{"id":6433,"date":"2023-10-05T13:47:23","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T08:17:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/?p=6433"},"modified":"2025-01-04T14:31:46","modified_gmt":"2025-01-04T09:01:46","slug":"inputs-iaf-deterrence-capability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/55nda.com\/blogs\/anil-khosla\/2023\/10\/05\/inputs-iaf-deterrence-capability\/","title":{"rendered":"389: INPUTS: IAF DETERRENCE CAPABILITY"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Pic Courtesy: Internet<\/span><\/p>\n

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IAF will be Celeberating its 91st anniversary on 08 Oct 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n

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It has been a nine decade old journey of touching the sky with glory.<\/span><\/p>\n

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It is also the time to reminisce its past, review its present and plan its future trajectory.<\/span><\/p>\n

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In the coming week defence journalists will be busy discussing these issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Views of veterans are also being sought on several aspects.<\/span><\/p>\n

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(Views are Personal)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Possible reasons for the fighter squadron drawdown and delays in regaining the authorised strength.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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      • The notion that there will be no war.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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          • Expenditure on development rather than defence.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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              • Lengthy and cumbersome procurement procedures.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                  • Scam Phobia \u2013 looking for ghosts where there are none.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                      • Politicisation of defence acquisitions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                        1. Practical time frames to fill the gaps.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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                            • I do not think in the next 5-7 years we will be able to fill this gap.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                • Maybe over 10 years or so, but it is not going to be easy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                    • To speed up the process, a multi-pronged approach would be required:-<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                          • Spend more money on Defence.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                                • Speed up indigenous development of LCA MkII, and AMCA.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                                      • Enhance indigenous production capability.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                                            • Acquire and Infuse technology.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                                                  • Procure from outside to fill urgent gaps.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                                                      • Steps have already been initiated towards it \u2013 maybe we have gone into 3rd<\/sup> or 4th<\/sup> gear, and we need to step up to 5th.<\/sup><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                                                        1. Recommended approach towards capability and capacity enhancement.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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                                                                            • Maintain minimum deterrence value (especially in the face of what has happened in Ladakh due to China’s belligerence).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                                                                • Boost self-reliance and indigenous capability.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                                                                    • Maintain a balance between quality and quantity of platforms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                                                                        • Procure from abroad if the minimum deterrence value goes down.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                                                                            • Procure keeping in mind, maximum bang for the buck and boost to Atmanirbharata.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                                                                                • Procure in a phased manner.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                                                                                    • Keep the inventory diversity in mind.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                                                                                      1. Debate about the redundancy of manned aircraft in view of AI-empowered unmanned platforms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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                                                                                                          • This debate has been going on for decades.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                                                                                              • Earlier it was limited to Fighter aircraft vis-\u00e0-vis LR Vectors, now it is manned fighter aircraft vis-\u00e0-vis no contact warfare with LR Vectors and unmanned platforms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                                                                                                  • Both manned and unmanned platforms have their advantages and disadvantages.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                                                                                                      • Worldover (including India), work is going on in the development of 6th<\/sup> and 7th-generation platforms which will see the integration of manned and unmanned platforms, utilising the strengths of both. It is being called as \u201cLoyal Wing Man concept\u201d, I call it the \u201cMother Goose Concept\u201d.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                                                                                                          • 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.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                                                                                                              • Relevance of manned fighter aircraft will remain for some time to come.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                                                                                                                                1. 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.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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                                                                                                                                  Suggestions and value additions are most welcome<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n

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