IAF preparing for Aerospace superiority beyond boundaries

Bangalore, Dec 23 (UNI) 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, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi said today.

''IAF has created a post of Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Space and wants 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 boundaries of the country, he said a ''resurgent India need strong military power'' to ensure its economic and commercial power in the world.'' 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 noted, would prove the necessary option to the country. ''Strong IAF will be the source of strength to the economic growth of the country,''ACM Tyagi asserted.

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 addinmg that the IAF has already taken measures to equip itself with the necessary hardware.

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.

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