Many mundane and pedantic arguments can be put forth for and against separating air from space, but let us remember that after a few flip-flops between “air power” and “aerospace power”, the USAF has finally settled for “air and space power”. Of course they have issued a completely separate doctrine, which deals with Counterspace Operations.
Although militarisation of space is a fait accompli, weaponisation of space remains a very vexed issue in international forums. The recent joint statement by President Putin and Premier Manmohan Singh expressing their strong disapproval is a clear indicator that they do not want weapons in space.
Navy takes great comfort from the IAFs trans-oceanic reach and lethal punch, soon to be supplemented by airborne command and control platforms, and perhaps even space capabilities.
The challenge of space must be taken on headlong, but it is necessary that transition from the concept of “air power” to that of “aerospace power” must be preceded or accompanied by sufficient analysis, discussion and debate with the object of evolving a doctrinal rationale and underpinning. War is not an exclusively military affair, and we must be careful to ensure that the political establishment is acquainted with all the nuances of aerospace power.
The term “power” in our minds is usually associated with explosive ordnance and target destruction. But actually it is not always so, because during peace, which fortunately prevails most of the time, aerospace power can apply itself to many benign applications too.
As the IAF has demonstrated over and over again, airmen can deliver emergency relief, humanitarian and medical aid, and food and supplies, to not just one’s own countrymen, but also to friends and neighbours. They can also undertake refugee evacuation, disaster relief, search & rescue, and peacekeeping missions with equal ease. Reconnaissance and surveillance too are benign applications of aerospace power in peacetime. It can also make a big contribution to the war against terrorism and LICO. The essence of air power lies in its flexibility and versatility that permit it to switch roles and to access any part of the globe in a few hours.
The Navy too are stakeholders in aerospace power. We know that in the years ahead, our maritime forces are going to operate in the furthest reaches of the Indian Ocean. The Fleet Air Arm is going to be spread thin and our carriers cannot be everywhere all the time. Under these circumstances, the Navy takes great comfort from the IAF’s trans-oceanic reach and lethal punch, soon to be supplemented by airborne command and control platforms, and perhaps even space capabilities.
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