The Indian Air Force was outraged when Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat recently referred to the force as “a supporting arm” of the military, specifically the Army. As a result, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria, responded, stating that the Air Force is more than just a support arm and plays a larger role.
What does Indian Army says about it ?
The Army’s point is that air power must support ground operations and cannot function independently. A bombing campaign cannot win a war on its own. It must be carried out in tandem with army ground operations. When it was used effectively—in 1947, 1971 and 1999—India’s military history shows that the IAF played a decisive role in the outcome of land battles. The Indian Army suffered a humiliating defeat when IAF fighters and bombers were kept out of the battle, as they were by the political executive during the 1962 Indo-China war. This was an astonishing lapse given that the IAF had one of Asia’s largest fighter jet forces, with over 500 fighter jets. The importance of the political executive in comprehending military power in all of its facets cannot be overstated.
Former Deputy Chief of Indian Army Staff Lt General Gurmeet Singh, commented on the ‘supporting arm’ remark, saying, “PM Modi announced the formation of the Chief of Defence Staff on August 15, 2019. On January 1, 2020, our CDS was appointed. In the military, integration and jointness are essential. As a result, there is no room for turf. That, I believe, should be clear.”
What does IAF says about it ?
Where CDS General Bipin Rawat said “IAF is just a supporting arm,” most of the IAF officials are not agree with him. “There was never any doubt about the need for change. We must definitely improve our joint war fighting capabilities. The type, shape, and size of the changes are being debated behind closed doors and now in the media. Last afternoon’s rant by our top military leader likely reveals his frustration with pushing an agenda through in a democratic setup like ours “Former Western Air Commander Air Marshal R Nambiar (Retd.) slammed the CDS for his comments about the Indian Air Force.
According to Air Vice-Marshal (Retd) Manmohan Bahadur, “The assertion that the Indian Air Force serves as a support arm for the other two services is incorrect and misleading. Because the Air Force , like the other two services, has unique characteristics that have been widely recognised in recent decades.”
Is IAF is really a supporting arm?
When discussing the Indian Air force (IAF), we must consider the fact that the IAF is merely a support arm for the Indian army or not. To learn more, consider the IAF’s contribution.
Today, air power is the most lethal of the three services. The adaptability and mobility, as well as the precision in striking targets thousands of miles away . From 1999 to 2016, new technologies have emerged, evolved and changed. It is not the air force but the air space we are looking at. In 1962 Indo-China war air power was not used. So the loss was ours. In 1965 Indo-Pakistan war air power was used with little less coordination, but they played an effective role. In 1971 India had complete air superiority because we have 12 to 14 F 86 Sabre’s which made a difference. In East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) there are many tributaries of small rivers. Crossing these rivers was a problematic area. This was overcome by the IAF, providing a huge amount of helicopter support. In 1999 Kargil war, there was effective use of air power. This was first time in the history of air power that weaponry was delivered from high altitudes and with accuracy. No other air force in the world had done before which was a tremendous achievement for IAF.
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Issues faced by IAF
Even if the Air Force receives the sanctioned 42 squadrons, India’s strength will be “less than our two adversaries’ combined strength.”Poor decision-making, poor acquisition strategy, and shoddy quality control and contract delivery have all hampered the IAF’s fleet strength.It is hampered by severe constraints on India’s defence budget, the meagre achievements of the country’s domestic development organizations, and India’s inability to reconcile the need for self-sufficiency in defence production with the need to maintain technological superiority over competitors. While our response to technological challenges determines the’shape’ of things to come, maintenance challenges determine how long things last and how cost-effective they are. ‘Maintenance,’ which includes logistical issues, is therefore critical. IAF is proactive in this regard, having energised interactions with vendors and entering into “long-term spares and repair contracts.” We’ve also made our materials management and equipment accounting systems available online.
Conclusion
Military power has grown in importance as security concerns have spread beyond national borders. Aerospace power is futuristic and becoming more useful. The IAF has come a long way and proven its professionalism, and the world has recognised it. A strong and professional IAF can contribute to national options as well as peace and stability in the country and region. It is widely believed that the IAF, with its current capabilities and plans, has the potential to have a significant impact on future postures. As a result, the IAF must expand in tandem with the nation.
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