Phalcon A50 AWACS (Photo: Angad Singh)
Although the concept of ‘Force Multipliers’ is not new at all, there is renewed emphasis for this in the Indian context. The Indian Air Force has been suffering from dwindling number of fighter squadrons as it transits to an all fourth-gen fighter force, with the fifth generation still somewhat far away. As the Indian Air Force has less and less kinetic platforms in its inventory, it becomes imperative to utilise those available to their maximum potential. In a modern battlefield, the efficacy of a platform can be enhanced by using the so-called forcemultipliers, systems and procedures that increase on-station time, provide greater output, and get more ‘bang for buck’ from the kinetic options. The Indian Air Force has obviously been working on this aspect for some time, with earlier options initially imported and now indigenous work going on also for the future.
Air-to-Air Refuelling
One of the most important, and possibly the least tech intensive (compared to others) option, is a straight forward air-to-air (AAR) refuelling platform. An AAR platform increases the range of a fighter or a transport aircraft and even heavy helicopters and in turn increases the weapon coverage area/combat radius carried by them. It also allows the platform to stay airborne longer and carry increased payloads at take-off. One of the longest quests of IAF has been to acquire an AAR system to complement –and maybe later replace – the older Ilyushin Il-78MKIs. Two renditions of the AAR programme have been finalised and then were cancelled by IAF, both involving the Airbus A330MRTT. The third iteration of this quest has the IAF now specifying as requiring only two engines on the tankers, thus removing the chance for more Il-78s. fter failing to get them for last 14 years owing to repeated pricing issues, a new idea is floating around, to actually lease the required platforms as a temporary solution. Falling fighter numbers are a big concern, but if the IAF could keep more of them on station for a longer time using AAR, they could extract more utility out of present inventory.
Command, Control, Communications & Intelligence
Technically AWACS/AEW&C are also part of C3I, but we will discuss those separately. C3I is absolutely imperative to take charge in a theatre, having a total picture of the battlefield and effectively managing own assets for maximum utility. A good example of effective C3I was during the aerial part of Iraq war, where Coalition forces had different type of assets with different capabilities but were effectively managed to totally dominate the airspace. Like the American E-8 JSTARS, India too is also planning to acquire an ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition Radar) platform for IAF. This first bid in 2017 was made to acquire 2 off the shelf ISTAR platforms from Raytheon for $1billion, but was not finalised. Reports came, days before the Balakot strike, that the programme was resurrected in 2019 and now the scope included one platform to be acquired from US and 4 more built in India under US-India DTTI (Defence Technology & Trade Initiative) with the US side helping India develop this. At DefExpo 2020, first renditions were shown, also revealing that of the four India-made platforms, 3 will be for the IAF and 1 would go to the NTRO (see image). Like JSTARs, these are also planned to help in battlefield management, ground surveillance and command and control.
(Photo: PSC/Vayu)
DRDO/CABS proposed AWACS using the Airbus A330 platform (Photo: Vayu)
Airborne Early Warning and Control
Information is key, and is much more so on the battlefield. The fog of war can be dangerous, but the beacons here are AEW&C aircraft. 27 February 2019 serves as a good learning experience for the IAF with its Netra aircraft and the ground-based radars that make up the IACCS. A riposte by the PAF, in form of Op Swift Retort, was thwarted owing to the information provided by an on-station Netra AWE&C aircraft. These two capabilities expand by several orders of magnitude the ability to monitor and predict the scale and direction of an enemy attack. Without an AEW&C capability, interception before weapons release might not be possible. These airborne platforms cover gaps in ground based network and can be preemptively positioned to important locations based on prior inputs or traffic detected. The Indian Air Force currently operates three A.50 Phalcon AWACS (with two more to be contracted for about $1billion) and 2 DRDO-Embraer Netra AEW&C aircraft. The DRDO is also working on an AWACS (I), as they call it, system based on the Airbus A330 widebody jet platform and a concept AWE&C on the C295 platform (if the deal ever finalises). Following the Balakot strike, and utility of Netra in the following air skirmishes, has revealed how important these platform, they are in fact force multipliers. There were reports that the IAF is seriously considering ordering more Netras.
DRDO-Embraer Netra AEW&C flanked by two Su-30MKI’s (photo: Phil Camp)
Electronic Warfare
The element of surprise is one of the basic tenets of warfare, and in aerial warfare this become vital. With multi-powered radars tracking everything, air forces try to reduce this advantage from the adversary and EW becomes even more important in an offensive. Effectively blinding the enemy is like dealing with a handicapped one and gives one unquestionable advantages. The Balakot strikes and OP Swift Retort once again focussed on the need for EW. The effect of jamming on Indian planes was also seen in the conflict, reinforcing an old demand of SDRs to be equipped on Indian planes to prevent such future instances. The IAF too jammed Pakistani radars before delivering payload on the 26th early hours. EW includes many aspects not limited to ELINT, jamming enemy radars and comms, but protecting one’s own assets against such offensive jamming and so on. The IAF has multiple levels of EW systems and similarly has to deal with these at multiple levels. Strategically we have an aging Boeing 707, Gulfstream/ Astras, Bombardiers for SIGINT/ELINT operations by the ARC. Their numbers are very limited compared to what the PLAAF fields, with the situation further complicated by “two front war” scenario. The PLAAF has several SIGINT/ELINT/EW platforms based on its indigenous Y-8/Y-9 platforms. At a more tactical level, some of the IAF’s fighters are equipped with SPJ and EW suites but more work is required. The IAF is working on getting a locally developed SPJ for the Su-30MKIs even as it has just inducted Rafales with state-of-the-art EW suites. India’s regional adversaries are investing much in this field, with both the PLAAF and PAF making significant progress which could possibly be very far ahead in terms of dedicated platforms. This advantage also trickles down to the PAF as concern EW capabilities for its mainstay JF-17 Thunders.
Safran’s AASM Hammer
Stand-Off and PGMs
Stand-off weapons allow own air assets to deliver payloads without entering enemy airspace, thus keeping them away from harm’s way. Long range weaponry can interdict enemy supply routes and infrastructure, severe the lines of communication, raise the cost of war to a surgical degree without need to employ strategic missiles. The much talked about BVRAAM ‘gap’, which remained in favour of the IAF till the early 2000s, has seen a shift to the 1adversary’s side. The IAF has been catching up with development of an indigenous Astra BVRAAM on multiple platforms besides the ‘game-changing’ Meteor on Rafales. The IAF already has a host of PGMs such as Paveways, Spice 2000 and possibly Hammers in the offing, with the DRDO also developing SAAW with a range of 100 kms which will enhance the inventory. The integration of BrahMos-A with the Su-30MKI, induction of SCALP ALCM in the IAF with an unparalleled ability in the region, striking deep without possible interdiction of the launch platform. There are other force multipliers such as military satellites and UAVs, which certainly endow an increase ISR capabilities of a force, plus UCAVs which provide long range precision strikes on HVTs. Swarm UAVs are coming and were most recently seen when the Aramco facility was attacked in 2019, utilising a mix of swarm drones and missiles to conduct a saturation strike against Saudi defences. Another UAV concept, the Loyal Wingman is in evolution at HAL, being an UCAV coupled with a manned fighter, allowing a single pilot to command more ordinance than his own aircraft can carry. The IAF has an interesting future ahead with local development, and upcoming induction of many new systems increasing command of the IAF in theatres it will fight in, making the force more aware, network centric and a more cooperative one. That is the only way to maximise utility of the assets it has and somewhat make up for in falling fighter numbers.
Shwetabh Singh (Twitter @singhshwetabh71)