The Hindu : 'IAF to become air and space force'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 22, 2002

National

National

'IAF to become air and space force'

By Sandeep Dikshit

The Defence Minister, George Fernandes, shakes hands with an officer at the Air Force Commanders' conference in New Delhi on Monday. — Photo: S. Subramanium

NEW DELHI OCT. 21. With its modernisation programme progressing as scheduled, the IAF could aspire to transform itself into an air and space force in order to militarily exploit the medium of space to the maximum.

Making this observation against the backdrop of several strides made in the space segment, the IAF chief, S. Krishnaswamy, told the Air Force Commanders Conference today that while the force was all set to receive the airborne warning and control systems (AWACS) it already possessed unmanned aerial vehicles, aerostats and advanced combat aircraft. India had already acquired the capability to receive satellite imagery of one metre resolution and was setting up an air command and control system. The country's security planners had also shown interest in American research on several missile defence concepts.

These developments along with the heavy indigenous component in its space programme could enable the IAF take the first step towards emulating the select band of air forces, all from the developed world, which have adopted the aerospace concept, analysts say. The idea would also jell with the emphasis being put on achieving greater synergy between the military and civil aviation sectors.

Mr. Krishnaswamy outlined the consolidation of IAF's capabilities in the last one year and said that with its highly skilled manpower the force is now ready to take a leap forward into the space sector. "The IAF had already taken steps in this direction."

Earlier, the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, said though structural changes were brought about in matters relating to defence procurement, the urgent requirements of the military were still not being met. There was need to further compress the processes so that urgently required military hardware was made available to the services expeditiously. Though the procurement process had been restructured with the formation of two integrated boards, several loopholes remained.

Dwelling on redeployment, the air chief assured the Defence Minister that the IAF would maintain full vigil and operational preparedness to meet any exigencies. The induction of new aircraft and systems is progressing well. While the induction of SU-30 MKI had provided the cutting edge technology to the IAF, the refueller aircraft to be inducted early next year would act as force multipliers. IAF Jaguar and SU-30 MKI pilots have already undergone training in air refuelling. The joint exercise with the French Air Force in India early next year would provide this opportunity for the Mirage 2000 pilots to learn wider operational employment. Within three months of induction the flight refuelling system is expected to be fully operational.

Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief of the seven air force commands and the principal staff officers at the Air Headquarters attend the bi-annual Commanders Conference. This provides an opportunity to review the operational plans in keeping with the changing security scenario.

The Army Commanders' Conference also opened simultaneously but with a heavier agenda including planning the administrative nightmare of redeploying four to five lakh troops from the border.

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