IAF News and Discussion

FORCE August 2009

‘There is An Ambitious Programme to Expand Our Space Communications Capability Over the Next Decade’
Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik PVSM, VSM, ADC

What are your operational KRAs?

India, being a large country with lot of resources and a large population, has immense potential and is an emerging power. As an emerging power you have attendant responsibilities as well as larger security challenges. In order to meet the country’s security challenges the IAF needs ‘Strategic Reach and Capability’. Therefore, my critical focus is on acceleration of build up of the IAF, which is seriously affected by the depletion due to phasing out of aircraft and systems since last few years. A very comprehensive modernisation plan is already underway. It involves enhancement and modernisation of our Air Defence and Offensive Strike capabilities, enhancement of our force multipliers, and operationalisation of our Space and NCW capabilities.

With the induction of large number of aircraft, weapon systems, Air Defence radars, AWACS etc, there is a need to ‘operationalise’ these at the earliest. This is another critical KRA.

‘Jointmanship’ would be the key to success in any future war. There is a greater need to synergise our technological and operational capabilities with the sister services towards enhancing our joint operational capability. Jointness would be essential not only in employment of combat forces, but also in integrated development of operational concepts and strategies for war fighting.

What is meant by ‘surgical air strikes’? If undertaken ever against Pakistan, will these escalate to a full-scale war that could cross the nuclear threshold? If not, why?

‘Surgical Air Strikes’ are precision strikes carried out with Precision Guided Weapons based on accurate intelligence. It is difficult to predict as to what would be the response of the adversary in such a situation. However, I would like to assure you that IAF is fully prepared to face any contingency.

Your predecessor had said that the desired progress on construction of ALGs in the eastern sector against China could not be achieved. What are the reasons for this and what priority will you accord to catch up with the results as envisaged in the 11th defence plan (2007-2012)?

There is a renewed focus towards the development of North Eastern states by the government of India. Logistical infrastructure in the Northeast has lagged for many decades. The government of India has now identified this as a high priority requirement not only from military operational point of view but even more from the angle of social and economic development of the region. While road and rail infrastructure development are being given a boost, the ALG and air connectivity to the border areas in this region are of critical importance. Construction and development of ALGs in the remote locations is as much a humanitarian and peacetime requirement as during operations. This gains further importance due to the high altitudes and inaccessible terrain where these ALGs are located. As part of this renewed focus, the IAF has been tasked to develop and maintain ALGs in the Northeast. This is a high priority area. We are going ahead full steam with the projects and soon the results would be visible.

What is the roadmap and timeline for operational integration of the three AWACS, considering that all would join the IAF, hopefully, by 2010? In what priority would the roles and missions be allocated to the AWACS?

The first AWACS arrived on 25 May 2009 and has already commenced operations. The other two AWACS would be with the IAF by mid-2010. These would be integrated into the envisaged Command and Control system known as ‘Integrated Air Command and Control System’ (IACCS) which is also planned to be operational by 2010. It would give immense boost to our Air Defence capability.

The IAF plans to utilise AWACS as Airborne Control and Intercept station while operating in conjunction with ground-based automated Command and Control Centre (IACCS), for the purpose of achieving Air Dominance. It would be a strategic asset to be employed for air battle management in specified areas and providing support to Offensive Air Operations. The other important roles would be air space management and control in nominated areas, electronic and communications surveillance and AD cover to land-based strategic assets or to a naval battle group/flotilla.

What will be the stages for the flight evaluation of the MRCA competitors? When will the flight evaluation commence and when do you expect to have the results ready?

MMRCA procurement is in progress as per the procedure given in DPP — 2006. The Field Evaluation Trials (FET) for MMRCA are planned to be conducted in India and abroad. The aircraft will be evaluated under India specific conditions at Bangalore, Jaisalmer and Leh for assessment of flying qualities, aircraft performance, systems and firing of conventional weapons. Thereafter, evaluations of advanced avionics, radar, EW suite and weapons will be undertaken at vendor specified locations. The field evaluations are likely to be completed by mid-2010.

What surveillance capabilities and its approximate numbers to include aerostats, SAR, high and medium powered radars, LLTR, and UAVs (medium and high altitude) are expected to be procured from outside and built indigenously by the end of the 12th defence plan (2012-2017)? What space-based capabilities are being sought in the same timeframe?

IAF is procuring Aerostats to enhance coverage in the Western and the South Western sectors. High Power Radars (HPRs) are considered to be adequate. The IAF is planning to phase out some of the Medium Power Radars (MPRs) which have already completed their useful life. IAF has contracted for MPRs with ELTA Israel and their delivery would commence from 2010. DRDO is also developing MPRs. IAF has a deficiency in LLTR and we plan to procure some of these LLTRs under BUY category while the remaining would be manufactured under TOT. The contract for these radars is likely to be signed shortly.

IAF is also planning to procure Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAVs and indigenously built Rustom UAVs from ADE Bangalore. These UAVs would have the capability to fly long range missions and will have satellite communication.

Space capabilities are essential for successful military operations. IAF is acquiring requisite ground-based capabilities, to optimally exploit the existing space-based assets of ISRO to meet its surveillance needs. There is an ambitious programme to expand our space communications capability over the next decade. We would also have our Space Navigation aids, on the lines of GPS, by early next decade.

Air space management in peacetime is an important task of the IAF. With growing civil aviation, how is this being tackled, especially with regards to the integration of all national radar resources of the army, navy and the civil sector?

The Air Defence of the Indian Airspace is the responsibility of the IAF. During peacetime, in particular, this requires efficient and safe management of the Indian Airspace. The responsibility of Air space management is divided between the IAF and the Airport Authority of India (AAI). With exponential growth in civil aviation underway, the need for integration of civil and military radars was felt long ago. Khola committee which was set up post 9/11, also recommended the need for civil and military radar integration. The IAF is progressing well in integrating all its sensors. The first such node would become operational in the Western sector by October 2009. All radars in Western and South Western sector would be integrated within a year. The integration of civil radars is also progressing side by side. The IAF has plans to integrate all radars of IAF, army, navy and civil, in order to enable comprehensive Air Defence of the country.

What is the update on network-centric warfare, especially on the AFNET, the induction of Integrated Air Command and Control (IACC) and data linking of combat assets? How will this affect the sensor-shooter loop?

The implementation of AFNET which is based on Internet Protocol/Multiprotocol Label Switching (IP/MPLS) network is progressing satisfactorily. After engineering of all links as per design and stabilisation period, AFNET would function as the backbone for IAF’s network-centric warfare capabilities linking the sensors with the shooters. Various other combat applications including the IACCS and linking of combat assets would be achieved through AFNET. This is expected to substantially reduce time of sensor-shooter loop and enhance our combat capability.

What air defence assets are being sought by the end of the 12th defence plan? The IAF has procured limited numbers of SPYDER and Akash missiles for protection of VA and VP. What approximate numbers would be sought during the 12th defence plan?

The IAF is embarked on a modernisation plan that involves induction of new weapon systems and technologies and also upgrading our existing assets. The Surface to Air Guided Weapon procurements includes the already contracted Akash, SPYDER LLQRM and Medium Range SAM systems. IAF’s plan includes induction of required number of SAGWs with different ranges such as the Very Short Range Air Defence Systems (VSHORADS), Short Range Air Defence Systems (SRSAMS), Medium Range Air Defence Systems (MRSAM) and Extended Range Surface to Air Missile Systems (ERSAM) in the 12th and 13th plan period.

Provisioning of spares, especially of Russian origin platforms, continues to be a problem area. What do you propose to do in this regard with the OEMs and HAL?

There is a problem in procuring spares of Russian origin. However, in the month of April 2009, there was an inter-governmental meeting between Government of Russian Federation and Government of India on the after sales support of Russian arms and military equipment. In this meeting the problems faced by IAF have been communicated in detail to the Russian representatives. The Russian Government has agreed to look into the matter and try to resolve the issues. HAL has been supporting many of IAF’s existing Russian fleet. More indigenisation efforts by HAL are also expected to improve the situation.