‘The First AWACS Expected in October will be Based in Agra’
Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major PVSM AVSM SC VM ADC
What is the update on Indian Air Force’s activities on the eastern front against China?
Over the years, due to a paucity of resources, infrastructure in our Eastern parts has undergone a bit of a decline. We have now decided to beef up our assets and more importantly the infrastructure in the Eastern sector, in the 11th (2007-2012) and 12th (2012-2017) Defence Plans. We intend modernising our airbases to make them capable of undertaking operations of all types of aircraft, both heavy transport and fighters, including the Su-30 MKI. The philosophy being that all airfields to be brought up to a standard that is not aircraft specific, but can take all types of aircraft. The work on upgradation of Tezpur airfield has started and will be finished by end 2009. Similarly, we will be developing most of our airfields in that region including Jorhat. Kalaikunda is already developed. The airfield in Panagarh will be resurrected. We will also improve facilities and infrastructure at other air bases.
What are the IAF’s training priorities, joint warfare with land forces and simultaneous parallel warfare, and/or contingency-based joint warfare according to the Joint Doctrine issued by the Integrated Defence Headquarters in support of Operations Other Than War?
The Indian Air Force is fully committed to function as a cohesive and joint force as has been envisaged in the Joint Doctrine. Differing situations require accordingly appropriate responses. Airpower today, has ubiquitous capability and by virtue of that, provides the national leadership with a wide array of options to deal with the entire spectrum of conflict. It alone has the capability to respond swiftly and with precision from providing surveillance to destruction with minimum collateral damage.
Our procurement and modernisation plans are in consonance with the requirement to be able to conduct parallel and joint operations. We continue to prepare for these objectives and have developed considerable expertise towards this capability.
The IAF training pattern at operational and command levels is designed for smooth and efficient conduct of joint operations. A large number of joint courses with this specific objective are conducted regularly, to put in place structures and understanding of joint operations. We conduct joint exercises with the army and the navy, to strengthen, hone and refine our procedures.
What are the IAF’s capability-building targets in terms of combat strength?
IAF’s plan to have the authorised number of combat squadrons was adversely affected, as the procurement process did not keep pace with phasing out of aircraft. The strength of combat squadrons in the IAF by end of the 12th Plan, will be much closer to our authorised strength. IAF has planned the induction of additional Su-30 MKIs, M-MRCA and LCA to arrest the depleting trend. More specifically, two squadrons of the LCA in the IOC version will be inducted in 2010-11. After that, the IAF plan is to have six LCA squadrons by the end of the 13th Defence Plan. These squadrons should start joining the IAF by 2017. Induction of the MMRCA is also likely to commence in 2012. And as you know, induction of Su-30MKI is an ongoing process, where eventually we will have a total of about 230 aircraft. At present, we have three Su-30MKI squadrons. HAL manufactures about 13 Su-30MKI every year. The additional 40 Su-30 MKI’s will be inducted in 2009-2010.
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