FORCE MULTIPLIERS – ACTION UNFOLDING INDIA

Force multipliers play an undeniable role in amplifying air dominance, demanding continued investment and strategic implementation

- AIR MARSHAL ANIL CHOPRA

IN REAL LIFE, A LEVER OR A WEDGE IS CONSIDERED A FORCE multiplier, because it increases the amount of force you can place on an object. In military, a force multiplier is a factor or a combination of factors that gives personnel or weapons (or other hardware) the ability to accomplish greater feats than without it. The force multipliers are those platforms that may not be directly involved in kinetic combat but greatly support those that actually are. These could mean platforms involved in Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) and Flight Refuelling Aircraft (FRA). Even an Electronic warfare (EW) aircraft can be a force multiplier. These platforms are an important part of the Observe, Orient, Decide, Act (OODA) loop. The information flow in the concept of network-centric warfare (NCW) is also a force multiplier. The moral and perpetual optimism of the forces is a major force multiplier. Therefore, psychological and information warfare have become important. For navies, aircraft carrier is a significant force multiplier. All major air forces of the world, including Indian Air Force (IAF) invest in force multipliers to enhance operational capability. This article will restrict itself to airborne force multiplier platforms and their status in IAF.

AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING AND CONTROL