BRIDGING THE GAP IN THE SKIES

Ministry of Defence sets up a committee to address gaps within the Indian Air Force with a focus on Fighter Jet Squadrons UCAVs

- MANISH KUMAR JHA

THE INDIAN AIR FORCE (IAF) IS CURRENTLY GRAPPLING WITH significant challenges concerning its fighter jet squadrons, leading the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to set up a high-level committee to address the crisis. The IAF, which plays a pivotal role in safeguarding India's airspace and military interests, faces a shortage of fighter jets and an increasing need to modernise its fleet. With a rapidly changing security environment, the situation has reached a critical point, and the MoD's intervention underscores the urgency of the matter.

THE COUNTER-ATTACK CAPABILITY

How do the forces measure their capability? The very question of capability is based on the ability to not only counter the adversaries' capabilities but also be able to launch an offensive thereafter. While it pertains to all services, the IAF has geared up to address its gaps which is certainly a step in the right direction.

A look at China's growing defence exports to Pakistan and Bangladesh reflects its increasing influence in South Asia. While IAF does boost India's superior and advanced air-defence systems like the S-400 and a good combination of Su-30 MKI and Rafale among others, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF)'s purchase order of 40 J-35 jets from China, is adding equal firepower which designed for both air superiority and strike missions. China has also forayed into next-generation air defence systems as per from the variety of combat jets and UAVs/UCVs. Recently, China's Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation launched the FK-4000 mobile air defence weapons system which uses high-power microwaves (HPM) to intercept the smallest, lightest drones down to micro unmanned aerial aircraft.