After Pulling Out of Multinational Exercise, IAF Postpones Exercise Vayu Shakti

[Jernail Sahib]

Here is the main logistical challenge India is facing:

Covid threat and drought combine to put India’s tea harvest at risk​

Covid threat and drought combine to put India’s tea harvest at risk

Authorities struggle to contain outbreaks of the virus across plantations

www.ft.com

 

[.King.]

Another war is coming?

Unlikely, but I wouldnt rule out some sort of cross border strike.

 

[Black Tornado]

Earlier the Indian Air Force pulled out from a multinational air exercise to be held in UK, the IAF has now postponed it's firepower display which was to be held next week.

The exercise got cancelled after the Russian invasion.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/multi-nation-air-exercise-cancelled-amid-ukraine-crisis/article65086935.ece#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20IAF%20will%20participate%20in,by%20C%2D17%20transport%20aircraft.

 

[IceCold]

this is basically the only way, the IAF can convince the Indian public that it can hit it's targets .

Perhaps not anymore!

 

[satyamev]

vayu shakti postponed due to the ongoing evacuation of the students from Ukraine.
Many of the heavy lifters were to take part in this exercise. They have been diverted to the evacuation effort.
Are these exercises useful though ?
I guess coordinating a lot of aircrafts during wartime is a target of these exercises. Check the turn around time and the availability.
Do other nations also hold such exercises ?

 

[Chak Bamu]

@satyamev has raised a good point about heavy lifters being busy.

However, I think the cancellation of these exercises has probably something to do with other factors:

1. Spares from Russia - uncertain situation.
2. Perhaps nervousness about China. When there is a war, some nations are emboldened to take risks because world's attention is elsewhere.
3. ELINT concerns as mentioned by someone else.
4. Fear of escalation, which is always there.
5. Some other resource constraint that is not clearly visible at this time?

 

[arjunk]

5. Some other resource constraint that is not clearly visible at this time?

A couple of years ago they were saying they have enough ammunition for a few weeks of war with Pakistan. How that translates to a war with China, Pakistan, and armed insurgencies, I don't know.

 

[satyamev]

@satyamev has raised a good point about heavy lifters being busy.

However, I think the cancellation of these exercises has probably something to do with other factors:

1. Spares from Russia - uncertain situation.
2. Perhaps nervousness about China. When there is a war, some nations are emboldened to take risks because world's attention is elsewhere.
3. ELINT concerns as mentioned by someone else.
4. Fear of escalation, which is always there.
5. Some other resource constraint that is not clearly visible at this time?

agree with all your points.
Out of 148 odd aircrafts involved in the exercise, 108 were fighter jets, rest were transport. So I just deduced that with the transport crew and the ground teams busy with Ukraine, its pointless to have a exercise with one third of the aircrafts busy.
point 2 - the Indo Chinese 1962 conflict took place during the Cuban crisis. The super powers were distracted.
point 5 - oil prices are through the roof.

 

[nahtanbob]

agree with all your points.
Out of 148 odd aircrafts involved in the exercise, 108 were fighter jets, rest were transport. So I just deduced that with the transport crew and the ground teams busy with Ukraine, its pointless to have a exercise with one third of the aircrafts busy.
point 2 - the Indo Chinese 1962 conflict took place during the Cuban crisis. The super powers were distracted.
point 5 - oil prices are through the roof.

USA is not distracted yet. The forces in Europe are a fraction of Pentagon arsenal

 

[Chak Bamu]

agree with all your points.
Out of 148 odd aircrafts involved in the exercise, 108 were fighter jets, rest were transport. So I just deduced that with the transport crew and the ground teams busy with Ukraine, its pointless to have a exercise with one third of the aircrafts busy.
point 2 - the Indo Chinese 1962 conflict took place during the Cuban crisis. The super powers were distracted.
point 5 - oil prices are through the roof.

Good analysis. Much appreciated.

I do not think that oil prices would matter that much though.

 

[Yasser76]

IAF probably very over stretched right now. LAC face off taking a toll on men and aircraft, budgets no increasing signficantly, still flaying many old types (no Tejas deliveries since 2020 and all Rafales now delivered). An air force the IAF's size constantly needs new aircraft in numbers in order to avoid block obsolesence, that is not happening, so I imagine budgets, aircraft availability are all starting to have an effect. This is the second time in as many years the IAF has had to cancel exercises. Obviously it will also effect pilot training and morale if they are unable to participate in large scale exercises.

 

[Mrc]

India is preparing for military action it seems

 

[fitpOsitive]

India is preparing for military action it seems

I am becoming more and more sure of it. But after first hit, I don't think India has any plan about what will follow.

 

[Mrc]

I am becoming more and more sure of it. But after first hit, I don't think India has any plan about what will follow.

May b with china

 

[fitpOsitive]

May b with china

I don't think so. One morning when Pakistanis will awake, it will be too late. We better keep an eye on the Brahmos manufacturing facilities and where they are getting deployed. Even for China, it will be too late.