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IAF wont fight other peoples wars: Says Indian Air Chief Marshal Browne
Indian Air Force is in the process of transforming itself into a true aerospace power with capability to rapidly deploy and operate around the globe, but it will not fight "other peoples wars," IAFs Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne has declared.
"No other air force has attempted to modernize at such a fast pace in such a short span of 15 years," he said here on Monday, indicating a doctrinal shift in the run-up to IAFs 79th anniversary on October 8.
However, he asserted that this does not mean "an expeditionary force" on the lines of the US Air Force. "We are not going to fight other peoples wars. But yes, with Indias global footprint expanding, the IAF must have the wherewithal to meet the requirements wherever Indias strategic interests lie," the IAF chief told reporters here.
India is gradually building powerful military capabilities in tune with its expanding geopolitical interests, which are no longer limited to the swathe stretching from the Persian Gulf to Malacca Strait, even as its eastern and western fronts are being strengthened to deter the twin Pakistan-China threat.
Armed with perspective plans till 2027, the IAF is looking at a combat fleet of 250-300 fifth-generation fighter aircraft, 126-200 medium multi-role fighter aircraft and 270 Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, as also over 100 upgraded MiG-29s and Mirage-2000s.
The estimated price tag for just these jets comes to over $70 billion.
"Our fighter squadrons will go up to 42 (from the existing 34) by end of the 13th Plan or 2022...We will be comfortable then, said the IAF chief.
Then, there are also different types of transport aircraft and helicopters, radars and missile systems, drones and mid-air refuellers in the pipeline to ensure modernization plans dovetail with long-term strategic interests
As for facing the two-front challenge (from China and Pakistan), apart from progressively basing Sukhoi-30MKI fighters and missile squadrons in the two theatres, the IAFs plan also includes upgrading the Nyoma advanced landing ground in Leh district in eastern Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), located 23km from the line of actual control (LAC) with China at an altitude of 13,300 feet.
Browne explained: "We want a 12,000-feet runway capable of handling fighters as well as transport aircraft at Nyoma. It will give us both defensive and offensive options. After being cleared by the defence ministry, its now going to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)."
Similarly, learning lessons from the 1999 conflict with Pakistan, the Kargil airstrip in J&K will be extended to ensure strategic airlift aircraft like C-17 Globemaster-III and C-130J Super Hercules as well as fighters can operate from there.
The first six C-130s procured for for $1.2 billion and stationed at the Hindon airbase near here, the IAF will procure six more of these aircraft, to be based at Charbatia (Orissa) for the eastern sector.
The Island
Indian Air Force is in the process of transforming itself into a true aerospace power with capability to rapidly deploy and operate around the globe, but it will not fight "other peoples wars," IAFs Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne has declared.
"No other air force has attempted to modernize at such a fast pace in such a short span of 15 years," he said here on Monday, indicating a doctrinal shift in the run-up to IAFs 79th anniversary on October 8.
However, he asserted that this does not mean "an expeditionary force" on the lines of the US Air Force. "We are not going to fight other peoples wars. But yes, with Indias global footprint expanding, the IAF must have the wherewithal to meet the requirements wherever Indias strategic interests lie," the IAF chief told reporters here.
India is gradually building powerful military capabilities in tune with its expanding geopolitical interests, which are no longer limited to the swathe stretching from the Persian Gulf to Malacca Strait, even as its eastern and western fronts are being strengthened to deter the twin Pakistan-China threat.
Armed with perspective plans till 2027, the IAF is looking at a combat fleet of 250-300 fifth-generation fighter aircraft, 126-200 medium multi-role fighter aircraft and 270 Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, as also over 100 upgraded MiG-29s and Mirage-2000s.
The estimated price tag for just these jets comes to over $70 billion.
"Our fighter squadrons will go up to 42 (from the existing 34) by end of the 13th Plan or 2022...We will be comfortable then, said the IAF chief.
Then, there are also different types of transport aircraft and helicopters, radars and missile systems, drones and mid-air refuellers in the pipeline to ensure modernization plans dovetail with long-term strategic interests
As for facing the two-front challenge (from China and Pakistan), apart from progressively basing Sukhoi-30MKI fighters and missile squadrons in the two theatres, the IAFs plan also includes upgrading the Nyoma advanced landing ground in Leh district in eastern Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), located 23km from the line of actual control (LAC) with China at an altitude of 13,300 feet.
Browne explained: "We want a 12,000-feet runway capable of handling fighters as well as transport aircraft at Nyoma. It will give us both defensive and offensive options. After being cleared by the defence ministry, its now going to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)."
Similarly, learning lessons from the 1999 conflict with Pakistan, the Kargil airstrip in J&K will be extended to ensure strategic airlift aircraft like C-17 Globemaster-III and C-130J Super Hercules as well as fighters can operate from there.
The first six C-130s procured for for $1.2 billion and stationed at the Hindon airbase near here, the IAF will procure six more of these aircraft, to be based at Charbatia (Orissa) for the eastern sector.
The Island
