Think Tank Talks (China, Leadership, Joint Strategic support force & Maritime air ops), Article on Air Defence & Airpower strategies. Seminar on Ukraine war. Conduct of discussions during WASP prog.
United Services Institute (USI)

Distinguished Fellow

Think Tank Talks, panellists in Seminars/Webinars, Articles for journals, Strategic exercises at IFS, NDC, CAW and 27 Mtn Div, mentoring, strategic game on capability building. Peer review of paper
Synergia Foundation

Strategic Advisor – Aerospace and Defence division of the Synergia Foundation.

Think Tank Articles, Talk during Aero India, Talk during Def Expo.

Talk at Bangalore International Centre.

Shyama Prakash Mukherji Research Foundation (SPMRF) Think Tank Suraksha Samvad – Study & Discussion
Delhi Policy Group (DPG) Think Tank Panellist in Seminars / Webinars
Vivekanand International Foundation Think Tank Panellist in Webinars and Podcasts.

Wargame.

CENJOWS Think Tank Panellist in Seminars / Webinars (Integrated Capability Development – Sep 21)
CSDR (The Council for Strategic and Defence Research) Think Tank Talk / Lecture on Air Power & IAF
CKS – Center for Knowledge Sovereignty Think Tank Talk on China – How Does Dragon’s Brain Work

Talk – Strategic evolution of IAF

Manohar Parikar Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis(MPIDSA) Think Tank Participated in Seminars/ webinars
Fair Observer (USA) Think Tank    Panellist in Seminar/ webinar

Making sense of India’s stand on Ukraine

CASA (The Current & Strategic Affairs Forum) Think Tank Participated in Seminars/ webinars
National Maritime Foundation Think Tank Participated in Seminars/ webinars

Indo-pacific strategic dialogue

CLAWS Think Tank Participated in Seminars/ webinars

Article on war Endurance

SAMDES Think Tank Participated in Seminars/ webinars
The Takshashila Institution Think Tank Participated in Seminars/ webinars

Panellist  for discussion on Agniveer scheme

The Peninsula Foundation Think Tank Lecture on Air power and IAF

Participated in Seminars/ webinars

Chennai Center for China Studies Think Tank Panellist in Seminar/ webinar (PLAAF)
Indic Research Forum Think Tank Panellist in Seminar/ webinar (PLAAF)

Keynote address: IAF and Counterterrorism ops

Panelist: Ukraine war.

Chanakya Forum Website Think Tank Articles

Decoding US presence at Aero India 2023.

Ukraine war.

IAF strength drawdown.

Understanding Manipur dynamics

C295 ac induction in IAF

India’s readiness for drone warfare

Chinese Gryfalcon in Pak skies.

Russia entices India with SU-75 aircraft.

Hypersonic Air Defence.

Prachand: the Himalayan griffin.

Chanakya Diaries Journal Article on Genesis of air power theories and their relevance today.
Gyan Chakra (WC of IA) Think Tank Article on IAF Strategies past, present and future.
Strive Dialogue (CC of IA) Think Tank Discussion on IAF multi-national exercises
Observers Research Foundation (ORF) Think Tank Global wars and lessons for Indian airpower
Indus International Research Foundation (IIRF) Think Tank Panellist – Theatre command in the Indian context

Article for the yearbook – combat aviation most essential least understood.

Panellist – Seminar on Indo-US Collaboration

Articles- Air power basics revisited

Fighter ac classification

Article-Renewed Impetus to Indo-Russia Relations

Article – Inculcating Safety Culture

Article – John Warden’s Air Power Thoughts

Asia Centre Bangalore Think Tank Member – talk on China
National Defence College (NDC) Military Institute Talks on China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan

Panellist – Future Application of Force – joint way ahead.

College of Air Warfare (CAW)

Editorial Board of CAW Journal

Military Institute Talks (China, IAF, Airpower, leadership etc.),

Paper reviews (China, grey zone and Airpower, Hypersonic weapons, China military-civil fusion, etc.) and strategic exercise

 Flying Training Institute – Air Force Academy Military Institute Talks on leadership and motivation, Technology and air power
 Flying Training Institute – Bidar Military Institute Changing nature of warfare
 Flying Training Institute – Hakimpet Military Institute Dealing with two inimical neighbours.
 College of Defence Management Military Institute Talks on China, IAF, airpower, leadership etc.)
 Army War College Military Institute Talks on (China, Airpower, IAF etc.)
 College of Naval Warfare (CNW) Military Institute Talks on (Maritime air operations, Airpower and IAF)
 Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) Military Institute Talks on (Airpower, China, IAF, maritime air

Operations, etc.)

Non-Kinetic Warfare – Seminar and mentoring during exercise

 Western Air Command, IAF IAF Talk on China and Doklam
 Eastern Air Command, IAF IAF Webinar on China with CAPS – Joint Strategic Support Force, Article for Coffee Table Book
Southern Air Command IAF China in IOR, Maritime air ops
Training Command, IAF IAF Seminar on the 1971 War. Talk on Multilateralism.
HQ Maritime air ops IAF Future maritime air operations
Air Force Association IAF Article for Journal on HT-2 Aircraft, and Women Air Warriors
 HQ IDS HQ IDS Panellist – ICADS, AP vis-à-vis NKW
Talks at IAF Units, SDI, ASTE, BRDs (Pune & Delhi), Six squadron IAF Practical Leadership and Management, Ukraine conflict, IAF, Air power subjects
 ARTRAC, IA Army Panellist – Air power and MDW
 Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Government Advisor.
 Def Talks Video channel Video Interviews(Drone threat, IAF roles and tasks,

AP in GZ, Indigenisation, Theatre commands, collective security, S – 400, Ukraine War, air superiority, Space warfare, Life of a Fighter Pilot

 Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh Video channel Video Interview (China, IAF and leadership)
 Hum Hindustani Video channel Video Interview (China, Drone Threat)
Jaideep Saikia Journalist Panellist in Webinar on China
The Book Review & Literary Trust Literary Trust 5 Book Reviews
FPRC (Foreign Policy Research Centre) Research Institute Articles India’s relations with Russia, USA and China
ABP News Channel Commentaries (Republic Day and Air Force Day)
BBC (Jugal Purohit) News Channel Interview on Balakot
CNN News Channel Video bytes – UFO sighting at Imphal airport
India TV News Channel Interview on Balakot, IAF Capability building
NDTV (Vishnu Som) News Channel Interview (Rafale)
Sansad TV News Channel Interview
India Today News Channel Interview on Balakot

Interview on China Threat & Indian Military Preparedness.

RD Commentary

Panel discussion on Tejas Mk IA

TV9 Bharatvarsh News Channel Video bytes on the TEJAS program, the Israel-Hamas war, the Astra Missile, a New airfield in Pakistan, Nyoma airfield, and the Launch of 50 satellites. Video bytes on SU-30 aircraft.
DD News News Channel Aero India 2023

Interview on Tejas aircraft

Eurasian Times News Channel Inputs on fighter aircraft procurement

Chinese J-31 for Pakistan

Dragon at Shigatse

Kargil War

Sputnik News Russia News Channel Interview on Defence contracts, inputs on Air Defence, S-400 and BMD.
Bharat TV Now News Channel Advisor

Discussion on Israel-Hamas war

News Analytics Online Forum Article on Russia-Ukraine War, China’s military reorganisation, IAF challenges & future trajectory.
Dept of East Asian Studies, DU University Panel Discussion: Modernisation of the Chinese Military
Rashtriya Raksha University University Talk: PLAAF and its modernisation.
UPES – University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (Dehradun) University Talk on Practical leadership and management during

FDP – Faculty Development Program

JNU University Talk on China
Fletcher South Asia society University India’s defence preparedness in a new environment.
Vels University, Chennai University Chief guest, talk on airpower, technology and motivation, Podcast
Hindustan University, Chennai University Keynote address – “International Conference on Autonomous Airborne Systems(ICAAS-2023)”
Christ University, Bangalore University Motivational Talk
Reva University University Track two Dialogue, Panellist – Indo – Russia Relations
IIT Hyderabad University Panellist – Technology in Defence Services.
Alliance University University Technology in the Defence Sector
VJTI (Mumbai) College Motivational talk during the tech festival
Stanley College (Hyderabad) College Motivational talk during college festival
BITS Pilani (Goa) College Motivational talk during college festival
IIT (Delhi) College Study on bullet-resistant Material
Punjab Engineering College Chandigarh College Life in IAF, leadership and motivation
GEMS B School College Convocation motivational Address
ICFAI – Indian Chartered Financial Analysts Institute Institute India, Pakistan and China
Empowerment Talks Motivational group Motivational Talk
White Canvas India Education company Chief Guest at India’s top 20 under 20. (2021 and 2022)

Chief Guest for Book launch – Yes, we did

Chief Guest for Young CEO workshop at Gurukul & Ryan International.

BCG – Boston Consulting Company Consultation Firm Consultation on C4ISR
The Brand Called You Media Tech global platform Interview
Cognet Integrated Business Solutions Corporate Talk on Good working Environment.
YPO – Young President’s Organisation Corporate Interaction – India, Pakistan, China.
Embryonic Foundation NGO Defence dialogue interview and interaction
MH Cockpits Aviation courses Chief guest, talk on airpower, technology and motivation, Podcast
Blue sky podcasts Podcasts Journey through IAF
Between US (Santosh Kumar) Podcast Leadership, geopolitics, airpower and security
Locomotive welfare association Welfare Association Chief guest and motivational talk.
Youth Parliament / Chatra Sansad Youth Organisation Motivational talk on discipline and tolerance.
Byjus Education Company Live Project on how does an aeroplane fly.
Bangalore International Centre Social Organisation Talk on “The Future of Conflict in an Asian Context”
SpkWthGrv Talk Show Life in IAF
BIAG India (International Aviation Games Board) Board Talk on Drones
Gurukul

Ryan International

The Scindia School, Gwalior

Schools Chief guest during young CEO workshop – Motivational talk
New Horizon, Bangalore

TAFS, Delhi

School Motivational Talk
Destination India National Journal Article: “Airpower in Indian Context” in the special issue – Defence matters.
Peace Prints South Asian Journal Women in Armed Forces: Prospects and Challenges.
SP Aviation Journal Article on Future trends of fighter aircraft.

 

Enjoyed researching topics related to defence, security, geo-politics, technology, leadership and management etc. The posts were interspersed with some humour and quotes.

 

Looking forward to your continued

Support, Readership and Encouragement.

 

 

CREDITS:-

The credit for starting the blog goes to my course mate and friend Col Murali. He provided me the space, encouraged me and held my hand initially.

Very encouraging message from Murli:-

Air Marshal Anil Khosla has had an amazing career in the Indian Air Force. He is one of those rare warriors blessed with the right mix of a soldier and a scholar; a true Scholar-Warrior.

His blog (“Air Marshal’s Perspective”) posts are brimming with strategic insights and are a goldmine for any student of Air Warfare. Yet, they are also refreshingly straightforward, making them equally appealing to a simple soldier, empowering them with practical knowledge. I am truly in awe of Anil’s unwavering dedication, consistently posting for the past four years, culminating in an astounding 500-plus posts today. His commitment is truly inspiring and commands respect.

Here, I would like to mention how it all started. It was the year 2016, and Dec 16th was the much-awaited reunion day for the 55th course NDA. To compile the phone numbers and addresses of our coursemates, I created a simple page on a free website platform. It was a kind of fun activity; nothing very serious. One thing led to the other, and today, we have our portal 55nda.com, which hosts Anil Khosla’s blog. As a self-styled, self-taught infantry soldier, I didn’t expect the site to get much traction. Today, I must say it is Anil Khosla’s blog hosting 55nda.com. That’s where all the hits come.

The poet-philosopher in Anil is seen in the posts classified as “Shiqurdu”, a thought-provoking verse in a mix of Hindi and Urdu. All posts are neatly classified into different categories, which is a treasure trove for any student of Air Power. My best wishes to Anil to reach higher and higher; the sky has no limit.

 

Credit also goes to another course mate Vicky Sheorey for getting me all the equipment needed for video conference and recordings.

 

 

 

AIR MARSHAL ANIL KHOSLA (RETD) 

PVSM AVSM VM

 

  • Indian Air Force Veteran: Former Vice Chief of Air Staff (VCAS) Indian Air Force.

 

  • Born on 09 Apr 1959, commissioned on 14 Dec 1979 and retired on 30 Apr 2019.

 

  • Air Marshal Anil Khosla, a distinguished alumnus of the National Defence Academy, was commissioned in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force. His career, marked by over 4,000 hours of accident-free flying, is a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication. His expertise on various aircraft, including the Jaguar, Mig-21, and Kiran, and his proficiency in both Ground attack and Air Defence roles, particularly in the maritime role, set him apart in the Indian Air Force.

 

  • Awards. Air Marshal Anil Khosla’s distinguished service has been recognized with three presidential awards: the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and the Vayu Sena Medal. His commendation by the CAS and the AOC-in-C during the flying training period as a cadet further underscores his exceptional service and dedication to the Indian Air Force.

 

  • Air Marshal Anil Khosla is a post-graduate from the Defence Services Staff College. He is an A2 category flying instructor and a fighter strike leader. His academic prowess is evident from his standing first in the order of merit in all the attended courses, including the Flying Instructor Course, Fighter Strike Leaders Course, Junior Command Course, and Staff Course. He was awarded the commandant’s medal during the Higher Command Course at Army War College and has attended the Senior Defence Management course at the College of Defence Management and the course at National Defence College, further solidifying his academic and professional achievements.

 

While in Service:

  • During his service, Air Marshal Anil Khosla played a pivotal role in the DOKLAM operations against China and the BALAKOT strike against Pakistan. His leadership and strategic acumen were instrumental in these operations, further solidifying his reputation in the Indian Air Force.

 

  • At higher ranks, Air Marshal Anil Khosla held pivotal appointments that underscored his leadership and strategic acumen. These include serving as the VCAS (Vice Chief of Air Staff), AOC-in-C (Air officer Commanding – in – Chief) Eastern Air Command, Director General Air Operations (DGAO), Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) Central Air Command, Air Officer Commanding J&K (along with NC of Army), and AOC Maritime air operations (Along with Navy). His contributions in these roles have been instrumental in shaping the Indian Air Force’s operations and strategies.

 

  • Throughout his career, Air Marshal Anil Khosla has served in all the operational commands of the IAF in all sectors. He has commanded two important operational Bases, Ambala and Jaisalmer, which provided him with a comprehensive understanding of the operational aspects of the Indian Air Force.

 

  • He has worked extensively with the Army and Navy and has been associated with several Government Ministries and agencies, including NTRO, DRDO, ISRO, NDMA and defence PSUs.

 

  • He was Involved with formulating Air Force War Plans, Force structure planning and capability building.

 

  • He has handled (planned, monitored and executed) several internal and international Exercises and Disaster Relief situations, both within the country and abroad.

 

Academic: He Holds Two MPhil degrees in defence and strategic studies and is pursuing research on China (how does Dragon’s brain work).

  • He has delivered talks on military subjects like Leadership, China, Pakistan, Air Power, maritime air operations, and IAF in military academic institutions, including the National Defence College (NDC), College of Air Warfare (CAW), Army War College (AWC), College of Naval Warfare (CNW), College of Defence Management (CDM), and Defence Services Staff College (DSSC).

 

  • He has been a distinguished fellow at the United Services Institute (USI) and the Centre of Air Power Studies (CAPS). On the College of Air Warfare Journal and CAPS Journal (Blue Yonder) editorial board. Strategic Advisor – Aerospace and Defence division of the Synergia Foundation, Advisor Indus International Research Foundation. Instructor at Peninsula Foundation and worked with several think tanks and organisations.

 

  • Academic work includes written papers (on air power, geopolitics, and security issues), the Conduct of Strategic Exercises, book reviews, mentoring, and motivational talks.

 

Hobbies and Interests:-

  • A Keen Golfer, Billiards, Snooker and Pool player.
  • His favourite pastime is puzzle solving, which he has pursued up to the National level (13 times Sudoku nationals and 04 times Puzzle-solving nationals).

Email: khuski@gmail.com

Blog:  http://55nda.com/blogs/anil-khosla/

https://55nda.com/blogs/anil-khosla/subscribe/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@anilkhosla15871

Social Media Handles

Linkedin:    https://www.linkedin.com/in/anil-khosla-6848a5179/

Twitter:      https://twitter.com/AnilKhosla16

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anil.khosla.733076

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anil.khosla.733076/

Discord:     Anil#7748

 

Suggestions and value additions are most welcome.

 

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References and credits

To all the online sites and channels.

 

Disclaimer:

Information and data included in the blog are for educational & non-commercial purposes only and have been carefully adapted, excerpted, or edited from reliable and accurate sources. All copyrighted material belongs to respective owners and is provided only for wider dissemination.

 

 

 

506: EXERCISE TARANG SHAKTI: INTRICACIES OF MULTI-NATIONAL MILITARY EXERCISES

 

 

My Article published on the Chanakya Forum

 

India’s largest international air exercise, Exercise Tarang Shakti 2024, is in progress. Phase I at Sulur Airbase has been completed, and phase II is now underway. Military exercises are an important part of military cooperation and defence diplomacy. Worldwide, about 100-plus military exercises are conducted every year. These are bilateral or multilateral and vary in objectives, complexity, participation and duration. Indian participation in military exercises has increased in the last two decades. The IAF engages 25-odd countries bilaterally or multilaterally. Tarang Shakti, the largest international air exercise hosted by India, is a testament to the IAF’s role in international military diplomacy. The international air exercise involving air forces from multiple countries would enhance strategic relations, improve interoperability, and showcase India’s indigenous defence technologies.

 

The IAF, as a host of multinational exercises, plays a crucial role in fostering international military cooperation and diplomacy. This role demonstrates India’s growing influence in the global military arena and showcases its capabilities in organising and executing such complex exercises. The IAF has conducted and participated in several in-house exercises (without foreign participation). These include the air force level exercise Gaganshakti, the Airpower demonstration-wide exercise Vayushakti, the Tri-service exercise Bharat Shakti, the Multi-Agency Disaster response exercise Pralay Sahayam, and DANX (Defence of Andaman & Nicobar Exercise). International participation has picked up pace in the last two decades. The IAF has participated in over 90 international air exercises in the 21st century with almost all the leading Air Forces in the world (a list of these exercises is appended). These exercises advanced gradually from bilateral single-service exercises to multi-national multi-service exercises. In recent years, there has been a marked upturn in the complexity of these exercises. The experience gained by the IAF has paid enormous dividends of knowledge and experience.

 

Exercise Tarang Shakti

 

 

Exercise Tarang Shakti, a significant event in the global military arena, is the largest multilateral air exercise ever conducted and hosted by India. It is being held in two phases, with the first phase taking place at Sulur airbase in Tamil Nadu from August 6 to 14 and the second phase, currently underway at Rajasthan’s Jodhpur from 29 August to 14 September. A defence exposition has also been planned as part of this historic exercise.

 

The Tarang Shakti exercise has attracted the attention of air forces from fifty-one friendly foreign countries, with nearly 30 of them actively involved with their assets or as observers. The diversity of participating countries is a testament to the global significance of this exercise, with ten nations, including France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Australia, Bangladesh, Greece, Singapore, UAE, and the USA, committing their assets. The remaining countries are attending as observers to gain insights into the operations and strategies. Notably, Greece is participating in an Indian military exercise for the first time, while Russia and Israel are unable to participate due to their ongoing wars. The air chiefs of seven participating countries are expected to arrive on 11 Sep.

 

The Exercise features a wide array of advanced military aircraft and assets. Advanced aircraft such as Eurofighters, Typhoons, Rafales, F-18s, A-18s, C-130s, F-16s, A-10s, KC-130s, and KC-135s from countries like the USA, UAE, Singapore, France, and Germany are flying over the Indian skies during the exercise. The Indian Air Force’s LCA Tejas, Mirage 2000, Su-30, Jaguars, Mig-29, Rafale, IL-78, AWACS, LCH Prachand, Dhruv, and Rudra helicopters are participating in the exercise.

 

The first part at Sulur airbase, from 06 Aug to 14 Aug 24, saw Germany, France, Spain, and the UK with their assets. Phase two at Jodhpur involves the participation of Australia, Greece, Singapore, the UAE, and the US with their assets. At the last minute, Bangladesh opted not to deploy its C-130 aircraft. However, Sri Lanka stepped in to participate with its C-130 aircraft. Air Chiefs of seven countries will witness the exercise on 11 Sep. A defence expo is planned for 12-14 Sep. 17 observer countries, including Argentina, Botswana, Egypt, Italy, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia, will also be part of the exercise.

 

Exercise Tarang Shakti aims to achieve several key objectives. It seeks to strengthen strategic relationships with friendly foreign countries and enhance coordination and understanding among the air forces, which is crucial for joint operations and missions. The exercise also aims to boost Interoperability, allowing participants to learn best practices, operational strategies, and techniques from each other. It facilitates professional exchange and knowledge sharing on modern aerial combat techniques, tactics, and strategy. Moreover, the exercise serves as a platform to showcase India’s Indigenous capabilities, including the participation of indigenous platforms and systems and the contributions of Indian defence companies during the defence expo.  The expo aims to attract international attention and foster collaborations in defence production by defence personnel from participating countries visiting and interacting with Indian defence companies. The over-arching aim is to build mutual trust, explore avenues for interoperability and learn new things from each other.

 

These multi-national military exercises are not just about strengthening foreign policy and diplomatic initiatives, enhancing strategic relations, and building stronger defence partnerships. They are also a powerful tool for strategic signalling, with their stated objectives, participants, scale, location, and time further determining their significance. They foster military ties among the participating nations and significantly promote mutual understanding and cooperation in defence strategies and operations. Multilateral air exercises expose participants to various operational training scenarios, combat roles, and missions. They further offer possibilities for cooperation in humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, evacuation, and logistic support, among other things. The participants gain immensely from their diverse exposure to technology, administrative, maintenance, HR and logistics practices, besides tactics, strategy and doctrines.

 

Intricacies of International Military Exercises

 

 

International military exercises are complex and multifaceted operations that involve multiple nations working together to improve their military capabilities, foster cooperation, and ensure collective security. These exercises range from large-scale, multinational manoeuvres to smaller, bilateral training operations. The complex intricacies of international military exercises require a careful balance of strategic, operational, and diplomatic considerations to achieve their objectives effectively.

 

    • Diplomatic Coordination. The success of these military exercises hinges on extensive diplomatic coordination. This strategic task aligns objectives, rules of engagement, and communication protocols. Some exercises are conducted to send strategic messages to adversaries or to reassure allies. The choice of location, timing, and participating nations can be politically sensitive and might influence international relations.

 

    • Legal Framework. The legal framework is a critical component of these exercises. Agreements and MOUs are required to define the legal status of foreign military personnel operating within a host country’s borders. These would cover issues like jurisdiction, taxation, weapons carrying, etc.

 

    • Logistics and Supply Chain. Moving military personnel, equipment, and supplies across international borders requires intricate logistical planning. This includes transportation, fuel, food, medical supplies, and spare parts.

 

    • Operational Planning and Execution. The primary objective is for different countries’ forces to work together effectively. This involves meticulous planning and execution, standardising communication systems, command structures, and procedures. Exercises often simulate various scenarios, including assaults, air defence, cyber warfare, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief. Each scenario requires detailed planning and execution.

 

    • Intelligence Sharing. Participating nations often share sensitive information to support the exercise’s objectives. This requires a high level of trust and secure communication channels.
    • Cyber Security. Protecting the exercise from cyber threats is crucial, as adversaries might attempt to disrupt operations or gather sensitive information. Cyber defence drills are sometimes integrated into the exercise.

 

    • Safety Protocols. Ensuring the safety of all participants is paramount, particularly in exercises involving live firing or complex manoeuvres. This requires rigorous safety protocols and real-time monitoring.

 

    • Language Differences. Effective communication is critical, and language differences can pose significant challenges. Many exercises use English as the standard operational language, but translation and interpretation services are often required.

 

    • Cultural Sensitivity. Understanding and respecting partner nations’ cultural practices and norms is vital for maintaining cohesion and preventing misunderstandings.

 

    • Media Coverage. International exercises often attract media attention, and how they are portrayed can influence public perception. Managing information release and media coverage is a crucial aspect of these exercises.

 

    • Propaganda and Misinformation. Adversaries may use propaganda or misinformation to undermine the exercise’s objectives. Countering this requires a proactive public affairs strategy.

 

    • Environmental Impact. Large-scale exercises can have significant ecological impacts, including disruption of local ecosystems. Mitigating these effects is a critical planning consideration.

 

    • Post-Exercise Review. This is crucial because it assesses performance, identifies strengths and weaknesses, and develops recommendations for future exercises. The lessons learnt are used to refine tactics, techniques, and procedures and to improve interoperability in future operations.

 

Significant global participation in exercise Tarang Shakti underscores India’s growing power on the global stage and unwavering commitment to bolstering regional and international security. The exercise, a testament to India’s military prowess, is a powerful signal of its reliability as a partner in the global security system.  A long-term plan should be charted out for participation and hosting of the military exercises. A balance must be maintained regarding scope, objectives and participants, considering the advanced countries, countries of interest and neighbours. While the bilateral single-service exercises have advantages, multi-national, multi-service and multi-domain exercises bring out valuable lessons about realistic and comprehensive ways of dealing with contemporary situations.

 

 

List of IAF Participation in International Exercises.

  1. Red Flag Alaska (USA, multinational).
  2. Cope India / Cope Thunder (India, USA).
  3. Avia India / Indira (Russia, India).
  4. Exercise Pitch Black (Australia, Multinational).
  5. Exercise Garuda (France).
  6. CobraWarrior (UK, multinational).
  7. Indradhanush (India, UK).
  8. Exercise Blue Flag (Israel, Multinational)
  9. Iniochos (Greece, multinational).
  10. SINDEX (India, Singapore).
  11. Exercise Desert Eagle (India, UAE).
  12. Exercise Eastern Bridge/Desert Bridge (India, Oman).
  13. Siam Bharat (India, Thailand).
  14. Shinyuu Maitri (India, Japan).
  15. Exercise DesertKnight (India, France, UAE).
  16. ExerciseDesert Warrior (India, Egypt).

 

Suggestions and value additions are most welcome.

 

Link to the article on Chanakya Forum:-

EXERCISE TARANG SHAKTI: INTRICACIES OF MULTI-NATIONAL MILITARY EXERCISES

 

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References and credits

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References

  1. Anchit Gupta and Angad Singh, “Diffidence to Strength: Multinational Air Exercises in Indian skies”, Indian History, 03 Aug 2024.
  1. Air Marshal (Dr) Diptendu Choudhury (Retd) PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, “The Rising Wave of Air Power -Exercise Tarang Shakti”, 25 Aug 2024.
  1. Air Marshal Anil Chopra, “Mother Of All IAF Exercises! After 61 Years of Post China War, India Begins Its 2nd Ever Multilateral Drills ‘Tarang Shakti’”, The EurAsian Times, 06 Aug 2024.
  1. Nigam Sharma, “Exercise Tarang Shakti 2024: Everything You Need to Know”, 05 Aug 2024.
  1. Anurag Roushan, “’Tarang Shakti’: India set to host its largest multinational air exercise, 51 countries invited”, India TV News 01 Aug 2024.
  1. “‘Tarang Shakti’, largest multilateral air exercise in India”, PTI, 31 Jul 2024.
  1. Shivani Sharma, “Bangladesh opts out of multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti, Sri Lanka steps in”, India Today, 30 Aug 24.

Disclaimer:

Information and data included in the blog are for educational & non-commercial purposes only and have been carefully adapted, excerpted, or edited from reliable and accurate sources. All copyrighted material belongs to respective owners and is provided only for wider dissemination.

503: GENESIS OF AIRPOWER THEORIES AND THEIR RELEVANCE TODAY

 

 

My Article published in the Chanakya Diaries (Inaugral issue of Chanakya Forum Journal)

 

Introduction

 

Air power theories developed in the early 20th century during the world war period when aviation was at a nascent stage. During WWI, aeroplanes were first used for reconnaissance; later in the war, aircraft were used in combat and to drop bombs on enemies. The militaries realised that air power could be decisive in warfare by striking at the heart of the enemy through the third dimension. Air power became a vital element of the military with a profound impact on the character of war. During the interwar period, many theorists grappled with the issues revolving around airpower and its benefits. These theorists include General Giulio Douhet (Italian), Viscount Hugh Trenchard (British), and General William Mitchell (American). Giulio Douhet is considered to be the father of strategic air power.

 

Their theories revolved around the idea of winning wars quickly and cheaply and, above all, avoiding the carnage of stalemated trench warfare, which was a traumatic facet of World War I. The idea offered hope and was embraced by statesmen, politicians and the public. These military airmen used the initial air power theories to build the Air Force as a separate service. During World War II, air power played a significant role by striking at the heart of the enemy, but it did not quickly end the war as predicted. The validity of the theories was widely accepted and provided a clear direction for building Air Forces worldwide. Much has changed from the WW era, and it is worth reviewing the original theories to ascertain their validity, maybe with appropriate adaptations.

 

 

Airpower Theorists

 

Giulio Doheut. Giulio Doheut was born into a military family in Italy in 1869. He served as a professional artillery officer and was never trained as a pilot, but he was an innovator and had the quality of stirring things up. He was appointed commander of Italy’s first aviation battalion before World War I. During the War, his indiscreet criticism of his military and civilian superiors resulted in him being court-martialled and imprisoned for one year. However, the war (Battle of Caporetto) demonstrated that he was correct and was later acquitted. Soon after the war, Douhet was given a place of honour, but he left the service and passed his remaining years writing and speaking about airpower. He brought forth his Command of the Air in 1921 as an official publication. Douhet died in 1930.

 

Hugh Trenchard. Hugh Trenchard, a British theorist, was born in 1873. He learned to fly in 1913 and fought much of World War I as head of the Royal Flying Corps in France.  Initially, he opposed the idea of creating an independent air force and strategic bombing. On his return to the United Kingdom in 1918, he was appointed chief of the air staff of the Royal Air Force (RAF). He remained in his post through the first decade of the RAF’s existence and was beleaguered by the army and navy because they were generally determined to undo the creation of the RAF. He soon became an advocate of strategic bombing and colonial control through the use of airpower. He lived on for a long time after retiring in 1929 and died in 1956.

 

William Mitchell. William Mitchell was born in France in 1879 and spent the first three years there.  He came from a wealthy and prominent Wisconsin family (His father was a US senator of the Democratic Party).   He attended a private school and was enrolled in the ancestor unit of George Washington University for three years but did not graduate. He left school when the Spanish-American war broke out. He remained in the Signal Corps, serving in Cuba, Philippines and Alaska. Mitchell was appointed to the General Staff at a young age while still a captain and was the only Signal Corps officer so assigned. Mitchell occasionally wrote on aviation subjects but displayed no particular interest in flying then. He completed his flying training near Norfolk in 1916, just before the United States entered World War I. He commanded combat aviation at the front and returned home after the war to become assistant chief of the Air Service.  Mitchell wrote several books, some of which were published before he resigned. He deliberately provoked a court-martial in 1925, was convicted of insubordination, and left the Army early in 1926.  He lived on his farm in Virginia for the rest of his life and died in February 1936.

 

Core Ideas and Assumptions

 

 

Douhet. Douhet argued that an early air attack on the enemy’s vital centres could win a humane victory, while surface forces could contain the enemy. In his opinion, the air attacks would hasten war termination, and the overall death and destruction would be lesser. Douhet assumed that all wars would be ‘total wars ‘, a term that describes a conflict in which every available weapon and resource is used, and the entire population is mobilised towards the war effort. This assumption was a critical factor in his theories, as it influenced his views on the role of air power in warfare.

 

Trenchard. Trenchard’s core idea was that victory could be achieved by bombing enemy vital centres and thus breaking his will. He was a little vague on what those centres were, but he suggested that civilian morale could be undermined by attacking vital industrial and communications targets. He also believed the RAF could do more to maintain order in colonial areas, much cheaper than the other services. He assumed that the offensive is the more potent form of air war, air superiority is a prerequisite for all other military operations, civilian morale is fragile (the moral effect of bombing is much more devastating than the physical effect), the bomber will always get through and it does not need escort. The air war aspects like night navigation, target acquisition, and bombing accuracy are manageable problems.

         

William Mitchell. William Mitchell propagated that Airpower, organised into a separate, equal (to Army and Navy), and autonomous air force under a unified Department of Defence, could serve as the most effective and economical means of defending the homeland. Even for fighting an overseas enemy, airpower could be used to decisively attack the enemy’s vital centres without first defeating his armies and navies. Mitchell assumed that future wars would be total, airpower is inherently offensive, and its use is revolutionary, civilian morale is fragile, command of the air is a prime requirement, the bomber will always get through, and airmen alone can understand the proper employment of airpower.

 

Airpower Thoughts

 

Air Superiority. All three thinkers advocated that the first step in war was gaining air superiority, a prerequisite for all other operations (air and surface). Douhet felt it was best to attack the enemy’s airpower on the ground, at the airfields, and in the factories. Trenchard believed that air engagements would cause a clash of air forces to control the air. Like Trenchard, Mitchell also argued that air superiority would be mainly achieved through an air battle, but he also supported the idea of attacks on enemy airpower on the ground.

 

Air Utilisation. All three theorists were unanimous in their thoughts regarding achieving command of the air/air superiority and exploiting the advantage to target civilian morale. They differed a little bit in the targeting philosophy to achieve it. Douhet felt that the mere act of gaining command might be enough. The enemy’s vulnerability would be so great that their leaders would soon capitulate. If not, attacks on the cities and other vital targets would force the leadership to give way. He wanted to attack the people directly, while Trenchard tried to achieve it indirectly by destroying infrastructure targets. Likewise, General Mitchell advocated operations against vital centers, vaguely described as industrial, infrastructure, and agricultural assets, the loss of which would lead to the collapse of civilian morale.

 

More ink has been spilt and passion expended over the proper selection of targets than over any other airpower subject.

 

 Targeting. In the words of Douhet, “The selection of objectives, the grouping of (attack) zones, and determining the order in which they are to be destroyed is the most difficult and delicate task in aerial warfare”. He felt that no hard and fast rules could be laid down on this aspect of aerial warfare because the choice of enemy targets will depend upon several circumstances, material, moral, and psychological, the importance of which, though real, is not easily estimated. For Trenchard, as with Douhet, the timing of operations for air superiority took precedence. Trenchard’s targeting scheme against morale was vague, but he insisted on following international law, limiting collateral damage, selecting targets in urban areas for their military significance, and attacking vital centers in the infrastructure and production systems. Mitchell was opposed to targeting civilians directly and generally advocated breaking their morale through the destruction of other vital centers like industry, infrastructure, or even agriculture. He did not dwell too much on strategic targets as we know them today. He was more concerned with tactical functions, concentrating mainly on maritime targeting.

 

Force Structure (Platforms and Weapons).  Douhet’s recommendations regarding force structure were more from an Italian perspective. Keeping in mind the geography and affordability. He suggested a strategic air force structure for the other nations that could afford it (like the United States). He felt that only one type of aeroplane was required, the battle plane. For self-protection, these aeroplanes must have moderate speed, long range, and heavy armour. These planes could be armed with self-defence weapons and embedded in the strike package for escort protection. In contrast to Douhet, Mitchell believed no single type of aeroplane was adequate. At first, he advocated a preponderance of pursuit (By Fighter aircraft) but then increasingly emphasised the need for more bomber units. Douhet and Mitchell believed that the bombers would have to combine high explosive and incendiary and gas bombs to have a synergistic effect. Mitchell also placed some emphasis on big bombs (500 to 2000-pounders) and even on aerial torpedoes and radio-controlled guided missiles. Trenchard always felt that the fighter aircraft had a significant role in the air war. However, after World War I, he prioritised bomber units (two-engine types to four-engine aircraft).

 

Reorganisation. Douhet argued that surface forces would employ airpower as an auxiliary to them. He advocated organising airpower under a separate air force and using it as an independent force to achieve victory without needing tactical victories on the land and at sea. Trenchard initially opposed (though not as adamantly) creating a single air arm but later became more firmly committed to a separate air force. Trenchard strived to retain the RAF with all airpower centralised under its command. He emphasised that the unified control of airpower was essential for achieving the primary objective of gaining and maintaining air superiority over land and sea. On his recommendation, Britain proceeded with the idea of a separate air ministry and a separate air force, but without a formal organisation above to control all three services. Mitchell endorsed the concept of a centralised command of airpower under a separate and independent air force and created a unified Department of Defence. He asserted that only an airman could have the vision of the proper role of airpower; therefore, all military aviation should fall under the direct control of such an airman.

 

Joint Warfare.  Douhet asserted that the other armed forces would only stand on the defensive until the air force offensive had been quickly decisive. On the other hand, Trenchard was well indoctrinated in ground warfare, having been an army officer himself. While World War I was still being fought, he was firm in his commitment to ground support and allowed only that “excess” aircraft could be dedicated to independent operations. After the war, though, Trenchard increasingly argued that the role of the British army and navy was secondary, and the role of the RAF and strategic attack was primary. Trenchard, although favoured independent operations, made a greater allowance than Douhet for cooperation with other services in operations against the enemy’s fielded forces. Mitchell stressed that the Air Force would have to be a primary military instrument of war and saw a place for independent missions for air forces well beyond the battlefield.

 

Relevance Today

 

 

 

Core Ideas. All three airpower theoreticians were propagating a separate Air Force’s viability and ability to end the war quickly and humanely. Their thoughts (about humane victory) were that air power would make the conflict termination faster, and overall, death and destruction would be comparatively lesser. War itself can never be humane. The death and destruction is the method of the war. Over the years, mankind has gone on to develop weapons of mass destruction, although the trend these days is for reduced tolerance to the loss of human life. Warfare is changing, wherein resorting to terror is becoming a norm, and terror strives for the loss of human life not only during hostilities but even during peacetime.

 

Beliefs.

 

    • Their belief that the coming of aviation was revolutionary has proved to be true. Over the years, airpower has revolutionised the way wars are fought. Several roles and tasks have been assigned to airpower. These are performed not only during war but also during peacetime and no-war, no-peacetime situations.

 

    • Their presumption that all wars will be total wars has been proven right. Warfare has become multi-domain, with the inclusion of new domains of warfare (cyber, space, electronic and information). Grey zone warfare has become a norm, with everything and anything being used as a weapon.

 

    • Their assumption that civilian morale is unstable and fragile has not been correct. Human will has lots of resilience and is not easy to break. History is replete with examples of attacks that have strengthened the will instead.

 

    • Their insight that airpower is inherently offensive during hostilities is true in some sense. Also, it has been proven that an offensive approach is a better option, even for air defence operations. However, airpower has many roles and tasks (Military Diplomacy, Strategic Coercion, Signalling, Human Assistance and Disaster Relief, aid to Civil authorities, etc.) that are not necessarily offensive.

 

    • The three theoreticians also believed that the bomber would always get through, it does not need an escort, and anti-aircraft weapons are ineffective in preventing enemy attacks. These assumptions have been far from true. The survivability of bombers in contested airspace is doubtful, and not only bombers but even platforms like fixed-wing transport aircraft, helicopters and drones are vulnerable. They need a certain degree of air superiority and fighter protection under AWACS/AEWC aircraft coverage. Anti-aircraft weapons have evolved over the years with enhancements in their effectiveness. Recent wars have demonstrated the vulnerability of helicopters and fixed-wing transport aircraft to shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles.

 

    • Night navigation, target acquisition, and bombing accuracy are manageable problems. These predictions have come true. Weapons have become smarter, with capabilities like stand-off, precision, fire and forget, all-weather, multiple warheads, etc.

 

Joint Airpower Utilisation. The military thinkers were right that airpower has a lot of potential beyond tactical employment.  Airpower has a role in tactical utilisation in support and independent operations towards national security and objectives. Ideally, the surface forces should have their air arm (equipped to their requirement) for utilisation according to the tenets of surface operations. This would be ideal (e.g., the USA has four air arms, USAF, US Army aviation, US Navy air arm, and US Marines). However, it is not achievable by all due to affordability (air assets are costly to procure and maintain). The next best solution, therefore, is the centralised placing of air assets and the conduct of operations with joint planning and execution. Each force has its defined roles, tasks and core competencies. Warfare has evolved into a complex activity wherein no service alone can achieve national or military objectives. It has to jointly coordinate efforts with a proper understanding and utilisation of their respective strengths and core competencies. The warfare is no longer restricted to the domain of the military. It necessitates a coordinated effort by all the means of statecraft. Even the military-civil fusion has become extremely important.

 

Orchestration of Air War. The three scholar warriors were correct in their belief that using air power and orchestrating air war is a complex subject that is not easily comprehensible. Orchestrating an air war has become both a science and an art, with many imponderables and factors to be considered. Over the years, some guidelines have been articulated. Gripping these and choosing enemy targets constitutes what may be defined as an aerial strategy. These aspects are best understood by airmen directing the air war.

 

Targeting. The offensive application of airpower essentially revolves around targeting. Early airpower theories advocated attacks on vital centres to break the enemy’s morale and will to fight. Many scholars feel they were vague on targeting and left an impression of sequential warfare. An early attack on the enemy’s vital centres to commence hostilities has become a norm. Still, to create destruction, disruption, chaos and confusion. Subsequent attacks depend upon the national, military, service, strategic and tactical objectives. Airpower allows parallel operations, conducting various campaigns simultaneously. Commanders (of both independent air forces and joint forces) have to decide on the allocation of percentages of air effort towards different campaigns being run concurrently. Also, dynamic changes can be made depending on the developing situation. A carefully prepared joint target list is a prerequisite to any air campaign planning.

 

Air superiority. The theory that “command of the air is a prime requirement and air superiority is a prerequisite for all other military operations” has changed. Over the years, terms like air dominance, command/control of the air, air supremacy, air superiority, limited air superiority, and favourable air situation have been included in the lexicon of air analysts and strategists. These are generally used interchangeably but have a subtle difference and connotation. Achieving air superiority has a lot of advantages but does not guarantee a victory on its own; it has to be exploited to gain victory. Command/Control of the air is still a very relevant strategy/theory. However, the degree of achievement (air supremacy, air superiority and favourable air situation) varies depending upon the disparity between the opposing forces and the effectiveness of the counter-air campaign. The most desirable method is to obtain air superiority by attacking the enemy’s airpower on the ground. However, alternative means have evolved over the years for its achievement (attack on enemy aircraft on the ground, operating surfaces, attack on storage facilities and supply chain of crucial aviation enabling supplies and reliance on AD weapons, etc.). Another aspect is that the commencement of surface operations has been delinked from the earlier concept of sequential warfare, wherein surface operations commenced after the dedicated air superiority counter-air campaign.

 

Force Structure. Initially, the focus of airpower was mainly on strategic bombing and the achievement of air superiority. The force structure of the newly formed air forces consisted of bombers and fighter aircraft for their protection and air defence purposes. Over the years, newer specialist platforms, systems, and weapons have been added to the inventory. Specialist aircraft (fixed wing and helicopters) for close air support to the surface forces were used for some time. However, with the proliferation of shoulder-fired AD weapons, their efficacy has become doubtful. Secondly, the trend is to develop and maintain a fleet of swing-role, multi-role,  and omni-role aircraft. The force structure of a potent air force now contains multi-role fighter aircraft, combat support fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft (AWACS, Aerial Refuellers, Air transport aircraft, particular operation aircraft, variety of helicopters), unmanned platforms, an array of smart weapons (for ground attack, air combat and air defence), long-range vectors (surface to surface missiles including hypersonic weapons), radars, air operation enabling systems, and networks. The trend is to include swarms of drones and a combination of manned and unmanned platforms (loyal wingman concept).

 

Conclusion

 

Douhet, Trenchard, and Mitchel’s contributions towards air power theory and their efforts for an independent air arm achieved results that advanced airpower’s future growth and impact in warfare. The major war which succeeded their time (World War II) proved to be a testing ground for their airpower theories. Several wars after that validated these theories and brought in appropriate modifications in an evolutionary manner. The wars confirmed that airpower proved to be a decisive factor in the war, precision bombing was more effective than area bombing, and civilian morale was more challenging than expected. The prophecy that the bomber would always get through had been overestimated, and the impact of antiaircraft weapons was underestimated. While the WW II experience succeeded in providing the base of tactical air doctrine, subsequent wars shaped the comprehensive airpower doctrines. Airpower is still developing, with newer capabilities and roles being added to it. The original fundamental airpower theories need to evolve with the times. 

 

Suggestions and value additions are most welcome.

 

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References and credits

To all the online sites and channels.

References:-

  1. Robert S. Dudney. “Douhet”, Air and Space Forces Magazine, April 2011.
  1. MAJOR Brian P. O’Neill, “The Four Forces Airpower Theory” A Monograph, United States Army Command and General Staff College

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, May 2011.

  1. Giulio Douhet, “The Command of the Air”, Air University Press Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 2019.
  1. Carl H. Builder, “The Icarus Syndrome: Air Power Theory and the Evolution of the Air Force” Rand Brief, Oct 1993.
  1. John F. Jones, “Douhet, Air Power, and Jointness”, Naval War College Review, Vol. 46, No. 4 (AUTUMN 1993).
  1. Major David Berkland, “Douhet, Trenchard, Mitchell, and the Future of Airpower”, Defense & Security Analysis, Volume 27, Issue 4 (2011).
  1. Michael D. Pixley, “False Gospel for Airpower Strategy? A Fresh Look at Giulio Douhet’s Command of the Air”, Air University, July 2005.

Disclaimer:

Information and data included in the blog are for educational & non-commercial purposes only and have been carefully adapted, excerpted, or edited from reliable and accurate sources. All copyrighted material belongs to respective owners and is provided only for wider dissemination.

 

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