NO DEFENCE PART 1 AIR FORCE - ‘Coercion? God forbid, if something happens...’

IN 2001, when India mobilised troops on its western border after the attack on Parliament, the biggest worry at Air Headquarters was numbers. With lack of replacements depleting the fighter squadron strength, Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy, who had just taken charge, was concerned that the fighter numbers were probably not adequate. All he wanted was to “keep the existing fleet going”.

Seven years down the line, as India again talks about coercive diplomacy after the Mumbai terror attacks, the situation has worsened, especially in the IAF which is grappling with delays in procurement, bureaucratic wrangles and bad planning.

“Where is this talk about coercion when you cannot defend? When your defences are weak, what are you going to coerce with?” asks Krishnaswamy.

The former Air Chief has reason to be angry. Consider this: the squadron strength of the IAF is at an all time low with only 32 fighter units operational. The only new acquisition since 2001 has been three squadrons of the Su-30 MKI. All other programmes, including a deal to purchase 126 fighters and the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme, will take at least five years to fructify before new aircraft enter service. While it has been argued that with the induction of multi-role fighters, numbers can be cut down by replacing older generation aircraft with technologically superior fighters, the IAF maintains there can be no replacement for sheer force levels.

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