MEETING NEW AIR AND MISSILE THREATS

The Indian Air Force has begun substantial modernisation of its strategic air defences. But while progress has undoubtedly been made, strategic SAM defences remain weak, writes SANJAY BADRI MAHARAJ

- SANJAY BADRI MAHARAJ

There has been a multi-dimensional development of air risk confronting India and specifically the AAD. This has occurred after some time and has two basic angles. The first of these is the variety of aerial threats that have emerged. Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters as major air threats have been joined by a multi-dimensional strike punch comprising attack helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Systems/Vehicles (UAS/ UAVs), tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, Precision-Guided Munitions (PGMs), AntiRadiation Missiles (ARMs) and now the soft-kill weapons.

The other vertical is the spatial development of the risk in the entirety of its three measurements of range, altitude profile, and hours of operation. In the mid-seventies, when the air risk was indicted primarily at a relatively short range and defenses utilising generally short-range weapons such as guns and a small stockpile of unguided rockets and missiles, were the principal threat. Today, the capacity is to hit in-depth with accuracy and precision from long ranges and several miles from the protector's visual space. In addition, improvements in the sensors of attack aircraft have enabled an attacker to strike at any time – day or night.

Analysis of ground-based air defences requires thorough scrutiny of the adversary. Any air threat now comprises the following major categories:

• Manned Air Breathing Targets (ABT)

• Ballistic Missiles (BMs)

• Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

Manned air Breathing Targets (ABT)