NEW DELHI: Setting off alarm bells about the country’s ability to tackle a combined threat from China and Pakistan, Indian Air Force vice chief Air Marshal BS Dhanoa on Thursday admitted the IAF did not have sufficient number of warplanes to fight a two-front war.
“Our numbers are not adequate to fully execute an air campaign in a two-front scenario,” said Dhanoa, drawing attention to the sharp reduction in India’s fighter fleet. The count of IAF’s fighter squadrons has shrunk to 33 compared to a desirable strength of 42, a capability gap the air force is struggling to fill.
It is rare for top military commanders to make such a startling public admission although Parliamentary panels have raised questions about India’s ability to fight the two adversaries at the same time – a worrying scenario the IAF describes as ‘Contingency-III’. “Probability of a two-front scenario is an appreciation you need to do. But are the numbers adequate? No. The squadrons are winding down,” said Dhanoa, who is in line to become the IAF chief on December 31, 2016.
The admission comes days before the IAF will carry out a firepower demonstration in Pokhran — the site of India’s first underground nuclear detonation — on March 18, a spectacle that will involve 181 planes, including 103 fighter jets. President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to witness exercise Iron Fist-2016, held every three years.
The only defence attaches not invited to witness the exercise, the tagline of which is ‘Demonstrating the Capability to Punish’, are from China and Pakistan. The IAF said it was a collective decision of the ministries of external affairs and defence to leave them out.
The IAF’s plans to scale up its capabilities have hit several hurdles, including a delay in the light combat aircraft (LCA) project, scrapping of a deal to buy 126 modern fighter jets, and no breakthrough in the Rafale purchase.