Lack fighters for ‘2-front’ war, says Indian Air Force

The number of IAF fighter squadrons are set to drop with the phasing out of old planes.

In a major admission, the Indian Air Force said Thursday it simply didn’t have adequate fighter planes to launch a full-fledged air campaign in case of a two-front war, an euphemism for the theoretical possibility of a joint Sino-Pakistani attack on India. The IAF has been desperately seeking the induction of new fighter jets like the Rafale but the MMRCA acquisition has been delayed for years.

The number of IAF fighter squadrons are set to drop with the phasing out of old planes like the MiG-21. To make things worse, the induction of the Tejas, the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, has been delayed as well. The sanctioned strength of IAF fighter squadrons should be 42, but it is only 33 at present.

On Thursday, speaking a few days before a massive IAF firepower demonstration in the western desert area of Pokhran, IAF vice-chief Air Marshal B.S. Dhanoa, who is likely to be the next IAF chief, said: “Our numbers are not adequate to fully execute an air campaign in a two-front scenario... Are the numbers adequate No. The squadrons are winding down. We have given our concerns to the government. (It) is seized of this problem, and the reason the government signed the deal for 36 aircraft (Rafale) on a government-to-government basis is the urgency it felt because of the depletion in squadron numbers.”

IAF officers said the defence and external affairs ministries had decided, after consultations, that Pakistani and Chinese air attaches posted in New Delhi will not be invited to attend the firepower demonstration at Pokhran on March 18, that is organised once every three years.

The IAF vice-chief also said the proposed acquisition of F-16 aircraft by Pakistan from the US would not alter the balance of air power in the subcontinent but will make it “more difficult” for India to maintain air supremacy. “I have to put more hi-tech platforms against it. MMRCA is designed in such a way that we need to offset this capability,” he said.

Defence observers note that the IAF show of strength at Pokhran, designed to project “the capability to punish” an aggressor, will send a clear signal to Pakistan about the strength of the Indian deterrent capability. In fact, the IAF vice-chief said events like the Kargil conflict happened whenever the adversary (Pakistan) developed doubts on the strength of Indian deterrence. “When does war, conflict or adventure (Kargil) take place It takes place when he (adversary) has a doubt (about) your deterrence. If you demonstrate your deterrence, we should have peace as he will know that he will be hit very badly,” Air Marshal Dhanoa added.

Sources, meanwhile, pointed out there was no immediate danger or prospect of any two-front war since China was focusing elsewhere and not showing any aggressive intent on air power vis-à-vis India but the possibility of a two-front scenario some time in the future is something Indian strategic planners will always factor in. Tags: fighter aircraft, iaf, two-front war