SP Guide Publications puts forth a well compiled articulation of issues, pursuits and accomplishments of the Indian Army, over the years
I am confident that SP Guide Publications would continue to inform, inspire and influence.
My compliments to SP Guide Publications for informative and credible reportage on contemporary aerospace issues over the past six decades.
The IAF would have to keep working ceaselessly to continue to augment its air defence resources as also pool in all relevant national resources in its quest to fully live up to its air defence responsibilities enshrined in the Union War Book
From the very begining, the Union War Book of India has put the onus of defending the country’s airspace squarely on the shoulders of the Indian Air Force (IAF). But has the IAF been able to discharge its responsibilities in this vital area of India’s defence to the fullest? Resource crunch in the initial stages forced the IAF to adopt a strategy of terminal defences for its vital areas/vital points (VAs/VPs).With passage of time and induction of greater number of sensors, interceptors and surfaceto-air missiles (SAM) systems, the IAF moved up to a limited area defence (LAD) concept in the later part of the last century. However, the present-day threat scenario of beyond visual range (BVR) stand-off weapons, both in the air-to-air and air-to-surface modes, the IAF has little choice but adopt a full-fledged area defence policy. But it is easier said than done, as the defence system also has to ride on a seamless communication network with built-in redundancies to ensure that it cannot be interfered with by the adversary in any meaningful manner.
The IAF built up its air defence network in a laborious brick-bybrick phased manner to cover the high-threat areas first. It created a highly workable ADDC/CRC network on its western border. It also created a Base Air Defence Zone/Centre (BADZ/BADC) for the air defence of its air bases. But this arrangement has given only partial AD capabilities to the IAF with gaping holes remaining in other parts of the country. The problems of obsolescence in the new millennium have further worsened matters for the IAF. Its chain of radars, whether HPR, MPR or LPR/LLTR, are all suffering from excessive use and old age. Its arsenal of Pechora and OSA-AK SAM systems is fast becoming obsolete and need to be replaced expeditiously.
The IAF has indeed taken a holistic approach matched with some concrete steps for an all-round improvement in its AD network. These are summarised below: