New Delhi: About new technologies like drones, cyber and space warfare, as well as networked warfare, the Indian Air Force is reassessing its planning and operations on the basis of lessons being drawn from the current conflicts all over the world, including the upcoming induction of the indigenous LCA Mk-1A.
The vice chief of air staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit revealed that the Indian Air Force was closely monitoring the dynamics of warfare, taking the lessons from the battlefields and integrating them into its exercises and planning.
“We are looking very, very carefully at all the conflicts that are happening around the globe. Tremendous lessons are being drawn, and they are slowly getting embedded into our operational exercises, and maybe the kind of force we are developing,” Air Marshal Dixit said.
The assessment is timely in the light of modern warfare, highlighting the increasing significance of combining airpower with reconnaissance, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), electronic warfare, cyber warfare, space-based information, and live intelligence.
“The vice chief of the Air Staff added that the exercise would be concentrating on developing a common and shared picture among the participants. The Red team and Blue teams would simulate various operational scenarios.”
Both the Red and Blue teams have been provided with general guidelines for the exercise.
“We have provided them a big canvas. They can play out different scenarios,” he said, while adding that ideally all “possible scenarios” should be played out.
The need to learn from ongoing conflicts comes against the backdrop of IAF efforts at enhancing its ecosystem of indigenously developed combat aircraft.
Speaking about LCA Mk-1A, Dixit informed that the engines are available and the testing is in progress, and there are “two or three points” left to prove. The technical challenges, even those associated with radar and integration, will be sorted out in “a month or two”, after which the path would be clear for induction. “We are also eagerly waiting for induction of LCA Mk-1A,” he added.
IAF is not just looking at the present needs but also beyond, and the country is developing
Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) to become its fifth-generation fighter.
Dixit added that India is working on its technological prowess as well as detection capabilities of advanced aircraft.
It was also emphasised by him that just having a fighter aircraft is not enough to make it effective in the fight.