Ladakh Standoff Has Boosted Jointness Amongst Services, Says Air Force Chief

Apart from planning for quicker combat fleet enhancement in view of fast depleting numbers, the Indian Air Force is focussing on strengthening combat enablers to retain its lethality and increase its reach in coming years.

In an exclusive interview to Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhuri dwelt on lessons learnt from the Russia-Ukraine war, the changing nature of war and why the Air Force will always be the first offensive choice in any conflict.

Discussing the recently held firepower demonstration Exercise Vayushakti 2024, the CAS said that exercises at such massive scales are undertaken only once in a few years. The exercise being wide in scope allows the coordinated employment of all IAF resources, to include fighter, transport and rotary wing assets, all kinds of ammunition, ISR resources, radars etc. Normally, the IAF practices weapon delivery within a unit or small formations. This was an occasion where IAF synchronizes the weapon deliveries of precision munitions, conventional weapons, surface-to-air and air-to-air weapons.

The CAS also informed that additional AWACS will be built on Airbus 321 to enhance their numbers with the IAF. He also dwelt upon the necessity of air-to-air refuelling capabilities. As far as ISR capabilities are concerned, the MQ-9B has been a big help.

Talking about the operational readiness aspects, the CAS informed that the induction of C295 does mitigate the transport fleet situation. The induction of LCAs will have a similar effect on the fighter aircraft holdings.

Talking about lessons drawn from standoff with China in Eastern Ladakh, the CAS highlighted leadership, ability to adapt, and training among other factors that the IAF has inculcated.
The Ladakh experience has also boosted jointness. According to the CAS, common platforms, common systems will have common maintenance. Complete interoperability between the Army and the IAF.

#india #iaf #indianairforce #vayushakti2024 #pokhran

00:00 - Introduction of Part 1
00:39 - Vayu Shakti 2024
4:17 - Lessons from Russia-Ukraine war
5:49 - Importance of ISR
6:41 - Ait-to-Air refuelling capability
7:30 - Need for force enablers
9:15 - Aatmanirbharta in defence
11:12 - IAF: Combat Fleet
13:09 - Helicopter/Transport Aircraft strength
13:50 - Experience with Chinook/Apache
14:18 - Conclusion of Part 1
14:52 - Introduction of Part 2
15:17 - Lessons from Ladakh standoff
16:41 - Operating along LAC
19:42 - Coordinating with Army, ITBP
20:33 - Roadmap for Theaterisation
24:50 - Revamping training process
26:34 - IAF: First offensive choice in any conflict
27:56 - Conclusion

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