IAF Chief opposed to late CDS’s Air Defence Command proposal

India currently has 19 operational commands, of which 17 are distributed between the Indian Army, Indian Navy and the IAF

Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari on Friday opposed creation of an Air Defence Command – as envisaged by former Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat – arguing that such a move would be counterproductive because air defence operations are inextricably linked with all offensive operations.

The opposition comes in the backdrop of Gen Rawat’s proposal of creating such a command, which if realiased, would have been the lone operational command under the IAF.

All other IAF commands would cease to exist as they would be integrated into five theatre commands that the late CDS had proposed.

“Creation of an AD Command may prove counterproductive because air defence operations are inextricably linked to counter air Operations and all offensive operations, as the success or failure of one, will dictate the demands on the other,” the IAF chief said, addressing a seminar here.

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“Air defence and offensive missions are interdependent and if executed in isolation, these would not only be disjointed but also ineffective in design or execution of the joint strategy.”

On combat jets that IAF would operate in future, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said the modern 4.5 and 5th generation aircraft have omni-role capability and to restrict those aircraft to any one role would lead to their underutilisation and loss of flexibility, one of the characteristics of air power.

India currently has 19 operational commands, out of which 17 are distributed between the Indian Army, Indian Navy and IAF. The remaining two are tri-service Andaman and Nicobar Command and Strategic Forces Command that comes under the Integrated Defence Staff.

One of the main tasks of Gen Rawat was to integrate the 17 commands and form five theatre commands. The IAF was to have the lone AD command while its other assets and infrastructure were to be merged with the theatre commands. Similarly the navy was to get a single Peninsular Command.

But IAF opposed the plan, noting that the air force was much more than being a mere “supporting arm” for the army, as described by Gen Rawat.

Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari’s predecessor in Vayu Bhawan Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria too was against the concept of having a single operational command under the IAF.

Addressing the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies seminar on Friday, the IAF chief also flagged the threats from UAVs operated by non-state actors.

“In view of the prevailing threat scenario in the country, utilization of sub-conventional aerial platforms by anti national elements, against our vital strategic and military installations cannot be ruled out,” he said.

Slow moving drones and their small radar signature also pose serious problems in detection and identification.

“The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has brought into focus the effectiveness of MANPADS (man portable air defence system) especially in urban and semi-urban areas,” the IAF chief added.