‘I visualise a strong, modern, balanced aerospace force, fully-networked, with a mix of third, fourth and fifth generation aircraft and weapon systems, manned by motivated and trained air warriors, capable of projecting ‘national power’, and enabled to fully meet its mission and the country’s aspirations’

The best rank in the Indian Air Force (IAF) is of a Pilot Officer. You are king of all you survey; you fly your butt off; you have hardly any non-flying responsibilities. If you boobed (made a mistake), you are always let off with a light admonishment. Those were the days! Unfortunately, this rank is no more. When I was a Pilot Officer, my vision for the IAF was of excellent serviceability in my Squadron with lot of aircraft on tarmac and the Flying Programme showing my name for all the three details planned. As I grew in the IAF, this vision also must have evolved to include complex mysterious items like range and endurance, weapons, combat and combat tactics, camouflage and deception; communications, maintenance and technology, etc. I say “must have evolved” because one did not have either the time or the inclination to think of abstract, intangible concepts like ‘vision’. The flying and other ‘bull’ took away most of the time. Then when I graduated from the Flying Instructors’ School (FIS) and became a QFI, quality of intake; need for a good basic trainer, relevance of training syllabi, etc were inducted into the vision statement. After marriage, accommodation and infrastructure started impinging on the vision. My vision statement was slowly transforming itself under the influence of external, perceived needs and strong stimuli. Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) was the first turning point or waypoint in the gradual crystallisation of some sort of a ‘vision’ for the IAF. The Staff College ensured an academic environment, in sylvan surroundings, with good exposure to impressive sounding words used during what is colloquially known as ‘waffling’. One is exposed to things higher than the throttle and stick, and starts thinking about ‘concepts’, ‘strategy’ and ‘vision’. Thereafter, as you keep rising in the Air Force hierarchy, the vision expands to cover your span of control and at the same time undergo more and more refinement. Truly speaking, let us trace this hierarchical rise. As a Flight Commander, there is no chance in heaven for you to envision anything except operations and that too Squadron related. The same thing happens as a CO, except that you have to project an image, especially in Commanders’ Conferences. As a Chief Operations Officer (COO), generally, you run out of daylight hours. As Air Officer Commanding (AOC) if you have a good COO, perhaps you are able to get some conceptualising done. This is generally the time you are involved in or privy to the higher strategy and plans; and the brain cells start buzzing. The problem here is that your inputs are limited. To cut a long story short, in my opinion, it is only when you are a three-star and above that you can actually set down a ‘vision’. At least that’s what happened in my case.

A vision for the IAF is no simple matter. One can very easily set down a vision statement over a glass of beer in the true ‘Gung Ho’ mould. But when one sits down and really thinks about it, there are so many factors (pros and cons) that it is very easy to get your thinking totally muddled up. So let me try and list out the major factors that influenced my vision for the IAF. Here it goes:

Relevance: My vision for the IAF is not a stand-alone entity. It is enmeshed in the labyrinth of a large number of variables and influences. Prime amongst them is the geopolitical reality. Our geography, to a large extent dictates the slant of our geopolitics. Today, the balance of power is not only confined to Europe and the US. The shift in economic power is beginning to make Asia more relevant on the world stage. In our region, there is political instability, poverty, economic disparity, internal strife, terrorism. Pakistan continues to be inimical to us and will continue to use its policy of a ‘thousand cuts’ against us. China, the arrogant ‘superbrat’, will continue to thwart our country’s progress at every opportunity. Our future confrontations will not only be over land but the sea as well. Kashmir and the Naxals will continue to be our internal trouble areas demanding increased involvement of air power. A demand we cannot shy away from—ad infinitum. Coastal security and security of sea lanes as well as our offshore assets will achieve more importance. Therefore, I must visualise an Air Force that can meet all these commitments. My vision should not only cater to today. It must continue to remain relevant. Force structure planning and ramping up takes time. Hence my vision must be relevant over 20 to 25 years.

Aspirations of the Country: Where is India going to be 25 years from now? Going by the present set of circumstances, the outlook is dismal. But I have confidence in the innate resilience of our ‘aam aadmi’. The economic downturn will reverse in a couple of years since it generally follows the sine curve. There is increasing awareness in our industry. Reforms will play their role. India continues to be a huge market. We cannot be ignored. Foreign direct investment (FDI) will come in. Once productivity increases, job opportunities will rise. I visualise a future where India will play a bigger role in world politics and be called upon for more ‘away from home’ contingencies. Today, our zone of influence is from the Hormuz Straits in the West to Malacca Straits in the East. In my opinion our aspirations will go well beyond these limits in the coming decades. The IAF must be able to meet the country’s aspirations and be able to project power where and when required.

Viability: In the whole exercise of establishing my vision, this is like a bucket of cold water. I may need 65 squadrons of combat aircraft, 100 squadrons of air defence weapons, 20 airborne warning and control systems (AWACS), and may be 70 aerostats. Will I be able to induct so many units? Will I have the manpower to man these? Will I have the infrastructure to accommodate them? Will I be able to train so many pilots or air and ground crew? Will the Defence Minister throw a fit when he sees these demands? These are some of the questions that need to be answered. This nitpicking actually tempers your vision with pragmatism. After all, the country has many other vital issues like poverty, education and infrastructure that also need to be addressed expeditiously.

Budgeting: The flow out from viability is the budget. The priorities of the government will dictate how big a piece of the pie you get. This is a major exercise. You have to extrapolate the state of the economy, the value of the rupee, international relations, the outlay as per the five-year plan period, inflation, delays and what not. Of course, you have experts who give you ready answers. So you keep this awareness in your mind and go with your gut feeling.

Technology: I visualise net-centricity as a mandatory requirement. The IAF must be capable of network-centric warfare (NCW). The ground segment with Air Force Net (AFNet) and Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), is established. ODL is proceeding well. Modern medium power radars (MPRs), low looking transportable radars (LLTRs), are in the pipeline. The air segment needs bucking up but more AWACS & airborne early warning and control systems (AEW&C) aircraft are on the cards. Space segment is a matter of concern with satellite launch capability still low. Transfer of technology (ToT) is the new mantra. I believe we must have access to cutting-edge technology whether through ToT, offsets or reverse engineering. I visualise both DRDO and HAL being reorganised, refined, and made more accountable.

Strength: I have a vision of an Air Force with at least 55 combat squadrons. Realistically, we can perhaps go up to 42, in the next 25 years. We need to maintain this strength because of a two-front requirement. The edge against Pakistan Air Force (PAF) must never be allowed to be eroded. Unless our ongoing programmes deliver on time, I am afraid we shall be in for a long period of anxiety.

A Judicious Mix: For fighters, I visualise a mix of Su-30s, medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) with fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) in the final stages of induction. It will be vital to have light combat aircraft (LCA) in large numbers to fill the gaps. Power projection through C-17 aircraft, a strong AAR fleet, upgraded An-32s, Dorniers and perhaps the C-27 as Avro replacement complete the transport fleet. Special operations will be through C-130Js, already flying with us. Choppers will comprise MI-26, MI-17 V-5, Agusta AW 101, Apache, Dhruvs, in various forms and the light utility helicopter (LUH). All these are already in the pipeline. On the air defence (AD) side, I visualise long-range, medium-range surface-to-air missiles (LR/MR SAMs), low-level quick reaction missile systems (LLQRMs), very short-range air defence (VSHORADS) with effective linking of radars for reducing the sensor-shooter loop. Few squadrons of improved Aakash missiles will add to the punch. We will need a few more units of aerostats and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Induction of unmanned aerial vehicles (UCAVs) will become a reality.

Basing: Though mundane, we must think of more bases and infrastructure. They have to be planned now. Some will have to be Greenfield while some acquired from other agencies like the Aviation Research Centre.

Human Resource: Finally, it is the human element that transforms technology into operational assets. Recruitment, training, induction and retention are major issues that need to be addressed soon. The manpower needs training to absorb cuttingedge technologies. Sometimes, the mindsets need to change. This is one element that needs nurturing if we are to win wars. Now, after this long-winded and convoluted discourse, if someone were to ask me my vision for the IAF, I could encapsulate it in a short and crisp statement. It would go something like this, “I visualise a strong, modern, balanced aerospace force, fully networked, with a mix of third, fourth and fifth generation aircraft and weapon systems, manned by motivated and trained air warriors, capable of projecting ‘national power’, and enabled to fully meet its mission and the country’s aspirations.”