'Aerospace power, an index of national power'

Thiruvananthapuram, May 15: IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal F H Majortoday said the aerospace power was an increasingly vital part ofmilitary strength and an important index of national power.

Inaugurating the seminar on Aerospace Power in India's Strategy'at the Southern Air Command HQs, here, he said the country requiredaerospace power in all its capabilities since it was futuristic andincreasingly utilitarian.

Aerospace power was premised on cutting edge technologies and itenabled effect-based operations and created strategic effects, the AirChief said.

Terming aerospace power as an instrument of choice, he underlinedthe fact that the recent developments had endowed aerospace power withaccuracy and precision, making it astonishingly reliable, clean andeffective.

''Indian Air Force is among leading air forces in world today andcan, with the right infusion of technologies and training, achieve suchresults,'' ACM Major said. While providing a broad perspective ongeo-political situation and security environment, he said the countryneeds national power to back her increasing strategic interests.

Southern Air Command's Air Marshal Air Officer Commanding-in-ChiefY R Rane, in his valedictory address, emphasised the IAF vision toacquire 'Strategic Reach' would require Southern Air Command to play amajor role.

''Strategic Reach, once achieved, would greatly enhance the effectiveness of this Command in its operational role,'' he added.

Air Marshal Rane also stressed the importance of real timenetworking among the forces deployed far out and away from themainland. ''Having realised the geo-strategic importance of thesouthern region, there is no option but to develop Southern Air Commandinto a potent Operational Air Command'', he said.

During the one-day seminar organised by Centre for Air PowerStudies (CAPS), an interactive discussion on crucial defence relatedissues like 'Emerging strategic environment', Regional securitydimensions' and 'Challenges from Pakistan' were deliberated. Theseminar also focused on military history, trends and developments inAerospace Power in India's defence and security.

UNI