IAF preparing for Indian Aerospace superiority

Bangalore, Dec 23: The Indian Air Force has formed a core group to study the aerospace superiority scenario in other countries to take necessary measures to extend the IAF supremacy beyond the nation's borders, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi said today.

IAF has created a post of Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Space and wanted to be fully prepared when the Aerospace Command, whose formation has been approved was firm in place, he said delivering the inaugural Air Chief Marshal L M Katre Memorial Lecture of the Air Force Association Karnataka here.

Reiterating at length the need for a strong IAF beyond the northern boundaries of the country, he said the ''resurgent India to ensure its economic and commercial power in the world need a strong military power'' Stating that modern day wars would be short and not long drawn affairs, he said the military supremacy of the country should be strategic and not tactical. Successive wars in various parts of the world have underscored the need for a superior air power for a war to be won he said adding IAF would prove the necessary option to the country. ''Strong IAF will be the source of strength to the economic growth of the country''.

Besides the hardware there was need for synergy between civil and military establishments and skilled manpower to meet the emerging threats from beyond the natural boundaries he said and added that IAF has already taken measures to equip with the necessary hardware. The fleet in due course of time would be compatible to air to air fueling.

Referring to the Airborne Warning systems (AWACS), he said the first of the three ordered AWACS would be delivered next year and in due course more would be added. Similar was the case with air to air fueling aircraft, the Air Chief said.

Air Chief Marshal Tyagi in a candid security scenario of the Sub continent said that India was the only democratic country with political stability. Though the country had some internal security problems, it was not a matter of concern and political situation in India was stable and peaceful. ''The entire region, except India, is in turmoil'', he added.

However, he said, the same could not be said so with the neighbouring countries with Pakistan ruled by an Army Chief was suffering from internal sectoral violence, Afghanistan had a democratically elected leader whose writ did not go beyond the Presidential palace guarded by US marines and Bangladesh having difficulties in holding peaceful elections. He said Sri Lanka was in turmoil.

On China, he said though the country is ruled by a Communist Party, how long the one party rule would last was a question mark.

Referring to the new security threats posed by the rapid economic growth of the country, he said the country need to move away from the subcontinental mindset of guarding the northern boundaries with China and Pakistan. India's military thought move away from tactical mindset to emerge strategic to meet emerging economic and energy security issues. The country should put in place a new structure to meet the emerging challenges and ensures its air power was visible till the middle east, Confederation of Independent States and the Indian ocean region where every nuclear state had its presence.

UNI