Indian Airforce: Futuristic challenges and way forward

Indian Air Force celebrates its 92nd anniversary on 8th October. The IAF was formed on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the British Empire. On 1 April 1933, the IAF commissioned its first squadron, No.1 Squadron, with four Westland Wapiti biplanes, five Indian pilots, and 19 airmen.

- MAJ. GEN. J.K.S. PARIHAR

Since then, the 92-year glorious journey of the Indian Air Force has witnessed great success in the independence era including spectacular and magnificent performances in all wars fought against Pakistan and China. The Air Force has transformed itself into a most versatile, efficient, and competent air power all over the world. The IAF is undergoing a massive transformation as a part of a theaterization process of the Indian armed forces. The IAF has to gear up to meet the challenges of the changing global scenario, including the essential need for air dominance in modern warfare as well as futuristic challenges of Cyber, AI, and space warfare. Hence, the present doctrine of the Indian Air Force has to be redefined to translate the air force from just an air defence arm of the Indian military to a complex and composite aerospace force. In addition to the growing challenges of the explosion of Technology in Modern Warfare, the Indian Air Force has to maintain pace with the growing military power of adjoining nuclear power-equipped Pakistan and China. The Air Force has to take up the challenges of safeguarding India's interest in the reason of Indian Ocean, the east and west coasts of the Indian peninsula, the Andaman Nicobar as well as in Asia Pacific reason. Undoubtedly the present infrastructure including manpower, number of fighting Squadron, transport, and quality of aircraft, surveillance devices, space dominating radar systems needs to be upgraded to the level of futuristic challenges as envisaged by 2050. The Chinese People's Liberation Army has already drafted its plan and doctrine to upgrade its armed forces by 2050 as the world's largest and most powerful military surpassing the US armed forces.