Viewpoint IAF
With progressive enhancement of capability and reach of aerial platforms, Air Power has become a primary component of military operations and not confined to merely a supporting role
Role of Indian Air Force In The Future The statement by the CDS regarding the role of the IAF being merely to support operations by the Indian Army, has been somewhat disconcerting for personnel across the spectrum in the IAF
Photograph: ADA
By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd) PERCEPTION OF THE ROLE OF AIR POWER In an interview of General Bipin Rawat, the incumbent Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) that was broadcast on India Today television channel on July 2 this year, one of the issues that was discussed was pertaining to the restructuring of the Indian Armed Forces by setting up of Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs). The exercise currently under way pertains to a major reform in the Indian Military, perhaps the biggest in the post-independence era and is planned to commence with the setting up of India’s first two inte-
16
ISSUE 7 • 2021
grated ITCs namely an Integrated Maritime Theatre Command based in Karwar and an Integrated Air Defence Command based in Allahabad. This is one of the major tasks that is being handled by General Bipin Rawat in his present tenure as the CDS. During the interview, while elaborating on the process of the formation of Integrated Theatre Commands that is planned to include all the three services, General Bipin Rawat described the role of the Indian Air Force (IAF) as being merely a “supporting arm” for the land forces and equating it with the Regiments of the Artillery or
www.sps-aviation.com
