On Alert !
Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria in his office at Vayu Bhawan (photo from The Hindu)
In the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, Chief of the Air Staff IAF interviewed with select Indian media, both print and electronic on 18 May 2020. Not surprisingly the first questions were focused on the IAF’s status during the pandemic, and as to how the service was affected operationally.
As reported by Sushant Singh of the Indian Express, the CAS stated that the IAF’s operational capability has not been degraded at all. “Air defence alert has continued unabated while our transport and helicopter fleets have been working throughout the lockdown period to handle COVID-related tasks, support to state administration and government agencies, as well as air maintenance tasks to support the Army in forward areas. Training and operational methodology was reviewed to ensure segregation of combat crew and preservation of resources.
Our plans were initiated proactively catering to force preservation through travel protocols, mandatory quarantine for vulnerable categories and minimising exposure. We took precautions and preventive measures as early as February, such as preparing isolation and quarantine centres. By March, we had established quarantine facilities in nine locations across India with a capacity of 1,650 personnel. Crisis Management Centres were established at all levels and a corona helpline for IAF personnel has been functional since beginning of March. The IAF remains fully engaged in the collective national effort and has been continuously shouldering tasks as part of Mission Lifeline Udaan and Op Sanjeevani”.
IAF C-130J Super Hercules
Still, answering the question by Rajat Pandit of The Times of India, on indications that the defence budget was being reduced, the CAS agreed that “the capping of government expenditure will affect us. But we are looking at ways to mitigate the impact by prioritising our critical requirements. We are putting measures in place to curtail our revenue budget by about 20-25%. On capital expenditure, we are looking at reorganising our plans based on actual budget availability”.
Specifically on the critical matter of new fighters for the Indian Air Force, the CAS was clear that with the renewed emphasis on ‘Make in India’, the highest priority was on the contract for 83 LCA Mk.1As along with indigenous high tech weapons including air-to-air missiles and long range precision guided munitions. These would follow the earlier deals for 40 LCA Mk.1s.
A single squadron of the IAF is presently equipped with the LCA Mk.1 (photo by Deb Rana)
The LCA Mk.II and the ambitious fifth generation plus AMCA programme were part of the IAF’s longer term induction plan, with some six squadrons of the former and a similar number of the latter being mentioned. Importantly, the CAS emphasised that in parallel, some 114 numbers of a multi-role fighter aircraft (MRFA) would be required, as this is to be considered under a separate category in terms of performance and technology, with “transfer and absorption of technology as well complete manufacture in India to be ensured …which will energise the indigenous industry, particularly for the AMCA programme”.
Model of the AMCA
Induction of the first Rafales for the IAF was addressed, the CAS accepting that initial delivery “has been delayed by about two months due to break in training and supply chain disruptions …. The first four are likely to come to India by end of July and delivery of subsequent fighters will follow with current delays to be mitigated in future deliveries”.
The IAF’s first batch of Rafales are still in France (image by Cedric Guerre)
As for the matter of Sukhoi Su-30MKI upgrade, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria stated that “the IAF is in detailed discussions with HAL as well as the OEM for finalising an upgrade plan”.
Inevitably, the question of the IAF attaining its target of 42 fighter squadrons was raised to which the CAS replied “the squadron strength is a force structure issue and depends on a host of factors. We cannot lose sight of the developments in the North and West; with both our adversaries continuously increasing and upgrading their inventories. As part of its long-term perspective plan, IAF plans to increase its squadron strength in a pragmatic manner leveraging the Make in India initiative”.
On force multipliers, the CAS
confirmed that “the case for two additional AWACS is being processed … the FRA
project has been analysed de novo and various options are being considered”.
HTT-40 photographed by Basani Satish Kumar
The good news for HAL and its design & development efforts is that HAL’s turboprop trainer will be the only one to be ordered by the IAF, the CAS confirming that “the trainer plan has been completely shifted to the HTT-40”, with orders for 70 of this type to be placed, which will serve alongside a similar number of Pilatus PC-7 Mk.IIs imported from the Swiss some years back even as HAL was striving to develop its basic turbo prop trainer.