Indian Air Force To Gain Global Combat Ability: Fali Major

Indian Air Force To Gain Global Combat Ability: Fali Major
Indicating that an Aerospace Command will take shape soon to give India means to exploit its space assets for military purposes, new Air Force chief Fali Homi Major on Monday said IAF has chalked out a plan to give it a truly global combat reach.
In his maiden interaction with the media after taking over as the Air Chief on March 31, he said a time-bound plan was already underway to induct top-of-the-shelf fighters, force multipliers and other strategic assets to help the force on its way to have worldwide reach.
Denying that delay in floating international tenders for purchase of 126 Medium Range Combat Aircraft could hit the country's defence preparedness, Fali Major said that all threat perceptions in the present geo-political scenario around the country has been 'catered to.'
Saying that the RFP for the fighters will be out soon, the Air Chief said the tenders involved certain complex issue like life cycle costs, transfer of technology and framing of integrity pact, which was being worked out.
"It is for the first time that IAF as well as Ministry of Defence has come up with concepts like life cycle costs. So it is taking a little longer," he said. But, he asserted that IAF was going in for upgradation of its top-of-the-shelf fighters like Mig-29 and Mirage 2000 to ensure the country's air power retained the cutting edge in the region in the meantime.
Along with purchase of fighters, Major said IAF was in various stages of acquiring more radar, surveillance platforms and other strategic assets. On Aerospace command, like his two predecessors, the new Air Chief pointed to it as an 'urgent requirement' and said he would pursue the concept with the government.
"It will be a Tri-service command, with the Air Force having the lead role as it is the force, which would operate space-based assets being planned and being inducted," he said. "As the geo-political environment changes and as we induct newer systems, it is our endeavour to re-orient our minds and adapt our doctrines to keep pace," he said.
On the proposed collaboration with Russia for the 5th generation fighters, Major said the concepts were still on drawing board stage and would take about ten years more. IAF, he said, along with boosting up its fighter squadron strength was also going in for upgrading the numbers of medium lift helicopters as well as transport aircraft.
"A RFP on government to government basis is almost finalised for setting up the first ever squadron of C-130J Hercules transport aircraft for the special forces," he said. Admitting that their were gaps in the country's radar coverage specially in the peninsular regions in the South, he said major plans were underway to acquire different kinds of radar to set up a comprehensive radar coverage of the entire peninsular India.
Asked if the IAF will acquire high altitude gunships against insurgents, Major said IAF had the power and means to carry out such mission, but it was for the government to determine whether or not to use air power against terrorists.
While admitting that IAF assets like helicopters and transport aircraft were being used to ferry paramilitary forces for anti-insurgent and anti-Naxalite operations, the new Air Chief termed these as 'security missions' for which IAF is tasked for. Turning to flight safety, the new Air Chief said in 2006-07, IAF had achieved the lowest accident rate of 0.36 per cent since its inception.
Patting the Directorate of Flight Safety for this, Major attributed the fall in accident rate to modifications in flying technique, framing better work ethos, carrying out better analysis of snags and framing better training pattern for pilots. Flying safely is our utmost concern, Major said, adding, "At every step, we must strive to fly hard, fly well and fly safe."