AIR CHIEF MARSHAL ARUP RAHA, in an exclusive interview with Geopolitics, highlights a road-map for induction of Fighter aircraft in the IAF with an aim to build up to the sanctioned strength of 42 fighter squadrons at the earliest.
IAF is entering its 85th year. What is your vision for the IAF’s capabilities and fleet for the future, say by 2030 and 2050? What are the current and future challenges and threats that IAF has to prepare itself to tackle?
Threat and security assessment is a natural and ongoing process for a country to ensure its national security. We are enhancing our capability to meet various multi-dimensional threats that we may have to address in the future. The Indian Air Force today stands at the threshold of acquiring multi-spectrum strategic capabilities, synonymous with India’s growing regional stature and expanding national interests and is progressively nearing its goal of transforming into a true Network Centric Aerospace Force.
Our modernisation plan and infrastructure development is in sync with our endeavour to retain a ‘Combat and Capability Edge’. IAF’s focus has never been country specific. Our current force levels are being used optimally and we have optimised our force application plans with existing resources and are fully capable of conducting all envisaged air campaigns, both in peace and in war.
This story is from the October 2016 edition of Geopolitics.
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This story is from the October 2016 edition of Geopolitics.
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