TO BE CIRCULATED WITH THE ECONOMIC TIMES (SELECT RUN), DELHI, MUMBAI, BENGALURU, HYDERABAD ADVERTORIAL AND PROMOTIONAL FEATURE OCTOBER 2018 IAF: GOING STRONG@86 INDIAN AIR FORCE DAY SPECIAL FrontInsideCover_AdETADR.qxd 10/5/2018 6:32 PM Page 1 1-content.qxd 10/3/2018 8:00 PM Page 3 CONTENTS AIF: GOING STRONG @ 86 02 As India celebrates 86 years of Indian Air Force (October 8), here’s a peek into how A TIMES OF INDIA PRESENTATION the force has transformed itself into the nation’s powerful and strategic force l MANAGING EDITOR VISHESH PRAKASH l EDITORIAL COORDINATOR POOJA MADHOK l EDITORIAL TEAM DIPIKA RATHI BIJIN JOSE l CHIEF GRAPHIC EDITOR MUKESH ARORA l DESIGN TEAM MAHESH BISHT, DINESH VIST, SUSHIL DUBEY POWERFUL, TOGETHER IAF: WHAT LIES AHEAD? 27 MARKETING Maritime security in the l NATIONAL VERTICAL HEAD 06 SHWETA ARORA IAF has had a rapid IOR can only be [email protected] transformation from being achieved if all three l PROJECT COORDINATOR PRACHI BAJAJ largely a tactical air force to a defence forces work in [email protected] strategic force, with significant an integrated manner l PRODUCTION COORDINATION expeditionary capability MUKESH MALIK UTTAM ACHARYA Published by: Rajeev Yadav for the proprietors, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd., at Times House, 7 B.S.Z. Marg, New Delhi and printed by him at Amar Ujala Publications Ltd., C - 21 & 22, Sector - 59, Noida - 201301, (UP) - India All rights reserved with M/s Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Reproduction, in whole or part, without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Infringement of any of the above conditions can lead to civil and criminal prosecutions. DISCLAIMER: FOSTERING DEFENCE Great care has been taken in the compilation and validation of information, 11 TECHNOLOGIES THROUGH and every effort has been made to ensure INNOVATION that all information is up-to-date at the TECHNOLOGY AND time of going to press. The publishers are The emerging threats that the not responsible for errors, if any, and their 23 DEFINITION OF IPR consequences. global defence innovation 2018 Copyright © Bennett, landscape is expanding with IPR is the main ingredient Coleman & Co. Ltd enables technologies having to establish the vibrant Pictures used in the magazine are for eco-system of MSMEs in representational purposes only. potential to cause disruptive effects on military capabilities the aerospace industry INDIAN DEFENCE 20 EQUIPMENT FOR COMBAT READINESS Indian Air Force looks forward to Make in India project to make India self-reliant in DIAL A DRONE manufacturing defence equipment for combat 16 Drones will become an readiness indispensable element of the New India. For now, the nation needs to open newer skies 2-5-AirForceDayCover_Story_4.qxd 10/3/2018 12:42 PM Page 2 COVER STORY IAF: GOING STRONG@86 As India celebrates 86 years of Indian Air Force, here’s a peek into how the force has transformed itself into the most powerful and strategic force [email protected] network-centric operations and its strategic reach is expanding by leaps and bounds. his year, the Indian Air Force (IAF) The Indian Air Force came into being on celebrates its 86 years of existence. October 8, 1938. The beginnings were TThe historic IAF is transforming itself modest with six officers, five pilots, an into a modern high-tech and strategic force. equipment officer and 19 air soldiers. Over With its foresight and penchant for strategic the years, the IAF has grown into an entity innovation, IAF is tipped to become a potent with around 1.40 lakh personnel and and formidable force in the next ten years. counting. IAF has a legacy of its own and occupies The trajectory of IAF is one of valour and an admirable position in the international perseverance. The force has braved its way arena. A modern-era force, it can fight in any through several imminent threats to the 2 | ET Aviation & Defence | October 2018 2-5-AirForceDayCover_Story_4.qxd 10/3/2018 12:42 PM Page 3 INDIAN AIR FORCE: From strength to strength The Indian Air Force came into being on October 8, 1938. The beginnings were modest with six officers, five pilots, an equipment officer and 19 air soldiers. Over the years, the IAF has grown into an entity with around 1.40 lakh personnel IAF which is also known as the Bharatiya Vayu Sena is vigilant and actively work towards the protection of the Indian aerospace. The IAF presently ranks fourth in the world among powerful air forces At present, there are 31 combat squadrons with each having about 18 aircraft. The IAF is inducting modern warfare technology at a brisk pace and plans to procure multi-role combat fighters for its fleet in the national security. Ever since its THE FUTURE BELONGS TO IAF coming years inception, the IAF has undergone The recent exercise, ‘Gagan Shakti 2018’, tremendous expansion and proved that the future belongs to air- advancement both in technology and borne operations. India’s Exclusive expertise. Economic Zone encompasses an area of IAF which is also known as the about 2.02 million sq km, which is very ‘Bharatiya Vayu Sena’ is vigilant and rich and resourceful and the contribution actively works towards the protection of of IAF will be paramount. the Indian Aerospace. The IAF “The Indian Air Force is certainly going presently ranks fourth in the world forward. Technologies are being among powerful air forces. At present, inducted, but the modernisation part is there are 31 combat squadrons with all about the government providing the each having about 18 aircraft. The Indian Air Force is inducting modern warfare technology at a brisk pace, however, at present it is reeling under severe shortage of fighter aircrafts. However, this has not deterred the IAF which is determined to procure more multi-role combat fighter for its fleet in the coming years. In September, IAF Chief Air Marshal BS Dhanoa highlighted the need to scale the number up to 42 squadrons. This, according to Dhanoa, was needed to match the forces of India’s nuclear- powered neighbours, namely Pakistan and China. The 42 squadron is crucial to fight a two-front war. October 2018 | ET Aviation & Defence | 3 2-5-AirForceDayCover_Story_4.qxd 10/3/2018 12:42 PM Page 4 The Indian Air Force is certainly moving ahead with much greater force. New technologies are being inducted at every level. But the modernisation part is all about the government providing the requisite finances to move at a rate at which the Indian Air Force wishes to move requisite finances to move in a rate at safety and security here, the Indian Air squadrons against the sanctioned 41. which the Indian Air Force wishes to Force will have a major role to play,” The Air Force is innovative and in the move. In my opinion, that is very slow. explained Major General (retired) AK recent Gagan Shakti 2018, it has shown Indian Air Force is grappling with the Chaturvedi. that it is capable of taking care of two- problem of obsolescence and reducing According to Maj Gen Chaturvedi, front war with its existing force. “If you force level, simply because the China is presently showing a lot of want a stronger air force, you will have government has not provided adequate interest in the Indian Ocean. It has to work towards tackling the delay in finances. There, I think is a mismatch deployed submarines, and has also set procurement of fighter jets. IAF needs between India-China and India- up the Yulin Naval Base in Hainan 36 squadrons and 110 more aircrafts to Pakistan. Otherwise in terms of Island, which lies in the South China operate effectively. Moreover, Make in operational capabilities and Sea. China is showing its might, it has India capability has to improve,” international exposure, technology, I created a base in Djibouti, Gwadar stressed Maj Gen Chaturvedi. feel we are doing quite well. We are (Pakistan), and is closer to creating gradually inducting latest technology, another base in Jiwani, Pakistan. TOWARDS THE FUTURE there is exposure as we are constantly “With all these developments, the Although there have been clamour working with the other forces. I feel Indian Air Force needs to have a about the depreciation and inefficacy that the entire structure should be greater range. IAF capabilities will of several squadrons, there is a ray state-of-the-art, in terms of increase by manifolds in the coming hope for IAF. The Air Force is capabilities. There is no shortage of years with the induction of two accelerating its procurement process bravery. The IAF is ready to do the best squadrons of Rafale jets. India recently and upgradation of its existing fleet. with whatever it has,” stresses Air issued a Request for Information (RFI) Experts believe that although the Marshal M Matheswaran AVSM VM for 110 Medium Multi Role Combat sanctioned number was 41 squadrons, (Retd). Aircraft (MMRCA). These are the IAF was in its full capacity even India is on the right track. It is in the indicators that Air Force is going to be with 39 squadrons. At present, the process of energy security and is trying a strong force in the national security situation is not very promising with the to acquire a number of properties matrix,” added Maj Gen Chaturvedi. existing squadrons. Out of 31 abroad like in Maldives, Sudan, etc. The future wars are all going to be on squadrons, the effective strength is “Almost 4,000 tankers are used by the integrated forces of the three much lower. The 11 squadrons of Su- India to transport oil from Middle services—the Indian Army, the Indian 30MKI is the only fleet that is East.