Indian Air Force | Science & Technology for UPSC CSE PDF Download

History of the Indian Air Force

• 1948 - The First Campaign in J&K: The Indian Air Force (IAF) played a critical role during the first campaign in 1948 when Pakistan intruded into Jammu and Kashmir, effectively countering the intrusion.
• 1962 - Indo-China War: During the Indo-China war in 1962, air power was not effectively utilized by India, resulting in significant losses.
• 1965 - Indo-Pakistan War: In the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, the IAF used air power with some coordination issues, but still played an effective role.
• 1971 - Air Superiority in Bangladesh Liberation: In the 1971 war, India achieved complete air superiority, thanks to the presence of 12 to 14 F 86 Sabre aircraft. The IAF provided crucial helicopter support to overcome river-crossing challenges in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
• 1999 - Kargil War: The Kargil War in 1999 saw effective use of air power by the IAF. It marked the first instance of high-altitude, accurate weapon delivery, a significant achievement in the history of air power.

The Importance of Air Power

• Lethality of Air Power: Air power is now considered the most lethal component among the three armed services, offering flexibility, mobility, and precision in striking targets even thousands of miles away.
• Technological Evolution: Between 1999 and 2016, new technologies emerged and evolved, shifting the focus from the air force to airspace, emphasizing the need for modernization.
• Squadron Strength: While the goal is to have 42 or 44 squadrons, India currently has 33 squadrons. The retirement of 11 MIG-21 and MIG-27 squadrons by 2022 necessitates the replacement of aircraft, including the 36 Rafale aircraft, which requires training for engineers, pilots, and technicians.

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Need for Modernization

• Deriving from Future Threats: Modernization is essential to adapt to future threat perceptions.
• Two-Front War Doctrine: The evolving doctrine includes preparedness for a two-front war.
• Net-Centric Warfare: Adapting to net-centric warfare capabilities.
• Aerospace Focus: Preparing for an aerospace-oriented IAF to manage space assets effectively.
• Force Multipliers: Enhancing force with air-to-air refuelers.
• Airspace Protection: Ensuring high-level airspace protection.

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Concerns

• Slow Induction Rate: The rate of induction into the air force has been slow.
• MIG-21 Safety: The MIG-21 is accident-prone.
• Cost of Indigenous Aircraft: Developing aircraft indigenously has proven to be costly.
• Two-Front Threat: Managing the immediate threat from Pakistan and the long-term threat from China.
• Lack of Collaboration: A lack of collaboration between public sector undertakings (PSUs) and the private sector in relation to the air force.
• Expenditure: Concerns about the adequacy of allocated funds.
• Technology Emphasis: The need for advanced technology over quantity.
• Order Delays: Issues with the outflow of orders.
• CAG’s Audit Report (2019): Findings related to the acquisition process and pricing.

Issues Facing Numerical Adequacy

• Sanctioned Squadrons: Even with 42 squadrons, India's strength would be less than that of its two adversaries combined.
• Poor Decision-Making: Issues with decision-making, acquisition strategy, and quality control affecting IAF fleet strength.
• Budget Constraints: Serious constraints due to India's defense budget.
• Domestic Production Challenges: Challenges related to domestic defense production organizations and the balance between self-sufficiency and technological superiority.
• Tejas Aircraft: Challenges with the Tejas aircraft, both in terms of capability and delays.
• Aircraft Crashes: A significant number of combat aircraft have crashed in the last decade.

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Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas

• Tejas Overview: LCA Tejas is a single-engine lightweight multirole fighter jet designed to replace aging MiG-21 fighters.
• Manufacturer: Manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• Role: Primarily used for close air-to-ground operations.
• Induction: The first squadron of LCA Tejas, known as 'Flying Daggers,' was inducted into the IAF.
• Tejas Mark 2: An upgraded version with an elongated airframe, canards, new sensors, and a more powerful engine is expected to replace multiple strike fighters and is set to begin production in 2026.