{"id":5561,"date":"2022-11-19T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-19T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/19-11-2022\/new-doctrine-for-indian-air-force-iaf\/"},"modified":"2022-11-19T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-11-19T00:00:00","slug":"new-doctrine-for-indian-air-force-iaf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/19-11-2022\/new-doctrine-for-indian-air-force-iaf","title":{"rendered":"New Doctrine for Indian Air Force (IAF)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\">The Indian Air Force (IAF) needs a <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><strong>revised guiding document<\/strong><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"> to help it navigate ahead smoothly.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><strong>Key Points<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Need for Doctrinal Guidance:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Presently it is debatable whether some breakthrough or efforts for indigenisation are being guided by some long-term institutionalised thinking and planning.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Because for longer and permanent effects, doctrinal guidance is required.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Guidance must include:<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Ideas influenced by past experience,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Present capability and\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Capacity of technological research and\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Development and manufacturing,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Human resource availability and\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">An organisational environment that encourages free thinking and\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">A deliberation of fresh ideas.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Need to change IAF\u2019s Old doctrine:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">India\u2019s intent to <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>dominate conflict escalation<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> is reflected in its 2012 airpower doctrine.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It goes beyond outlining merely what airpower is, in terms of its roles, and explains to a far greater extent what airpower is for.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">In contrast to the previous IAF doctrine, and, indeed, most Western airpower doctrine, the 2012 version makes a much <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>clearer connection between airpower and national security<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The IAF doctrine does not go as far as some previous British airpower doctrine, which suggests that control of the air is an end in itself.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It is time that the doctrine of the Indian Air Force (IAF) \u2014 it is of 2012 vintage \u2014 is reviewed and made public to guide the future development and application of India\u2019s air power.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Incorporate:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Technology has progressed exponentially.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Artificial intelligence and machine learning are being refined to mimic human cognitive abilities and intuition.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Roles and Functions in aspect of Space:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The roles and missions of the IAF would have to be re-assessed since space will be a major, if not a central, player in future conflicts.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>weaponization of space<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> must be accepted, the Outer Space Treaty notwithstanding.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><strong>Learning from the USA<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">America\u2019s nuclear asymmetry, post the Second World War was lost when the USSR was on a par.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">To counter this, the U.S. brought in the Revolution in Military Affairs, seen so vividly in the 1990-91 Gulf War.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">This turnaround took <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>dedicated research teams<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> under programmes that had continuity from 1965, and <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>political backing<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> under different Presidential administrations.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><strong>Way Ahead for IAF<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">An <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>inter-ministerial endeavour<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> is needed, but this has to be institutionalised through a published doctrine.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">With depleting fighter strength, Indian Air Force looks to speed up Su-30 fleet modernisation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">New Doctrine should cater to:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The loss of air superiority has, and will, spell doom for a nation that chooses to neglect it; the IAF\u2019s doctrine must expound on this aspect as an imperative despite the high financial commitment required.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">For acceleration of fresh thought, personnel have to feel secure \u2014 they have to have the psychological high ground in order to be vocal with their ideas. The IAF\u2019s new doctrine must accept this, even as it acknowledges that new technology would result in an information overload which actually accentuates stress in human resources.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">A doctrinal alignment for expeditionary movements of raw materials must find a place in the document.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The IAF doctrine must underscore that \u2018national defence\u2019 is a national endeavour and should not be filtered through a prism of the political dispensation at the helm.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">A call on how air power, with its niche strike, Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and precision attack capabilities would be merged in the drive towards jointness would be an imperative.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Working on <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Theatrisation<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> should not be slowed or stopped due to this.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">With India trying to cement its place as a regional power of reckoning, these combat support assets are also vital for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief that are important cogs in military diplomacy and foreign policy.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Neglecting them would be to India\u2019s disadvantage, more so because they are critical too in sustaining kinetic power.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><strong>Source<\/strong><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\">: <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/yes-the-indian-air-force-needs-a-new-doctrine\/article66154209.ece\" style=\"text-decoration-line:none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><span style=\"color:#1155cc\">TH<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In News The Indian Air Force (IAF) needs a revised guiding document to help it navigate ahead smoothly. \u00a0 Key Points Need for Doctrinal Guidance:\u00a0 Presently it is debatable whether some breakthrough or efforts for indigenisation are being guided by some long-term institutionalised thinking and planning. Because for longer and permanent effects, doctrinal guidance is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5562,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[26,111],"class_list":["post-5561","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-affairs","tag-gs-3","tag-various-security-agencies-their-mandate"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2023\/07\/72256582962218D1C2BEA-B42D-44CA-AC90-12BFBC61D8CC.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5561","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5561"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5561\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5561"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}