IAF plans war doctrine to expand 'strategic reach'

[Adux]

IAF plans war doctrine to expand 'strategic reach'

2 Aug 2007, 0352 hrs IST,Rajat Pandit,TNN
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The new war doctrine will transform the IAF into a true aerospace power (TOI photo)
NEW DELHI: The IAF is formulating a new war doctrine in tune with its objective to transform the force into a true aerospace power with "potent strategic reach" spreading from the Persian Gulf right up to Malacca Strait.

A "select" team of officers, led by IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, had already prepared a "first draft" of this new airpower doctrine. "It will undergo a few revisions before it is finalised," said a source. "The SOPs (standard operating procedures) and 'flying orders' for the entire IAF will follow from the new doctrine, which will also dwell upon the application of military power," he added.

The doctrine will revolve around the primacy of airpower in "shaping" or "customising" the battlefield in such a way that the Army, as also the Navy, can carry out its designated tasks. The world's fourth largest air force after US, Russia and China, the IAF visualises itself as "a global player" in the years ahead. Eventually, it hopes to become "an expeditionary force" on the lines of US air force, with the capability to rapidly deploy and operate across the globe.

The doctrine will also incorporate the lessons learnt in recent wars like the US-led attacks in Afghanistan and Iraq, which saw "smart bombs" like high-accuracy JDAMs (joint direct attack munitions) being used in all-weather conditions.

Though IAF was the first force among the three Services to come out with a doctrine in 1995, it now wants an updated one since it has inducted a wide array of sophisticated technologies since then. The old doctrine, for instance, was written when IAF did not have mid-air refuelling aircraft like IL-38s or even long-range "air dominance" fighters like Sukhoi-30MKIs. The already considerable 3,200-km range of the Sukhois can be more than doubled with in-flight refuelling by IL-78 tankers, configuring "awesome" strategic capabilities.

Then, of course, India is going to progressively induct three Israeli Phalcon AWACS (airborne warning and control systems), contracted in a $1.1-billion project, from July 2008 onwards. Moreover, the new doctrine will also factor in the valuable experience gained, especially in BVR (beyond visual range) combat, during joint exercises conducted with more technologically-advanced forces like the US and French air forces in recent years. The utilisation of space for "real-time" military communications and reconnaissance missions, ballistic missile defences and delivery of precision-guided munitions through satellite signals will also figure in the new doctrine.

ACM Major has declared that he is actively "pursuing" IAF's long-standing demand for the creation of an Aerospace Command. This becomes all the more necessary with China testing an ASAT weapon.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...xpand_strategic_reach/articleshow/2249654.cms

rajat.pandit@timesgroup.com

Thought this will be an interesting topic, especially for the old war horses

 

[Mercenary]

Why does India need to deploy its forces across the globe?

It can't even deploy them in Bihar, Orissa, Assam and Kashmir.

Shouldn't India first take care of its own mess instead of deploying its forces across the globe to satisfy its ego

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Right.

India can't deploy it in India, so what's the big deal all about?

Nonetheless, it is impressive!

 

[Titanium]

IT is from ToI, the dust bin paper, the feel godd paper......... who is the auther Rajat Pandit and his qualification? it is just space fill column written in the dark corner

 

[Mercenary]

Right.

India can't deploy it in India, so what's the big deal all about?

Nonetheless, it is impressive!

But why does it need to deploy its forces across the globe?

Aside from USA, UK and to a lesser extent France, no other country has Armies all over the world. Russia's foreign deployment are mainly in FSR and China doesn't have any foreign forces.

So whats the need for India to deploy its forces?

 

[Contrarian]

Merc, they mean to deploy the planes in the future in India's military bases. For now the only one is in Tajikistan, and maybe one in Maldives and a couple of other places. When the AF strength reaches the required limit, then planes can be siphoned off to these places.

 

[blain2]

This is a strategy coined more out of concern around the China threat...really does not have as much impact on Pakistan (in other words, the level of threat to Pakistan from the IAF stays the same).

 

[Ababeel]

It's really the need of time that Pakistan take advantage of it's strategic relations with Saudi Arabia and to a lesser extentthe UAE and form a joint defence force to combat what is stored for it in near future.
On the other hand it must increase its R & D alliance with China by leaps and bounds to achieve indigenous capacity in hitech aircrafts and SAMs & AAMs and an Integrated Air Defence System.

 

[Mercenary]

I think Pakistan should deploy its forces in Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, UAE and Saudi Arabia.

We have a contingent of SSG in Saudi Arabia.

 

[Adux]

No you dont.

 

[Keysersoze]

Merc, they mean to deploy the planes in the future in India's military bases. For now the only one is in Tajikistan, and maybe one in Maldives and a couple of other places. When the AF strength reaches the required limit, then planes can be siphoned off to these places.

Well according to several reports the Tajikstan thing has been scuppered.

https://defence.pk/forums/showthread.php?p=91385#post91385

 

[Contrarian]

Nah mate. I read those reports as well.

 

[blain2]

Nah mate. I read those reports as well.

Nah mate what? Does your reading a report negate the fact that something has or has not transpired?

 

[Keysersoze]

Apparently there is a meeting of the SCO (Shanghai cooperation Oganisation) in Bishek and the statements seem timed along these lines.

Russia seems to want to solidify its borders and would not want someone who might get chummy with the Americans on their border....

 

[su-47]

Whether India has an airbase in tajikistan is not very clear. i have read reports on both sides of the debate and its still not clear whether we have a base there.

Personally i dont think so. it would cost too much to establish an airbse outside india, given that we have to support and defend it.

india was PLANNING to have a base there. whether those plans were put into action is a mystery