India is capable of
countering new generation Chinese fighters and is creating new infrastructure
on the border to boost capabilities, including a new fighter jet base in east
Ladakh, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa tells Economic Times in a
wide ranging interview. The air chief feels that the Make in India initiative
will arm the air force against future threats and has confidence in the
abilities of the private sector to deliver. Excerpts:
What is your assessment on the capability of the two fifth generation
Chinese fighter jets?
We have some of the latest aircraft in our
inventory positioned in our eastern sector to tackle our adversary’s air power. The
Chinese 5th generation aircraft have just been tested out and it will take time
for them to realise their full potential. Our air defence architecture is
capable of detecting intrusions and have the requisite combat assets, ground
and air to counter the threat from them. With the acquisition of the Rafale,
our capability in terms of combat air assets will vastly improve and will be in
a position to greatly increase the asymmetry in combat potential over the
adversary. We are also in the process of building our capacities to acquire
more state of art combat and combat support assets. A substantial portion of
this would be procured through the ‘Make in India’ route.
What are the Air Force plans for augmentation of infrastructure in the
border areas?
Our operational capability is dependent on
equipment, training, procedures, infrastructure availability and plans based on
our analysis of the adversary. We have quite a few bases in our eastern sector
operating frontline squadrons. These bases are being modernised with the latest
facilities to undertake fullscale operations. Special shelters are being build
over these structures to provide for passive air defence and they are
progressing at a fast pace. On the northern front, trial landings by transport
aircraft have been carried out by our aircraft at Nyoma air base and its
development into a fighter aircraft base is part of the IAF’s plan in the near
future.
India is looking at partnering a private player for a new fighter jet line
under the Make in India plan. What kind of technology is being looked at?
The main objective of Make in India initiative
in aerospace sector is not only to manufacture these aircraft in the country
but to harness key technologies essential for manufacturing defence equipment
in the country. The technology capability transfer being sought is to enable us
to unilaterally design develop and manufacture top of the line fighter aircraft
in the country. This will have multiple spinoffs -technology infusion will
boost the R&D sector, is likely to revive some of the stagnated design and
development projects and will also assist in future fighter development
programmes.
The air force has been looking at force enhancers. What mix of capability
enhancers are planned in coming years?
We already have three AWACS aircraft on the
IL-76 platform operational and a case for the procurement of two additional
AWACS is at CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security) approval stage. The flight
trials for indigenous AEW&C aircraft is in the final stages and the system
is likely to be inducted soon. Apart from these, DRDO has chalked out a roadmap
for development of indigenous AWACS on Airbus A330 platform and we expect the
first two indigenous AWACS to be inducted in the IAF by 2025. IAF was pursuing
the case for Flight Refueller Aircraft (FRA). After the withdrawal of RFP, we
are now exploring available options in order to ensure that this critical
capability is available to us in the earliest possible timeframe.
The Indian industry has some capacity to manufacture aerial bombs and other
ammunition domestically, would the air force look at them as a source?
Procurement of weapons has a recurring cost and
indigenisation in the field of weapons is one of the priorities of IAF. IAF is
closely involved in design and development of weapons undertaken by DRDO and we
also carry out flight trials of all these weapons. We have identified certain
weapons that can be designed and manufactured by the private sector.
One criticism is that the F-16 jets being offered to India are similar to
the ones being operated by Pakistan. Is this a matter of concern?
At present, there is no case for procurement of
the F-16 aircraft under process. However, the F-16 jets offered to India during
the bids for 126 MMRCA were more advanced than the versions being operated by
PAF. There are significant differences in the two variants and the one offered
to India by Lockheed Martin have superior capabilities. This was not a matter
of concern during the selection process.
Source :- Economic Times
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