IAF Chief stresses need for strong air defence system

New Delhi, July 15

Events occurring post the February 2019 Balakot air strike have changed the concept of sanctity of air space and further underlined the need for a credible air defence, Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said during a seminar at the think-tank Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS).

The enemy air and missile forces will be fired from stand-off ranges and adversely affect the progress of land or maritime battles. Therefore, the control of air will remain paramount for the success of any operation, he said.

An integrated air defence system includes defence and offence. Integrated sensors, communication networks and shooters are a part of it. Today, IAF has the ability to monitor and identify all air elements.

“The IAF has a terrestrial network and with the induction of ‘software defined radio’, the airborne platforms will also be fully networked. Work is on to integrate the space segment to have a truly networked air defence system. With space as the ultimate high ground, holding, securing and exploiting space will be critical in the years to come,” he said.

The amalgamation of terrestrial, aerial and space domains to a common network would be a fundamental requirement of modern war fighting, he said.