For Immediate Release

www.capsindia.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12 November 2014 Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) P-284,Arjan Path, Subroto Park New Delhi-110010 IAF’s endeavour towards multi spectrum capabilities New Delhi, INDIA- 12 November 2014: The Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) organised the 11th Subroto Mukerjee Seminar on the 11th and 12th November 2014. The two-day seminar was based on the theme, “The Challenge of Air Power.” The highlights of the second day included: emphasis on ethos building in the armed forces, relevance of human resource training, geostrategic significance of the Indian Ocean Region and role of the IAF therein, nuclear strategies of China / Pakistan, India’s response to regional nuclear threats and capital intensive importance of firepower. The second day of the seminar was divided into two sessions. The theme for the first session was “The Importance of the Unsung.” Air Marshal LK Malhotra AVSM VSM (Retd), Distinguished Fellow, CAPS, chaired the session. The chair laid emphasis on ethos building, its need and integration in the formal training of defence personnel. The key panelists were: Air Vice Marshal Amit Aneja AVSM, VM, VSM (Retd) and Gp Capt Samir Chabra CPCO, 12 BRD. AVM Amit Aneja spoke on the relevance of human resource training and also its utmost significance in operations. While underlining leadership as an intangible quality in the human resource, he said, “It’s easy to make a professional officer but the difficult step is how you make an inspired soldier.” Gp Capt Samir Chabra made a presentation on “Good Logistics: The Lynchpin of Operations,” where he discussed in depth logistics engineering and management as key to success of operations. www.capsindia.org The theme of the second session was, “The Future.” Air Marshal VK Bhatia PVSM AVSM VrC* (Former AOC-in-C WAC, SWAC, CAC) chaired the session. The key panelists were: Dr Manpreet Sethi, Senior Fellow, CAPS, Air Marshal R K Dhir AVSM VM SASO, HQ SAC, Air Marshal NV Tyagi PVSM AVSM VM VSM (Retd), Distinguished Fellow, CAPS. Dr Manpreet Sethi spoke on the emerging nuclear & missile capabilities of China and Pakistan. Air Marshal R K Dhir spoke on the challenge of the Indian Ocean Region for the Indian Air Force. Air Marshal NV Tyagi made a presentation on “Core Competencies: Firepower v/s Budgeting.” The chair began with present developments in Iran and Syria and thereafter elaborated on the new application of Air Power in the upcoming scenarios. He highlighted the distinctive features of Air Power, which includes speed, reach, precision attack, 24X7 capability, less collateral damage as being key factors in preventing conflicts from escalating. The chair also elaborated on the threats from China and Pakistan and the IAF’s role in countering it. He also underlined the challenge for the IAF in attaining superior capabilities despite budgetary constraints. Dr Sethi analysed the nuclear strategies of China and Pakistan, followed by the present trends in the missile capabilities build-up in the region. She also elaborated on the challenges faced by India. According to Dr Sethi, the focus of Chinese missile capabilities is on the missile’s quality rather than the number of nuclear weapons. The emphasis is on the survivability, penetrability against BMD, and other means of asymmetric warfare like Cyber War. While speaking on Pakistan’s nuclear profile, she said that the country deliberately projects uncertain behavior to heighten nuclear danger. Its brinksmanship is based on uncertainty and projected irrationality. This stance reduces the risk of retaliation. The present trends in Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities are based on its fast growing arsenal, missile numbers and range. Later on, while discussing India’s response, she said that India should keep the following factors in mind: increasing numbers in missiles by Pakistan and China, a rethink on BMD, increasing accuracies in China and Pakistan’s missiles which can put survivability of Indian nuclear assets in danger, growing ambiguities in terms of dual use of missiles by both the countries and to reinforce wisdom of no first use. Air Marshal R K Dhir spoke on the challenge of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) for IAF. The speaker highlighted the geostrategic significance of IOR for India and China. It is the most important water www.capsindia.org body of the world where struggles of the 21st century will be seen. He also said that the growing competition between India and China could lead to conflict between the two emerging economies of Asia. Air Marshal NV Tyagi emphasised on the importance of firepower, however, it is capital intensive, more so for the aerial assets and how budget is a sensitive issue for defence. The valedictory address was given by Air Marshal K K Nohwar PVSM VM (Retd), Additional Director General, CAPS. Air Marshal Nohwar discussed the salient points of the two-day seminar. The seminar was yet another successful endeavour by CAPS to promote strategic issues and to bring the top experts from the various dimensions of defence and security, including Indian Air Force, Aero Space industry and national security on one platform. The two-day seminar concluded on a positive note. ##Ends## Note to Editors:- Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) was established in 2001 as an autonomous defence research and analysis body for studies, research and focused analyses of issues related to national security, defence, and aerospace issues in the evolving strategic and international security environment. Its objective is to facilitate greater understanding of these issues amongst the Armed Forces, the public and also improve policy generation and decision-making through research in such vital fields. Contact Information: CAPS MEDIA CELL Kriti Singh Associate Fellow Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) P-284, Arjan Path, Subroto Park, New Delhi-110010 Tele : 25699131, 25699132 Fax : 25682533 www.capsindia.org Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Website: www.capsindia.org .

Load more